Tripura Maharaja Graces TSFD Freshers' Meet

New Delhi, Oct 7, 2013: The Tripura Students’ Forum (TSF) Delhi, organised its 11th Freshers’ Meet on Saturday evening at the Qutub Institutional Area. The event was graced by Tripura Maharaja, Pandyot Bikram Manikya, who is also the Editor of Northeast Today magazine, as the Chief Guest. Dr Yaruingam Awunghsi, Head of the Department of African Studies, Delhi University, attended as the Special Guest.

Held at Srimanta Sankardeva Bhawan, Assam Association, the programme witnessed a vibrant gathering of Tiprasas residing in the national capital. The boys donned formal attire with Risha, while the girls showcased their traditional dress.

Addressing the students, Maharaja Manikya urged them to remain focused. “Don’t get into politics. Follow your leader. Politics and political parties exist only for elections, which happen every five years,” he said. “We need to wake up and stand united. The system of governance has created further division among us. We must rise beyond it.” He added, “If you are affected, it also affects me. We are one—the indigenous people of Tripura.”

The Maharaja also spoke about the recent declaration of the Ujjayanta Palace as a heritage building. Defending the 112-year-old palace, he remarked, “Let them [the government] build statues and museums of Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose—I don’t mind. But why are they trying to take away the heritage of the indigenous people of Tripura?”

A dynamic personality, the young Maharaja serves as the General Secretary of Tripura Pradesh Congress and Chairman of the Royal Tripura Foundation, in addition to being actively involved in social work, including establishing schools in remote areas.

Dr Awungshi, the Special Guest, spoke on the importance of quality over quantity. He urged students to cultivate intellectual excellence and uphold moral values. “If morality deteriorates, we deteriorate. You must nurture intellectualism, for we live in an era of knowledge,” he said.

The evening was filled with cultural performances, including Lebang Bumani, the Reang community’s traditional Dailo dance, the modern-Kokborok fusion dance Oh Jadu, Kwchang Kwchang, and Mokol Bal.

The freshers performed the Kokborok dance Kowai Khili, while senior students choreographed an elegant Bollywood dance. An English-style dance, followed by a Hindi Longi dance, also drew enthusiastic cheers from the audience. A special skit presented by the president and two male colleagues had the crowd roaring with laughter.

The first round of freshers’ introductions was followed by a cake-cutting ceremony, symbolising a warm welcome by the senior members. Dr Yaruingam Awunghsi and TSDF President Ms Tiffani Kalai jointly cut the cake.

Hamu Jamatia, a student of Dayal Singh College, and Tanushree Debbarma, from the Regional Institute of Management, Gurgaon, were crowned Mr and Miss Fresher, respectively.

The event was a rich celebration of Tripura’s culture and history, showcased through vibrant dances, songs, and skits by talented students. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Tripura students are natural performers, effortlessly dancing to English, Hindi, and Punjabi beats. The evening concluded with Wahan Mosodeng, a signature dish of Tripura.

~ for The Mizoram Post, Manipur Chronicle, The Northeast Today, Zogam Today.

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