SHILLONG: The Shillong Manipuri Students’ Union (SMSU), in collaboration with the Manipur Elders Consortium Shillong (MECS), has strongly condemned the demolition of the Manipur Bhawan (also known as Manipur Rajbari) in Shillong, calling it a grave act that has deeply hurt the sentiments of the Manipuri community in Meghalaya.
In a press handout issued by Khwairakpam Crosia Devi, Information and Publicity Secretary of the Shillong Manipuri Students’ Union, the organization stated that representatives of the SMSU — including the President, General Secretary, and External Affairs Secretary and representatives of MECS — expressed “deep hurt and frustration” over what they described as an “unjust and insensitive act” targeting a structure of immense cultural and historical value. The organisations demanded that the authority responsible for the demolition “take full accountability for their actions” and that no reconstruction plans proceed until complete clarity is provided to the public.
The SMSU said it “strongly objects to any plans for the restoration or reconstruction of this historical site until absolute clarity is provided by the responsible authorities.” The union also rejected the Monitoring and Supervision Committee formed by the Government of Manipur, calling it inadequate to ensure transparency and truth.
“The demolition has caused deep emotional pain among the community,” the statement read. “We require the authority responsible for the demolition of the Manipur Rajbari to take full accountability for their actions.” The organisations demanded that an independent enquiry committee be immediately constituted to conduct a fact-finding investigation into the circumstances surrounding the demolition. They further urged that the inquiry report “be made public and shared transparently with the people of Manipur to ensure accountability and truth.”
The SMSU and MECS emphasized that the Manipur Bhawan, or Rajbari, is not merely a government property but a symbol of the Manipuri people’s heritage, identity, and historical connection to Shillong. They underscored that the Rajbari has long served as a cultural landmark for generations of Manipuris residing or studying in Meghalaya.
“The demolition of the Manipur Bhawan is not just the loss of a building but the erasure of a part of our shared history,” the SMSU said. “It represents a severance of the cultural bridge that has connected Manipuris in Shillong for decades.”
In the press conference, the two bodies reaffirmed their commitment to continue joint efforts to seek justice, truth, and the rightful restoration of the Manipur Bhawan. They called upon the concerned authorities to act with transparency, sincerity, and respect for the sentiments of the Manipuri people, the press statement noted.
