Demolishing a piece of Manipur’s history Man from Meghalaya
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Even as Manipur is coming to grips with the information that the historic building at the Redlands in Shillong has been demolished, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who was in Manipur on a two day visit struck a politically correct position in asserting that his Government never gave the order to demolish the said building. In the same vein the Meghalaya Chief Minister struck another politically very correct posture in asserting that the territorial integrity of Manipur must be respected. As things have unfolded, already there are debates doing the round with some chipping in that as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma cannot escape responsibility for pulling down the 90 years old building, yet at the same time it stands that the responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of the building must rest with one of the departments of the Government of Manipur. This is the situation under which the Meghalaya Chief Minister was in the State, probably to give a stronger footing to the National People’s Party, of which he is the president, ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Early days yet, but the visit of the Meghalaya Chief Minister will surely go a long way in providing a stronger wicket to the NPP when the time for election comes. And this is true especially in the face of the sticky wicket in which the BJP finds itself in and there is a growing voice on the need for a party which is more attuned to the regional reality of Manipur and the North East. A clearer picture over the demolition of the building at Redlands may emerge in a few days time, but Manipur has not forgotten that this is the place where Maharaj Bodhchandra signed the Merger Agreement with the Government of India in September to merge with India on October 15, 1949. And this is October and a number of armed organisations must have lined up with their agenda of imposing a general strike on this date to remind the people of how Manipur merged with the Union of India more than 70 years back. The coming days will tell, but yet at the same time, it is not clear if Raj Bhavan and the men who count, will feel inclined to come out with a statement on the demolition of the 90 years old building but this is what people of Manipur would expect. And surely an explanation is owed to the people for in this age, there is nothing to stop in taking up steps to preserve old buildings with modern know-how. An explanation is what is expected, an explanation that will find takers with the people. To Manipur, the building at the Redlands is something much more than just a concrete structure for it is a place which is closely woven into the more recent history of the place. This much must be respected.
Back in 2019, Conrad Sangma was the rallying point against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), before it became an Act, and fast forward to 2025, he has emerged as a personality who can go some way in fulfilling the desire for a regional voice, a voice that would be in a position to focus on North East and Manipur specific issues. This is what seems to be blowing in the favour of the NPP at the moment in Manipur but it remains to be seen how effectively this is capitalised upon. Sangma started off on the right note in asserting that trust building is necessary for peace and normalcy to return. A stand that is far removed from the ‘situation is improving’ line, a line Manipur has seen being parroted by some Delhi based mandarins and followed by some in Manipur. How the process of building trust is taken up rests with Delhi and the people on either side of the clash divide, but it is significant to note that in Sangma, Manipur has seen the Chief Minister of a neighbouring State personally visiting the place to get a first hand account of the situation here. This is where his decision to take the road from Imphal to Kangpokpi and beyond becomes significant. Manipur must take note that even if the visit is more about preparing the ground for the NPP ahead of the Assembly elections due in 2027, at least the Chief Minister of a neighbouring State has deemed it fit to pay a visit and interact with different civil society organisations of the place. The man from Meghalaya seems to be making all the right noises at the moment and this is what has piqued the interests of the people.
Back in 2019, Conrad Sangma was the rallying point against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), before it became an Act, and fast forward to 2025, he has emerged as a personality who can go some way in fulfilling the desire for a regional voice, a voice that would be in a position to focus on North East and Manipur specific issues. This is what seems to be blowing in the favour of the NPP at the moment in Manipur but it remains to be seen how effectively this is capitalised upon. Sangma started off on the right note in asserting that trust building is necessary for peace and normalcy to return. A stand that is far removed from the ‘situation is improving’ line, a line Manipur has seen being parroted by some Delhi based mandarins and followed by some in Manipur. How the process of building trust is taken up rests with Delhi and the people on either side of the clash divide, but it is significant to note that in Sangma, Manipur has seen the Chief Minister of a neighbouring State personally visiting the place to get a first hand account of the situation here. This is where his decision to take the road from Imphal to Kangpokpi and beyond becomes significant. Manipur must take note that even if the visit is more about preparing the ground for the NPP ahead of the Assembly elections due in 2027, at least the Chief Minister of a neighbouring State has deemed it fit to pay a visit and interact with different civil society organisations of the place. The man from Meghalaya seems to be making all the right noises at the moment and this is what has piqued the interests of the people.