What's In A Name?

Agartala Airport to be renamed Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Airport to celebrate the visionary who paved the way for modern Tripura

- Shilajit Kar Bhowmik

Tripura’s euphoria exceeded all bounds on receiving the news that the Central Government approved the renaming of Agartala Airport as ‘Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya Airport’ on July 4, 2018. Locals are, without a doubt, excited that Tripura’s benevolent last ruler has been given his due.

The much appreciated name change was not an out-of-the-blue decision. It all began with a resolution moved by Sudip Roy Burman, former leader of the opposition in Tripura Legislative Assembly on June 29, 2010 to rename Agartala Airport as ‘Rabindranath Tagore Airport’. The resolution was passed unanimously. Days after, the resolution was staunchly opposed by Maharaja Pradyot Manikya, Head of Tripura’s Royal House and incumbent Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee Vice-President. He argued the airport should be named after his illustrious grandfather Maharaja Bir Bikram Manikya, who was the builder of the airport. Acknowledging Tagore’s literary talents and contributions, he also spoke about how Tagore had always held the royal family of Tripura in high esteem. His proposal gained immense support from a legion of people in Tripura. And thus, the decision of renaming the airport to ‘Rabindranath Tagore Airport’ was withdrawn.

The Maharaja and Rabindranath Tagore

Pradyot Manikya’s claims received ample support owing to the contributions his ancestors had made in the realm of education and culture, not merely for Tripura’s sake, but that of the entire country. It is said that Tagore would’ve never shot to prominence had his literary talents not been recognized by Maharaja Bir Chandra Manikya (Bir Bikram’s great-grandfather).