G-20 Summit: Tripura NGO slams hosting of dinner at Durbar Hall of Ujjayanta Palace

Tripura based NGO INTACH Tripura chapter on April 5 condemned the state government’s decision to use the erstwhile Durbar Hall at Ujjayanta Palace State Museum for hosting the recent G-20 Summit Dinner on April 3.

In a statement,  M. K Pragya Deb Burman, Convenor, INTACH Tripura Chapter said many persons are not aware but an official dinner was hosted at the Ujjayanta Palace Durbar Hall for a few top delegates. As the name indicates, the Durbar Hall was not merely a room but a historical and sacred place, and has been held dearly, is close to the people of the State and been respected for over 122 years, by one and all. It was used for the Coronation/ Installation ceremony of the Rulers of Tripura which were religious in nature and for important, official purposes and never entertainment or dining!

“Even when the Ujjayanta Palace was used as the State Assembly building in the past, prior to becoming the State Museum, it was used for official purposes by the respected Speaker. Unfortunately, the identity of the Durbar Hall is being tarnished now by the State Government and this has shocked us. On the one hand, they speak of respecting our centuries old Indian culture, the visionary Maharajas and our rich historic past but on the other hand, discrete parties are held- such hypocrisy must be known and be condemned by the people!”, it reads.

Pragya Deb Burman who is also sister of Tipra Motha chairman and royal scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma has said it seems that the dinner was to be hosted in a 5 Star hotel but the authorities suddenly decided that the Durbar Hall should be used for the entertainment of the delegates.

“…The horribly placed statue where the throne used to be and gaudy dining arrangement in the Hall is insulting and shows disrespect for our Heritage and customary, religious practices and rites”, it said.

She claimed that there were plans by the Museum authorities to recreate the Durbar Hall with a replica of the Throne/ Chaturdala, for the purpose of educating citizens but with this disrespectful attitude, we fear the worst and ask the State Government of Tripura to honour historic spaces and give it the dignity it deserves.

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