Imphal, Oct 22 – A special committee that was set up to address the recent demolition of the historic Redlands Buildings in Shillong, Meghalaya, is calling for the site to be rebuilt to its former glory. The group recommends a method called anastylosis, which follows the guidelines of India’s Archaeological Survey (ASI) and UNESCO.
The Redlands Buildings, also known as the Manipur Rajbari, stood in Shillong since the 1940s as a former residence of Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh. From September 29 to October 8, the structure was dismantled by a department of the Manipur government. Officials say the demolition was ordered to make space for a new Manipur Bhavan or a government guest house.
A senior officer explained that the Manipur government had already created a Monitoring and Supervision Committee to oversee the reconstruction. On Wednesday, the committee met under the chairmanship of Ngangom Uttam Singh, director of Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD) and Information and Public Relations.
In the meeting, members urged the state to hire renowned conservation and preservation experts to draft a full development plan. They also stressed the need to involve local specialists who can work with the experts and ensure that original architectural features and cultural values remain protected.
Allegations have surfaced that the Planning and Development Authority (PDA) of Manipur tried to shift responsibility for the demolition to the Department of Art and Culture. This claim has added fuel to protests from political parties, senior leaders, MPs, civil‑society groups, student bodies, and the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI). The community of Meitei people in Manipur also joined the outcry.
The demolition has sparked widespread condemnation from historians, scholars, and heritage societies, who describe the loss as “irreparable.” They call for a thorough inquiry into how the Redlands Buildings were taken down and demand a credible restoration plan.
The committee’s recommendation to use anastylosis—rebuilding the original structure from existing parts—aims to preserve the architectural integrity of the Rajbari while respecting international heritage standards. The outcome could set a precedent for how historic sites are handled in the region.
Source: ianslive
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