Rajbari demolition: Condemnation pours in; Manipuri elders to hold protest today

SHILLONG/GUWAHATI, Oct 14: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh demanded reconstruction of Red Lands Buildings, also called Manipur Rajbari, to its original position.
The historic building, constructed in the 1940s in Shillong, was one of the residences of the erstwhile king Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh.
The building was torn down recently reportedly to make way for a new Manipur Bhavan or a guest house of the Manipur government.
“Sadly, the historic Rajbari was completely destroyed, saying that the repair work could not be carried out. This is truly painful because it was a part of our shared history and identity. It is absolutely necessary that it is rebuilt to its original state so that future generations know what once stood there,” the former chief minister said in a statement.
Opposition Manipur Congress also strongly condemned the demolition of the historic Manipur Rajbari calling it a blatant act of neglect that disrespects the state’s history and identity.
State Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh said that the site carries immense historical, political, and emotional significance for the people of Manipur.
“The demolition of such a heritage property under the watch of the so-called double-engine government at both the Centre and Meghalaya is an unforgivable act of negligence and disrespect to the history and identity of Manipur,” Singh said in a statement.
The Manipuri Elders’ Consortium Shillong (MECS) has called for a massive protest on Wednesday against what it described as the insensitive demolition of the historic Manipur Rajbari at Red Lands, Boyce Road, Shillong.
The demonstration, scheduled to begin at 7:30 am, is aimed at drawing public attention to the loss of a site regarded as a cornerstone of Manipuri identity and heritage in Meghalaya.
The Consortium has urged all people of Manipuri origin, heritage activists, and supporters of cultural preservation to join the protest and voice their outrage over the demolition.
In a statement, the MECS demanded that the government and concerned authorities immediately halt further demolition and initiate restoration measures to safeguard what it termed an invaluable heritage structure. The group also criticised the lack of consultation before the demolition, saying such actions erase shared histories between Manipur and Meghalaya.  The protest, organisers said, will serve as both a show of solidarity and a reminder of the need to protect historical sites that embody the Northeast’s diverse cultural legacy.
The MECS has appealed for peaceful participation, asserting that the movement seeks to defend memory, not merely a monument.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a joint body of Meitei civil society organisations, has demanded construction of a full-scale replica of the original Manipur Rajbari in Shillong at a separate site.
In a statement issued by L. Jayenta of COCOMI, the committee expressed condemnation and deep anguish over the dismantling of the historic Manipur Rajbari while stating that the “demolished remains of the original structure be preserved in their existing state as a lasting testament to Manipur’s erased heritage.”
“This act of dismantling, executed under the project “Infrastructure Development of Heritage Complex, Rajbari, Shillong” by the Planning and Development Authority (PDA), Government of Manipur, represents a grave failure in respecting and preserving Manipur’s historical and cultural heritage. The official justification that the building was structurally weak and infested with termites cannot justify the complete demolition of a monument so deeply intertwined with the political and emotional identity of the Manipuri people,” Jayenta stated.
“The Rajbari in Shillong is not merely a structure; it is a living testament to Manipur’s sovereign past and its unholy journey into modern India. 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,” he stated.
COCOMI has taken serious note of the fact that, “despite repeated assurances from the government since 2022 that the Rajbari would be renovated while preserving its original architecture and integrity, the building was dismantled in its entirety without adequate public consultation, expert involvement or transparent disclosure of project details.”
“Such an action amounts to a betrayal of public trust and a violation of the moral responsibility owed to the history and people of Manipur. The monitoring and supervision committee for reconstruction and restoration of Manipur Rajbari must investigate the circumstances leading to the dismantling of Manipur Rajbari, including the role of the Planning and Development Authority (PDA) and the Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur,” the committee stated. (With IANS inputs)