Manipur body demands full-scale replica of Redlands

Imphal, Oct 14 (NNN): The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has expressed deep anguish and issued a strong condemnation over the demolition of the historic Manipur Rajbari, also known as the Redlands Building, located at Laitumkhrah in Shillong.

The Rajbari, once the royal residence of Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh, holds immense historical significance as it was the site where the controversial Merger Agreement of Manipur with the Indian Union was signed in 1949.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, COCOMI described the dismantling of the structure as a grave act of negligence and historical insensitivity, stating that it represents a failure on the part of the Government of Manipur to protect and preserve one of the state’s most vital symbols of its political and cultural heritage. The demolition was reportedly carried out by the Planning and Development Authority (PDA) under the project titled “Infrastructure Development of Heritage Complex, Rajbari, Shillong.”

COCOMI questioned the justification given by authorities that the building was structurally weak and infested with termites, arguing that such reasons cannot excuse the destruction of a monument that embodies the political and emotional identity of the Manipuri people.

“The Rajbari at Shillong is not merely a structure; it is a living testament to Manipur’s sovereign past and its unholy journey into modern India,” the statement read. “Its destruction under the pretext of ‘reconstruction’ is an act of historical insensitivity that has deeply wounded the collective sentiment of the people of Manipur.”

The civil body further alleged that despite repeated assurances from the government since 2022 that the Rajbari would be renovated while preserving its original architectural design, the building was instead dismantled in its entirety. COCOMI accused the authorities of acting without adequate public consultation, expert involvement, or transparent disclosure of project details, which it said amounted to a betrayal of public trust and disregard for the state’s moral responsibility to its history.

The organisation also voiced concern that the demolition might be part of a larger redevelopment plan, possibly for constructing a new Manipur Bhavan, suggesting that such a move would constitute a deliberate attempt to erase and replace one of Manipur’s most significant historical landmarks.

COCOMI demanded that the government immediately halt all ongoing works at the site until a transparent consultation is conducted with Manipuri civil society, heritage experts, historians, and representatives of the royal family. It urged the authorities to make all related project documents public, including the Detailed Project Report (DPR), minutes of approvals from the North Eastern Council (NEC), and the structural audit or safety reports that were used to justify the demolition.

Furthermore, the committee recommended the reconstruction of a full-scale replica of the original Rajbari at a separate location, while preserving the demolished remains in their current state. This dual approach, it said, would serve as a powerful reminder of how the state allowed the destruction of a living symbol of Manipur’s historical and political journey following its merger with India in 1949.

COCOMI also proposed that the people of Manipur observe October 8, the day the demolition was completed, as a day of mourning and remembrance. It stated that this day should mark the loss of a historic site that embodied the political and constitutional relationship between Manipur and India, and serve as a reminder of how institutional negligence can erase vital chapters of a nation’s history.

“Heritage cannot be rebuilt with blueprints alone; it lives through authenticity, memory, and respect,” said Laikhuram Jayenta, Convenor of COCOMI’s IPR Sub-Committee. “The destruction of the Rajbari is not a matter of architecture; it is a matter of identity, dignity, and justice for the people of Manipur.”

In its closing remarks, COCOMI reminded the government that “such acts of irresponsibility, which undermine the historical and cultural values of heritage landmarks, must never be repeated. It called upon all Manipuri civil society organisations, scholars, cultural institutions, and the general public to stand united in defending Manipur’s shared history and to demand accountability from those responsible for what it described as a grave act of negligence.

“The Rajbari of Shillong is a sacred chapter of Manipur’s history,” COCOMI stated. “It can neither be restored nor replaced.”