New Delhi, Nov 15 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted the people of Jharkhand on the state's 17th foundation day and also paid tributes to tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda on his 142nd birth anniversary.

"Greetings to the people of Jharkhand on their statehood day. I pray that Jharkhand continues to scale new heights of progress and prosperity," Modi tweeted.

Jharkhand was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on November 15, 2000.

In a separate tweet, the Prime Minister posted a video highlighting the tribal leader's life.

"I bow to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his jayanti. His indomitable courage is a source of motivation.

"Inspired by the life of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, we are working towards empowerment of our tribal communities, who are India's pride."

Munda was born on November 15, 1875, in Khunti district.

He was a folk hero and a tribal freedom fighter hailing from the Munda tribe, who spearheaded the Millenarian movement that arose in the Bihar-Jharkhand belt in the early 19th century.

He died in Ranchi prison on June 9, 1900, after being arrested in March from Chakradharpur's Jamkopai forest, where he had been resting with his tribal guerrilla army.