The demolition of the historic Red Land building in Shillong on September 8 has triggered widespread outrage in Manipur, with former Law Minister Okram Joy Singh accusing the act of being a deliberate attempt to erase a vital chapter of the state’s political history. Speaking to reporters at his Kakwa residence, O. Joy described the destruction as “shocking and unacceptable” and demanded that those responsible be immediately identified and punished.
Red Land, a building of immense historical and political significance, was the site where Maharajah Bodhachandra signed the merger agreement with the Union of India on September 21, 1949. Okram Joy Singh, a key figure in recovering the property for the Manipur government, detailed the building’s journey from private sale to state possession. Initially sold in the early 1980s for a mere Rs. 2 lakhs, the land was reacquired by the Manipur government following a concerted effort by O. Joy, then Law Minister in 1990, along with officials from the Arts and Culture Department and legal representatives. The team successfully persuaded then Meghalaya Chief Minister BB Lyndoh to return the property to Manipur, safeguarding it as a historic state asset. The then Chief Minister late Rishang Keishing deposited a sum of Rs. 10 Lakhs for recurring the building to concern department but could not complete during his tenure.
O. Joy expressed deep anguish that despite its historical importance, Red Land had been neglected over the years. “From 1990 to 2021, no restoration or renovation efforts were undertaken,” he said. In the months leading up to the demolition, multiple appeals were submitted to the Governor of Manipur and state authorities to prevent the destruction and initiate conservation work. Former Union Minister Dr. RK Ranjan and Munish Nigthoujam, President of the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Meghalaya, also submitted memoranda highlighting the building’s significance and urging protection. Yet, all warnings went unheeded, and the structure was razed on September 8.
O. Joy accused the demolition of being a deliberate attempt to sabotage Manipur’s political glory. “There is no legal provision that allows the destruction of a structure of such historical and political significance. This act is not just neglect; it is a targeted attack on our state’s heritage,” he asserted. He also highlighted that the successive sales and transfers of the property before its recovery, culminating in its demolition, reveal serious lapses and possible collusion in undermining the building’s preservation.
The demolition has sparked demands from historians, political leaders, and civil society in Manipur for urgent intervention. O. Joy urged the government to investigate the demolition, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure restoration and protection of remaining historic structures, warning that continued negligence threatens the erasure of the state’s political memory.
The Red Land demolition stands as a stark reminder that heritage conservation in Manipur remains perilously weak, and without immediate action, more of the state’s historic and political landmarks may be lost forever.