Oxford/London/Ranchi: Hemant Soren reached the famous college of Britain where the great tribal leader of Jharkhand Jaipal Singh Munda had studied and saw the preserved memories of a 100 year old student. Jaipal Singh Munda studied at St. John’s College and was the first tribal to reach England. Not only this, he also became the captain of the hockey team.
During his UK visit, the Chief Minister visited St. John’s College, run by Oxford University. The Chief Minister was welcomed by Professor Lady Sue Black, Baroness Black of Strom, President of St. John’s College. A high-tea reception was organized to welcome and honor the delegation.
During the visit to St. John’s College, the Chief Minister observed the rare records to Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda, the great tribal leader, creator of the Constitution and ideological pillar of the Jharkhand movement. Jaipal Singh Munda is a distinguished alumnus of St. John’s College.
On this occasion, rare photographs, historical documents and preserved records to Jaipal Singh Munda were displayed by the college, which told about his Oxford period, student leadership and sports achievements. During the Archives Darshan, the College presented selected documents to Jaipal Singh Munda’s Oxford life, which included photographs of the Oxford Hockey Team, records of the Debating Society and his personal letters and notebooks. According to college records, Jaipal Singh Munda was the Secretary and later President of the College Debating Society and received the ‘Hockey Blue’ award while representing the college and university in hockey. Later, he also captained the Indian hockey team in the 1928 Olympic Games.
The Chief Minister appreciated the way St. John’s College has preserved the legacy of Jaipal Singh Munda with respect and dignity. He said such efforts connect Jharkhand’s historical and intellectual heritage vibrantly with global educational centres. Describing the historical role of Jaipal Singh Munda for Jharkhand, the Chief Minister described him as a leader who laid the ideological foundation of state building. The Chief Minister also mentioned that Jaipal Singh Munda’s ideology and tradition of struggle was carried forward through mass movements for decades, in which his father, late “Dishom Guru” Shibu Soren, played a central role. Dishom Guru Shibu Soren co-founded Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and contributed decisively to the formation of Jharkhand state in the year 2000 after a long struggle.
Based on the visit, the Chief Minister expressed interest in structured collaboration between the Government of Jharkhand and St. John’s College, including a proposal to preserve the historical and intellectual heritage of Jharkhand for future generations through archival exchange, digitization and joint conservation initiatives. Professor Lady Sue Black welcomed the interest of the Government of Jharkhand in the field of heritage conservation and appreciated the spirit of long-term academic collaboration between Oxford and Jharkhand. He described the Chevening-Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Scholarship as a powerful bridge for young talents. The possibilities of a dedicated PhD/doctoral scholarship at St. John’s College-Jharkhand in memory of Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda and Dishom Guru Shibu Soren were also discussed between the two sides.
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