Pena part missing in statue at Delhi Bhavan
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 02 2022:
Manipur Bhavan and Manipur Tikendrajit House have not only been facilitating state natives in terms of accommodation while visiting the national capital but also stand as a symbol of Manipur's identity and culture.
As an attempt to promote tradition, art and culture of the state, the government installed a statue of an artiste in traditional dress playing Pena instrument in seating position in front of the Manipur Tikendrajit House located in Chanakyapuri.
Interestingly, the statue has baffled many visitors as the statue could be seen holding only the Cheijing (bow) with the Pena Maru (body) missing.
The guesthouse was constructed during the rule of former chief minister late RK Ranabir and was inaugurated by him on May 30, 1990 along with then union minister of urban development Murasoli Maran.
Being the national capital, mpst of the states have their guesthouses in Delhi and these states either install statues or put up paintings depicting their tradition and culture.
Likewise, the statue of the Pena artiste in Khamen Chatpa attired with a Kokyet (headgear) could be seen just inside the gate of the guesthouse.
Native people of the state are aware of Pena instrument and its parts.
Seeing the statue would definitely remind anybody from the state of the sweet sound of Pena.
The People's Chronicle could not ascertain the exact date when the Pena Maru went missing but it is said that the main part of the Pena instrument has been missing for quite some time now.
Unfortunately, the government seems to be lacking interest in replacing the missing part to give a full picture of the statue.
Even though the government has been taking up various initiatives to improve Manipur Bhavans in different cities of the country, keeping the statue with the missing Pena Maru does not go weH with the state natives who visit the guesthouse with many stating that the Manipur Tikendrajit House will no longer resonate the sound of Pena in the absence of Pena Maru.