NewKerala.com

Shillong's Historic Rajbari: How Demolished Palace Will Rise Again

The Manipur government has formed a high-powered committee to address the controversial demolition of the historic Redlands Buildings in Shillong. The committee recommends restoring the structure using anastylosis techniques that follow ASI and UNESCO guidelines. This 1940s building served as a residence for Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh and holds significant cultural importance. The demolition has sparked protests from political parties and heritage organizations who call it an irreparable loss to Manipur's history.

Key Points: Manipur Government Panel to Restore Demolished Shillong Rajbari

  • Committee suggests anastylosis restoration following ASI and UNESCO conservation norms
  • Historic building was dismantled to make way for new Manipur government guest house
  • Local experts to monitor preservation of original architectural design and cultural significance
  • Political parties and civil society groups demand inquiry into controversial demolition
2 min read

Govt panel to restore demolished Manipur Rajbari in Shillong as per ASI, UNESCO norms

High-powered committee recommends restoring Manipur Rajbari using ASI and UNESCO guidelines after controversial demolition sparks widespread protests and heritage concerns.

"The demolition of Redlands Buildings in Shillong has triggered widespread condemnation - Various Organizations"

Imphal, Oct 22

The high-powered committee, constituted to take appropriate steps following the demolition of the historic Redlands Buildings in Meghalaya's capital, Shillong, on Wednesday, suggested restoring the structure's former glory through anastylosis, in line with the norms, ethics, and guidelines of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and UNESCO.

The historic Redlands Buildings in Meghalaya's capital, Shillong, also called Manipur Rajbari, was dismantled from September 29 to October 8 at the instance of a Manipur government department, reportedly to make way for a new Manipur Bhavan or a guest house of the Manipur government.

A senior official said that the Manipur government earlier constituted a Monitoring and Supervision Committee for the reconstruction and restoration of the historic Redlands Buildings.

A consultative meeting chaired by Ngangom Uttam Singh, Director, Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD) and Information and Public Relations, was held on Wednesday and deliberated on the recent events relating to the dismantling of the majestic Manipur Rajbari at Shillong and the way forward concerning the historic building.

The meeting suggested engaging reputed professional conservation and preservation experts to prepare a complete development plan and to guide the state government in the execution of the work.

The meeting also suggested engaging local experts in the field to interact with and monitor the conservation experts in order to ensure preservation of historical features, original architectural design, and cultural significance.

Various organisations in Manipur and Meghalaya said that the Manipur government's Planning and Development Authority's (PDA) official attempted to shift responsibility to the Department of Art and Culture about the pulling down of the historic Redlands Buildings in Shillong.

Many political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, senior political leaders, MPs, dozens of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), student bodies, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the apex body of the Meitei community in Manipur, have been strongly protesting the demolition of the historic building and demanding an inquiry into the Rajbari demolition.

The historic Redlands Building, constructed in the 1940s in Shillong, was one of the residences of the erstwhile king Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh. The demolition of Redlands Buildings in Shillong has triggered widespread condemnation from various organisations, including Meitei Heritage Society, historians, scholars, citizens and experts, who describe the demolition as an irreparable loss to Manipur's political and cultural heritage.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Why demolish first and then plan restoration? This shows poor planning and lack of respect for heritage. The government should be more careful with our historical monuments.
S
Sarah B
As someone who has visited Shillong, these heritage buildings add so much character to the city. Good to see international standards being applied for restoration work. Hope they involve local artisans too!
A
Arjun K
Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh's residence deserves proper preservation. This is part of our Northeast heritage that connects us to our royal past. Hope the restoration maintains the original architectural beauty 🙏
K
Kavya N
The fact that both BJP and Congress are protesting shows how important this issue is. Heritage conservation should be above politics. Good move to involve local experts for monitoring.
M
Michael C
Anastylosis is the right approach - rebuilding using original materials. This shows learning from past mistakes. Hope the restoration sets a good precedent for other heritage sites in India.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50