By Firstdespatch Desk Aug 19, 2026
Agartala, Aug 19 (FD) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday said Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur played a pioneering role in the State’s modern development and worked to promote harmony between tribal and non-tribal communities.
Paying floral tribute to the Maharaja’s statue at Zero Point in Agartala on his 118th birth anniversary, Saha said the contributions of the Manikya dynasty must be recognised and preserved as an integral part of Tripura’s history.
The Chief Minister alleged that previous governments had failed to accord the Manikya dynasty and Maharaja Bir Bikram due recognition.
“Our BJP-led government has taken sincere initiatives to restore their rightful place in the history of the State and ensure that their contributions receive the recognition and honour they deserve,” Saha said.
Meanwhile, Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma and royal scion called for stronger protection of the land rights of Tripura’s indigenous people, saying the most meaningful tribute to Maharaja Bir Bikram would be to fulfil his vision that no poor indigenous person should become landless.
Speaking on the occasion of the Maharaja’s birth anniversary, Pradyot questioned whether the State had truly carried forward Maharaja Bir Bikram’s vision despite widespread ceremonial tributes.
He said the former ruler had introduced legal safeguards in 1940 to protect indigenous land in tribal areas and restrict its transfer to non-indigenous people. According to Pradyot, subsequent changes in the legal framework after Independence altered these protections, while areas reserved for tribal communities later came under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
“We celebrate Maharaja Bir Bikram’s birthday and seek votes in his name, but when will his dream be fulfilled?” Pradyot asked, stressing that land ownership was essential for the economic and social security of indigenous communities.
While the Chief Minister focused on preserving Maharaja Bir Bikram’s historical and developmental legacy, Pradyot urged that his legacy should also be honoured through stronger constitutional safeguards and protection of land rights for indigenous people. FD JK