Govt urged to aid preserve Keibung monolith
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 27 2023:
A historic Keibung monolith erected at Heirangoithong Makha Maibam Lekai, Sarangthem Kollup, during the reign of King Khagemba, which was found damaged, was repaired and reinstalled along with religious rituals by Ibudhou Khagemba Committee in association with members of Khagemba Laikol and Utra Shanglen of Sana Konung on Wednesday.
Interacting with the media after the ritual, Committee president Sandham Gandharaj said that the monolith was erected sometime during the reign of King Mungyamba and King Khagemba.
As it is of historical importance the monument merits proper preservation and protecting, he stressed and opined that more such monuments could be unearthed if extensive research is carried out.
The president also urged the government to take up necessary steps for protection of the monument.
He disclosed that the committee received information about the broken monolith from Khagemba Laikol shortly before the on-going ethnic conflict broke out.
Upon inspection, the 7-feet monolith was found broken in half.
They contacted Utra Shanglen of Sana Konung on October 28 and repair work was taken up latter.
The religious ritual was conducted on Wednesday to infuse soul to the monolith and the committee hopes that it will help in restoring peace in the state, Gandharaj maintained.
Utra Shanglen 'maibah-anba' Samchetsabam Kondumba said that the Keibung monolith is associated with hunting and burying of around 80 tigers that terrorised the people of that time.
The incident is clearly recorded in Cheitharol Kum-baba, the royal chronicle of Manipur.
There are also old inscriptions in Meetei Mayek on the monolith.
Protecting such historical monuments is imperative for future generations, he said while expressing hope that the rituals conducted on Wednesday would help in restoring peace and normalcy in the state.