Twelve representatives of Patriotic Writers Forum (PAWF), Manipur, who are currently on tour to Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya to trace the Meitei community settled in these states, reached Red Land in Shillong on Monday. They visited the site where Maharaj Bodhachandra was forced to sign the merger agreement with the Indian Union on September 21, 1949.
The delegation, led by the secretary of PAWF, expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Manipur Bhavan construction in Shillong, which is being overseen by the Art & Culture Department of Manipur and is expected to be completed in two years.
PAWF president Naoroibam Khamba Luwang, founder secretary OC Meira, secretary Rakesh Naorem, social activists Yengkhom Bhagyachandra, Kiran Yendrembam, and S Ibungochouba, as well as Kunjeshwar Mangsatabam, Chaoba Heikham, Jamuna Lairenjam, Yengkhom Memmi, Naorem Romila, and Sandhiya Moirangthem were participated in the tour. The representatives also met with Yireichan Raihing, Assistant Liaison Officer (ALO) of Manipur Bhavan, and presented a ‘Leirum Phee’ (a traditional shawl) as a gift from the forum’s president.
Secretary Rakesh Naorem maintained that September 21, 1949, is considered a dark day in Manipur’s history due to the forced signing of the merger agreement by Maharaj Bodhachandra. He explained that the forum decided to visit the site to pay homage to this historical event.
Naorem also praised ALO Yireichan Raihing, a Tangkhul brethren, for his efforts to preserve the site as a historical landmark and develop it into an archive under the Art & Culture Department. He noted that the ALO had framed an A4-sized portrait of Maharaj Bodhachandra and displayed it alongside pictures of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and former Governor Anusuiya Uikey.
He mentioned that the ALO requested the submission of a portrait of Maharaj Bodhachandra and other ancient artifacts from Manipur to enhance the Bhavan’s historical collection for future research.
The representatives also offered prayers to the idol of ‘Iputhou Pakhangba’ at the Bhavan.
