Behind Red Fort Tribal Fest: RSS Affiliate Mobilises 550 Communities To Pressure Centre

Last Updated:May 14, 2026, 14:15 IST

This is a pressure tactic to bring a constitutional amendment stating religious conversion of any tribals will make them lose the right of reservation.

An RSS-linked tribal organisation is preparing to host a large “Janjati Sanskritik Samagam" at the historic Red Fort on May 24. The event is part of nationwide commemorations marking the 150th birth anniversary year of tribal leader Birsa Munda. The event is being organised by Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. However, beyond the stated position of bringing at least 3,000 tribals from every district to Delhi, who will be demonstrating a mega show of their cultural identity at the seat of power, this is also a pressure tactic to bring a constitutional amendment which will mean religious conversion of any tribals will make them lose the right of reservation – a long-standing demand of VKA.

“In India, tribals can convert to any religion, which they often do, and still retain reservation benefits. This is unfair. We have been meeting individual MPs for a long time over the need for a constitutional amendment. Now, tribals from every nook and corner of India will be in Delhi for four days, mounting pressure on the Centre. From 22nd to 25th, they will remain in the national capital," Dr Madhukar Aacharya, Vice President of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (Paschim Prant) told News18.

The organisers say the gathering is expected to bring together what it claims are lakhs of participants from across the country, representing more than 550 tribal communities. They describe it as a celebration of tribal identity, traditions, and cultural continuity.

The initiative is being coordinated through the RSS-affiliated tribal outreach network, which has expanded its engagement with tribal communities in recent years, particularly by highlighting the legacy of Birsa Munda and other figures associated with indigenous resistance movements.

To manage the large turnout, organisers say arrangements are being made for 43 special trains and hundreds of buses to bring participants from remote forested and hilly regions.

In Delhi, multiple committees and nearly 20 working groups have been set up to handle logistics, including accommodation, transport, food, sanitation, and medical support, News18 has learnt. Ahead of the main programme, as many as five cultural processions will be held across the national capital. These will feature tribal participants in traditional attire, along with folk music, drums, and dance performances showcasing diverse regional traditions.

Organisers say the event goes beyond a cultural festival, aiming instead to raise awareness about tribal belief systems, customs, and social practices. Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram emphasised that tribal communities have long preserved and enriched India’s civilisational heritage while continuing to face issues related to identity and representation. The RSS-affiliated tribal body insists leaders such as Tantia Bhil, Komaram Bheem, and Rani Gaidinliu are symbols of indigenous resistance and cultural preservation.

The outreach comes amid sustained political and cultural engagement by the BJP and the wider Sangh Parivar with tribal communities, particularly in central and eastern India. In recent years, Birsa Munda has been prominently featured in political messaging, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi declaring his birth anniversary on November 15 as “Janjatiya Gaurav Divas".

Organisers say the Delhi gathering is intended to encourage “social harmony" and closer emotional connections between urban populations and tribal communities. “When our tribal brothers and sisters return home, they should feel they have family in Delhi," said Mahesh Kale, All India co-publicity chief of VKA in his appeal for participation and support.

The choice of the Red Fort as the venue adds a symbolic layer, placing a celebration of tribal identity at one of India’s most iconic national landmarks.

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