Manipur: Declare ‘Kangla’ World Heritage Site, says Sanajaoba Leishemba

IMPHAL:

The titular king of Manipur and the lone Rajya Sabha member of parliament, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, has demanded that the Upper House declare Kangla, which is the ancient capital of Manipur as a World Heritage Site.

Sanajaoba Leishemba said that Kangla which is the ancient capital of Manipur has been the seat of Manipur civilization since time immemorial till the British occupation of Manipur on 27 April 1891 AD.

“Over 70 kings of the same dynasty have ruled continuously for 1858 years at Kangla,” he added.

He further said that British officers in Manipur described in their books and reports about the many fine buildings and monuments of Kangla but they were, however, destroyed in the Anglo-Manipuri war of 1891.

Speaking about the significance of Kangla, Sanajaoba Leishemba said, “Manipur gave the game of modern polo to the world. The Britishers called the game as Hockey on horseback and Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy of India, described Manipur as the cradle of polo. Since modern polo originated from Manipur and the oldest polo ground of the world is inside Kangla.”

(Edited by Christopher Gatphoh)