Agartala, 19th August 2026 : Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Wednesday underlined the historical contribution of the Manikya royal dynasty to Tripura’s development, culture and social harmony while addressing BJP karyakartas in Agartala.
Saha said the contributions of several kings and maharajas to nation-building and national integration had not received adequate recognition after Independence. He credited former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with initiating efforts to bring their contributions into public discourse, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had further strengthened the initiative since 2014.
Highlighting the Manikya dynasty, Saha said Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur played a pivotal role in transforming Tripura and accelerating development projects initiated by his predecessors, including Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya and Bir Chandra Manikya
The Chief Minister also recalled the longstanding relationship between the Manikya royal family and Rabindranath Tagore. He said the association continued for three generations and included support to Tagore’s Visva-Bharati institution. He also referred to Tagore’s literary works, including Rajarshi, Mukut and Bisharjan, which had links with Tripura’s royal history.
Saha said Tripura had historically been known for cultural harmony, where indigenous communities, Manipuri people and Bengali-speaking communities lived together without the divisions often witnessed today. He cited musician S.D. Burman as one of the prominent cultural figures associated with the royal family.
Referring to Agartala’s urban development, Saha pointed to the planned road network around Ujjayanta Palace, Maharajganj Bazar and areas such as Ramnagar as evidence of Bir Bikram’s modern outlook.
Pradesh BJP President and MLA Abhishek Debroy described Bir Bikram as the “architect of modern Tripura.” He said the BJP had worked to bring the Maharaja’s contributions before the public, including through birth anniversary programmes and the naming of the airport after him.
Debroy also highlighted Bir Bikram’s contribution to education, including the establishment of MBB College, expansion of schools and his vision for higher education. He said the Maharaja’s emphasis on education, culture and urban planning laid important foundations for modern Tripura.
