Cabinet minister Marcuise Marak, who chairs the committee overseeing the preservation of Garo culture and heritage, today assured that no commercial structures will be built near the Cenotaph site in Tura.
The announcement comes amid widespread opposition to earlier government proposals to reconstruct the historic memorial without stakeholder consultation. Public outcry had also been triggered by reports suggesting plans to build a commercial establishment alongside the memorial.
Marak clarified that the concerns have been addressed during a meeting held on April 15, and all stakeholders are now aligned with the revised plan. “We have received requests to include names that were earlier left out of the Cenotaph. The committee will make efforts to identify and incorporate those names after thorough research,” he said.
Since the existing memorial reflects only a few names, the committee has proposed the creation of an additional war memorial to accommodate all the names of other Garos who lost their lives in World War I. Two possible sites have been suggested for this second memorial – the old Circuit House and the former public school premises at Babupara.
Stakeholders and community leaders have unanimously recommended that the existing Cenotaph should be reconstructed at its current location without any relocation.
Built to honour the hundreds of Garos who died in France during World War I and to commemorate the return of the few survivors on July 16, 1918, the Cenotaph holds significant historical and cultural importance for the people of Garo Hills.
Marak also informed that the committee will convene its second meeting on April 30. “An architect has already been engaged to design the new structure. The design will be presented to the committee and, if approved, it will be forwarded to the government for final consideration,” he said.
