The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has urged the Government of Manipur to construct a full-scale replica of the original Manipur Rajbari at Shillong while preserving the demolished remains as a lasting monument to the state’s erased heritage.
The committee said such a dual approach would honour Manipur’s sovereign past and serve as a reminder of the neglect that led to the loss of one of its most significant historical landmarks.
COCOMI expressed deep anguish over the dismantling of the historic Rajbari — once the royal residence of Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh and the site where the 1949 Merger Agreement with the Indian Union was signed.
The organisation condemned the demolition, carried out under the “Infrastructure Development of Heritage Complex, Rajbari, Shillong” project by the Planning and Development Authority (PDA), terming it an act of “historical insensitivity” that has wounded the collective sentiment of the Manipuri people.
COCOMI demanded an immediate halt to all ongoing works at the site until a transparent consultation process is conducted with heritage experts, civil society groups, and the royal family.
It further called for public disclosure of all related project documents, including the Detailed Project Report, North Eastern Council approvals, and structural safety audits.
The committee insisted that any reconstruction must strictly adhere to the original architectural design and materials, while the remains of the dismantled structure should be preserved in situ as a memorial of Manipur’s political and historical journey.
Declaring October 8, the date of demolition, as a “Day of Mourning and Remembrance,” COCOMI said the destruction of the Rajbari stands as a stark reminder of how institutional negligence and disregard for public sentiment can erase vital chapters of a nation’s history.
COCOMI convenor Kh. Athouba stressed that heritage cannot be rebuilt with blueprints alone, asserting that it lives through “authenticity, memory, and respect.”
He called upon Manipuri civil society, scholars, and cultural bodies to stand united in defending the state’s shared historical identity and demanding accountability from those responsible.
