Maharaj Narasingh
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 11 2019:
The 169th death anniversary of Maharaj Narasingh was held at Kangla today, under the aegis of Manipur State Archaeological Department, Art and Culture, Manipur.
Titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba, Art and Culture Director Aribam Shivdas Sharma, Maharaj Narasingh Memorial Committee vice president RK Rajendra and Mutuwa Bahadur, Mutua Museum Director, led the people in paying floral tributes to the memorial of Maharaja Narasingh.
A contingent of Manipur Rifles also performed guard of honour, gun salute, reverse arms, sounding of last post, two minute silence, slope arm and under arm as a mark of respect.
A tarpon offering was also performed at Nungjeng Pukhri and a song was staged by Shri Shri Govindaji Jalakeli Pala.
Speaking at the event, Art and Culture Director Aribam Shivadas Sharma said that the present generation and the future generation should learn from the ideology of Maharaj Narasingh who regarded protecting Manipur as more important than protecting the throne.
The death anniversary is observed as a means of spreading awareness and knowledge about such kind of history to the people, he added.
Titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba said that starting from Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, Manipur has had around 70 rulers or kings.
Out of the said rulers, some were selected and till today, death anniversaries have been observed annually for the selected few kings so that the people will not forget their ancestors and history, he added.
The story of the kings of the land cannot be forgotten.
Instead of just being a ruler of Manipur, Maharaj Narasingh worked tirelessly to ensure that the people and the land did not become slaves under any power.
It is the duty of all the people to pay utmost respect to such a king, he said.
Conveying that Manipur has more than 2000 years of rich history, Sanajaoba said that Maharaj Narasingh fought valiantly during the 7 years devastation at the hands of the Burmese to ensure Manipur was not lost forever.
On the other hand, Leishemba Sanajaoba continued that Maharaj Harichandra should not be forgotten by the people as well.
The Kanglasha at Kangla was built for the first time during the time of Maharaj Chourajit.
After the British destroyed the Kanglasha in 1891, it was rebuilt again, he informed.
He then stressed on the importance of proper preservation and renovation of the Palace at Langthabal and appealed to the authority concerned to look into the matter at the earliest.