Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha criticised the previous Left Front government for allegedly ignoring the contributions of the Manikya dynasty and Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya. He highlighted the Maharaja’s role in education, civic development, social harmony and modernisation, while stressing the present government’s efforts to restore his rightful historical recognition.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha today criticised the then Left Front government for never recognising or giving due respect to the Manikya dynasty and Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya for their contribution to the development of the state.
Dr. Saha said this after garlanding the statue of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur at Zero Point, Agartala on the occasion of Birth anniversary of Maharaja Bir Bikram.
He said that the history that everyone needed to know was deliberately kept away from the people, and efforts were made to ensure that the history of the royal period remained only in the past and that no one came to know about it.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been saying again and again, ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’. Those who have worked for our country have to be recognised. Especially the Manikya dynasty, who worked for Tripura, have to be remembered. During the reign of Maharaja Bir Bikram, we saw close coordination and close connection among tribal and non-tribal communities, along with unity and a spirit of living together,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that everyone knows that Maharaja Bir Bikram had visited many foreign countries, and because of this, his thinking was very broad. Among various civic bodies, he established one of the oldest municipal bodies in Agartala and undertook many initiatives for the development of the state.
“Intentionally, the contributions and legacy of the Manikya dynasty and Maharaja Bir Bikram were not given the recognition and prominence they deserved during the previous government. Even today, they continue to remain silent about the remarkable contributions of the Manikya Dynasty. However, our government has taken sincere steps to restore their rightful place in the history of Tripura and accord them the respect and recognition they truly deserve,” he added.
MLA Abhishek Debroy said that when Maharaja Bir Bikram envisioned higher education, Tripura had almost none of the necessary infrastructure for it. The Maharaja realized that true development of a state could not be achieved merely by building structures or palaces only, the light of education could take a nation forward.
MBB College and numerous schools established through his initiative remain the backbone of education in Tripura to this day. The MLA said Maharaja Bir Bikram believed in equal rights for all, regardless of caste or religion. His cabinet had representation from both tribal and Bengali communities. His passion for art and literature, and his close bond with Rabindranath Tagore, enriched Tripura’s cultural heritage.
In his welcome address, Kiran Gitte, Secretary of the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, described Maharaja Bir Bikram as a great visionary, educationist, and social reformer. He said the Maharaja worked tirelessly to move Tripura toward a modern and democratic administrative framework. The Secretary also highlighted the Maharaja’s nationalist role during the critical period of India’s independence and partition.
At the event, Dr. Dhammapiya was presented with the Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur Memorial Award-2026 in recognition of his significant contributions to education and culture and his important role in preserving and promoting the rich Buddhist and tribal cultural heritage. The Chief Minister presented him with a shawl, memento, citation, and a cheque for ₹1 lakh.
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At the start of the programme, Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha, along with other dignitaries, paid floral tributes to the portrait of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya. A documentary on various aspects of the Maharaja’s life and work was also screened at the event. Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA Deepak Majumder was present at the event.
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Earlier that morning, Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha paid floral tributes at the marble statue of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya installed at “Zero Point” near Kaman Chowmuhani. Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor and MLA Deepak Majumder, along with corporators, were also present.
