TMB Report
shillong: The Shillong Manipuri Students’ Union has expressed fear that the Rajbari (Manipuri House) is on the brink of descending into an irreparable condition if immediate steps are not taken by the authorities for its revival.
President of the union Chongtham Thongamba Meetei stated that after its inception on August 24, 1976, the union had taken keen interest and responded actively to different issues related to the welfare of the public. He lamented that while different governments took maintenance of its states’ building like Assam House, Nagaland House, Tripura House as a matter of grave seriousness, the Manipuri government has virtually forsaken the Manipuri House. In this regard the SMSU had presented a seven-point memorandum to the Manipur administration but no indication of actuating the public concerns into action is still discernible, he stated. Thongamba reiterated the appeal to the state authorities to take necessary care of the historical site.
He expressed hope that chief minister N Biren will take the matter as a top priority and look into the demands made by the union and eventually take up appropriate actions. Raising the feasibility of transforming the site into a historical museum and promotion as a tourist spot after taking up renovation works, he said the plans cannot go ahead without the full involvement of the Manipur government.
Chief advisor of Ningol Chakouba Shillong and former general secretary of Ibudhou Pakhangba Sanglen, Laitumkhrah Athouba Koijam requested the state chief minister to refurbish the Manipur House in the Meghalaya capital taking into consideration the aspiration of the people from Manipur who are living in the state. Celebration of traditional festivals like Ningol Chakkouba and state observation like Patriots Day will be ideal if it is hosted at the campus of Manipur House. Therefore, the attention of the Manipur government is drawn on development of the present structures and facilities at the site to a more convenient and proper condition, he added. He observed that people from Assam and Nagaland utilised their states’ properties in Shillong for hosting social activities unique to their culture and traditions and it will be conducive that the people of Manipur do the same at Manipur House after development of the place instead of booking other places incurring saveable expenditure, he said.
