India is hosting the forty-sixth session of World Heritage Committee meeting Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi for the first time ever and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on Sunday. As the Committee deliberates, we would like to draw the attention of the Union government and the Committee to the sacred Kangla, located in the heart of historic Imphal city, which is yet to be declared as a World Heritage Site.
Being a site of political and religious importance, Kangla has grown into a formidable fortress city through the centuries. It is from this capital that the Ningthouja clan gradually wielded enough political and military power and grew up to be the most dominant clan in Manipur. The Manipur government had engaged Professor Nalini Thakur of School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi to prepare a Concept Development Plan (CDP) of 'Kangla Fort' after the the Manmohan Singh government handed over the historic Kangla Fort to Manipur state government on November 20, 2004.
According to convention, Professor Thakur had recommended restoration and renovation of the existing structures and that no new structures should be constructed. With the new structure of Pakhangba Temple besides Light and Sound show structure, the declaration of Kangla as a World Heritage site had run into trouble. Today, the general upkeep of Kangla is also is almost absent as funds are minuscule.
The British style house inside the Kangla known as Slim’s cottage which now houses the office of Superintendent of Archaeology once used to be the headquarters of General Slim during World War II who oversaw the resistance of Japanese forces and consequent onslaught by Allied forces. The Museum inside the Kangla was constructed by the British. There are several other small houses constructed by the British in the Kangla and they are part of our history.
In our opinion, the sacred Kangla should not be reduced to a tourist destination but should be treated as a site for preserving and showcasing the proud heritage and culture of an ancient state at the crossroads of South Asia and Southeast Asia. Now, the historic Kangla lies in waste bereft of funds for its upkeep and maintenance. It has been a long time since the state government has been pursuing the case of Kangla as a World Heritage site.
A World Heritage site is a natural or man-made site, area, or structure recognized as being of outstanding international importance and therefore as deserving special protection. Sites are nominated to and designated by the World Heritage Convention (an organization of UNESCO). A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity".
To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be a somehow unique landmark which is geographically and historically identifiable and has special cultural or physical significance. For example, World Heritage Sites might be ancient ruins or historical structures, buildings, or cities. Considering all these factors, we sincerely feel that Kangla fort deserves to be declared as one such site, for its preservation and protection. Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba had also been pursuing the case with both Indian and international authorities in this regard.
And it is the right time to regain his prestige and glory which ran into rough weather in recent times for not living upto the expectations of the people of Manipur. He must rush to New Delhi and put his foot down with the Union government so as to secure a place for Kangla among the World Heritage sites. Now is the time to directly engage with the Prime Minister and Union Ministry of Culture in this regard.
