Dimapur's Kachari Rajbari Park in shambles

The ruins of Kachari Rajbari Park in Dimapur would have been a fine place for hangout for the locals to spend their leisure time.

However, over the years it has been neglected both by the authorities responsible for its upkeep and also by the citizens of Dimapur.

The neglect and apathy was proven correct after a Right to Information (RTI) application was filed by Dr. Yan Murry, CEO and Secretary of Society for Education, Empowerment and Development.

The reply to the RTI revealed that the funds allotted for the upkeep of the park in the last three years were Rs. 1 lakh in 2011-12, Rs. 8 lakh in 2012-13 and Rs. 7.7 lakh for 2013-14.

Saha Dev, the watchman of the park, said the neglected park has become a haven for alcoholics and misguided youths.

"I don't have to say about development of the park. I have been here as a watchman for 14 years even though my service has not been regularized till date. All these years, I faced a lot of problems to control the youth who came here with alcoholic drinks. They create nuisance, breaking bottles...." he said

Meanwhile, Rajbari Preservation Committee president Babloo Thaosen said the park is of great historical significance.

"The Kachari Rajbari was built by Raja Chakradhaj, the fourth king of Kachari. As per Archaeological Survey of India's description, the Kacharis, an ancient tribe established their fortified capital on the banks of Dhansiri River around 10th century A.D. at Dimapur," Thaosen said.

"The remains of the ancient Kachari capital in Dimapur is one of the most important sites of megalithic culture which belong to period of the Kachari civilization, established before the advent of Ahom in the 13th century AD," he added.

The park looks like a chess board with rows of gigantic chess pawns some even 20 feet high. All the stones were elaborately carved with representations of birds, animals, flowers, spear heads and other motifs.

The ruins give evidence of a culture that probably had a touch of Hinduism but was predominantly non-Aryan.

Today, the structural remains now lying at the sites are mainly the remains of a brick built gate and beautifully carved monolithic groups, tanks, and scattered blocks of stones and brick pieces with various designs.