Manipur on Monday observed the 172nd death anniversary of Maharaj Nara Singh at Kangla in Imphal. Chief minister N Biren Singh led ministers, MLAs and other officials in paying floral tribute to the portrait of the late Maharaja at his memorial. He also led other dignitaries in offering Tarpan at Nungjeng Pukhri Achouba.
The observation function was organised by Manipur State Archaeology, Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur.
After the floral tribute, a contingent of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles offered a guard of honour, gun salute and sounded the last post as a mark of respect to Late Maharaja Nara Singh.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Biren Singh said the state government started paying tribute and respect to the great forefathers, organising functions at the state level to make people aware of their sacrifices towards protecting their motherland.
Stating that whatever “we have today is all because of the hard work and sacrifices of our great leaders”, he added that “our society would have no value if we don’t honour them and follow their paths”.
CM recalled the hardship faced by the forefathers during the seven years of devastation between 1819-1826 and the hard work of great leaders like Maharaj Gambhir Singh and Maharaja Nara Singh towards regaining their land from Awa.
Urging people not to possess sectarian ideology and to stop thinking only about their respective communities, he appealed to everyone to work together for the “overall development of the land that we inherited from our forefathers”.
He stressed the need for every citizen of the state to have knowledge of the history and go hand in hand with one another regardless of hill and valley areas, adding that “we shouldn’t forget the spirit of nationalism possessed by our elders”.
Singh also informed that the state government had started seeing sites at Nongmaiching Hills to install the statues of Maichou Taret and added that a statue of Maharaja Nara Singh would also be installed at the Western Gate of Kangla within 100 days.
He also stressed the need to preserve the Leng Ondabi Pat located at Cachar district of Assam, which was named after the commitment of Maharaja Nara Singh.
Power minister Th Biswajit Singh, education minister Yumnam Khemchand, Works minister Govindas Konthoujam, Co-operation minister Nemcha Kipgen, Members of Legislative Assembly, Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and other top Civil and Police Officials also attended the observation function.
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