![]() Statue of Meidingu Nara Singh (1844-1850 A.D.) in front of the Kangla Sanathong, the Western Entrance to the Kangla Fort in Imphal | |
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24°48′27″N93°56′19″E / 24.8075°N 93.9387°E | |
Location | Kangla Sanathong, the Western Entrance to the Kangla Fort in Imphal |
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Designer | S. Nimai, a sculpture teacher of Imphal Art College [1] |
Type | Bronze sculpture |
Material | Bronze [1] |
Opening date | 15 June 2022 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] |
Dedicated to | Meitei monarch Meidingu Nara Singh (1844-1850 A.D.), His Highness, the ruler of Kangleipak (Meitei for ' Manipur kingdom ') |
The Statue of Meidingu Nara Singh, also known as the Statue of Maharaja Narasingh (Meitei : Meidingu Narasinghgi Mitam), [lower-alpha 1] is a bronze sculpture located at the Kangla Sanathong, the western entrance gate to the Kangla Fort in Imphal. Meidingu Nara Singh (1844-1850 A.D.) was a Meitei monarch and the sovereign of Kangleipak ( Meitei for ' Manipur kingdom '). [3]
During April 2022, on the 172nd death anniversary of Meidingu Nara Singh, Manipur's chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh announced that the Government of Manipur is planning to install a statue of the Meitei monarch at the western entrance gate to the Kangla Fort within 100 days. [6] [7] [8] [9] The observation function was organised by Manipur State Archaeology, Department of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur. [8]
To the public, Nongthombam Biren Singh announced the following:
Paid rich tributes to the gallant Maharaja Nara Singh on his 172nd death anniversary at Kangla today. During the First Anglo-Burmese War, soon after the 7 years devastation, his strong military acumen led to the defeat of the Burmese army by driving them beyond the Ningthi river.
The people of Manipur will always remember Maharaja Nara Singh's spirit of nationalism and the Government of Manipur will soon build a befitting memorial tomb in honour of his great contribution to the people of Manipur. [6]
Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren, recalling the struggles of Meidingu Nara Singh and others during the Seven Years Devastation, said:
Whatever we have today is all because of the hard work and sacrifices of our great leaders and our society would have no value if we don't honour them and follow their paths. [6] [8] [9]
On the occasion of the very 172nd death anniversary, Manipur's Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Leishemba Sanajaoba, who is also the current titular King of Manipur, said,
"Maharaja Nara Singh was a king who always worked for the protection of the motherland and he always gave priority to the welfare of people rather than the powers he possessed as a king." [6]
On 15 June 2022, the Government of Manipur, led by Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh, unveiled the statue of Meidingu Narasingh, which was built next to the Kangla Sanathong, the western entrance gate to the Kangla Fort in Imphal. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The bronze sculpture of Meidingu Nara Singh (Meitei : Meidingu Leiren Nonglen Sentreng Manikhamba [1] ) was unveiled at the western entrance gate to the Kangla Fort, under the aegis of the Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Manipur. [1] The unveiling ceremony was participated by Dr RK Nimai Singh, Arts and Culture Commissioner, L. Birendra, Elangbam Sonamani and R.K. Modhuchandra, the senior most person of the Ningthouja dynasty, the clan of Meidingu Nara Singh. The sculpture was crafted by S. Nimai, a sculpture teacher of Imphal Art College. It took him five years to complete the artwork. [1]
The Kangla, officially known as the Kangla Fort, is an old fortified palace at Imphal, in the Manipur state of India. It was formerly situated on both sides of the bank of the Imphal River, now remaining only on the western side in ruined conditions. Kangla means "the prominent part of the dry land" in old Meetei. It was the traditional seat of the past Meetei rulers of Manipur.
Nongthombam Biren Singh is an Indian politician, former footballer and journalist who is currently serving as the 12th Chief Minister of Manipur since 2017, in addition to representing the Heingang Assembly constituency in the Manipur Legislative Assembly since 2002. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Besides being the chairman of Shri Shri Govindaji Temple Board, he is the first incumbent Chief Minister who serves as the president of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board (LSTB), the temple development board of Lainingthou Sanamahi of the Sanamahi religion since 2021.
Nara Singh also known as Chingthanglen Pamheiba and Meetingu Lairen Nonglen Sendreng Manik Khomba, was a ruler of the Kingdom of Manipur. He ruled first as regent from 1834 to 1844 and then as king for a period of six years from 1844 to 1850. His subjects called him ‘Eningthou Nungsiba’ or ‘our beloved king’.
The social movement of Meitei language to achieve the officially recognised status of the "Classical language of India" is advocated by various literary, political, social associations and organisations as well as notable individual personalities of Bangladesh, Myanmar, Northeast India.
The Kangla Sanathong, also known as the Kangla Gate, is the western entrance gate to the Kangla Fort in Imphal West district of Kangleipak.
The Hijagang is a boathouse inside the Kangla Fort in Imphal, India. It houses four traditional Meitei watercraft, including two hiyang hirens and two tanna his. According to Meitei religious beliefs, the hiyang hirens are used by the male ancestral deity and female ancestral deity and are sacred to the Meiteis, the major ethnic group of Manipur.
The Pakhangba Temple, also known as the Pakhangba Laishang, is a Meitei temple dedicated to the God Pakhangba of Sanamahism, the traditional Meitei religion, located beside the Nungseng Eekon, to the left side of the Kangla Sanathong, the western gate of the Kangla Fort in the Imphal West district of Manipur.
The Manung Kangjeibung is an old polo field located to the south west of the citadel inside the Kangla Fort in Imphal West district of Manipur. In ancient times, only royalties and nobilities were allowed to play the game of polo in this royal playground. It is one of the two most ancient pologrounds in the world, the other one being the Mapal Kangjeibung .
There are three notable museums inside the Kangla Fort in Imphal West district of Kangleipak, which are the Kangla Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Memento Museum. Some people also count the Hijagang as a museum.
Kangla Nongpok Torban or Eastern Bank of the Kangla is a riverside recreation area, on the eastern bank of the Imphal River in Imphal, Manipur, India. It was developed under the aegis of Imphal Smart City Limited. With the length of approximately 700 metres (2,300 ft), it covers its area from the Sanjenthong Bridge in the South to the Nongpok Thong of Kangla Fort in the North.
The Sanggāi Yumpham, was the citadel, a fortified royal residence within the Kangla Fort, Imphal. It is preserved as an archaeological site as well as a tourist attraction.
Events in the year 2022 in Manipur
In Meitei mythology and Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur, Kanglā shā is a sacred guardian beast with a lion's body and a two-horned dragon's head, with two horns. It is a royal symbol of the Meitei royalties . The most remarkable statues dedicated to "Kangla Sa" stand inside the Kangla.
The Marjing Polo Statue is a colossal classical equestrian statue of a player of Sagol Kangjei, riding a Meitei horse, constructed at the Marjing Polo Complex, the sacred sports site dedicated to God Marjing, the ancient Meitei deity of polo and horses, in Heingang, Imphal East District, Kangleipak . It is the world's tallest statue of a polo player. It is built to commemorate the game of "modern polo" being originated from Kangleipak.
The Kangla Nongpok Thong, shortly known as the Nongpok Thong, is the Eastern Gate Bridge of the Kangla Fort of Imphal, Kangleipak . With the re-opening of the modern Eastern Gate of the Kangla, the Kangla Western Gate was closed forever, under the leadership of Nongthombam Biren, the then Chief Minister of Manipur, due to the traditional Meitei belief that the western gate is regarded as the gate of the dead and it is ominous to enter the Kangla through the western doorway.
The Marjing Polo Complex is a sports complex dedicated to ancient Meitei deity Marjing, Sagol Kangjei and Meitei horse, built in the hilltop of the Heingang Ching, the sacred abode of God Marjing, located in Heingang, Imphal East district, Kangleipak . It houses Marjing Polo Statue, the world's tallest equestrian statue of a polo player.
The Heingang Ching ), also known as the Meitei: Marjing Hill, is a hill in Heingang, Imphal East district of Kangleipak. In Meitei mythology and religion (Sanamahism), Heingang Ching is a sacred mountain and the home of God Marjing, the ancient Meitei deity of Sagol Kangjei, Khong Kangjei, and Meitei horse.
The Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board (LSTB) is a temple development board of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple, Haying Khongban Uphong Yumpham, Imphal West district of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur'). It is dedicated not only to God Lainingthou Sanamahi and Goddess Leimarel Sidabi of Sanamahism, but also to the other ancient Meitei gods and goddesses of the traditional Meitei religion.
The Naharolgi Thoudang is an Indian Meitei language daily newspaper, circulated mainly in the Northeast Indian state of Manipur. Since Meitei language is written predominantly in both Meitei script and Bengali script, Naharolgi Thoudang is printed in different editions of the two writing systems.
Sagol Kangjei is a traditional Meitei ball sport played on horseback with a long-handled stick. The sport, also known as Manipuri polo, is a predecessor of modern international polo.