SHILLONG, JUN 17: Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai on Wednesday conducted an inspection of the proposed site for the Kiang Nangbah memorial at the Transport Department premises and said work will now be expedited to complete the project.

“This is the second time that we have come to inspect this site, and now we will work to complete the construction of the memorial for Kiang Nangbah at the location of the Transport Department,” Shullai told reporters after the inspection.

The Minister recalled initiating the proposal in 2022 during his earlier tenure as Arts and Culture Minister.

He said the idea emerged after he noticed a disparity in how national and Khasi heroes were commemorated.

“In 2022, when I was the Minister of Arts & Culture, I saw only one example at the State Central Library in Shillong – you see full statues of Indira Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, but for Tirot Sing, Kiang Nangbah and Pa Togan Sangma there are only monuments, and for Soso Tham too only half,” he said.

“Then a question came to me, and the youth came and told me – ‘you put up full statues of Indira Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, but for Tirot Sing, Kiang Nangbah and Pa Togan Sangma you will erect them only in my time’, and we have erected them,” Shullai added.

He said the project was taken up following suggestions from various organisations.

Emphasising the government’s approach, the Minister said, “This is through the suggestions of many organisations, and we worked on it, as the English saying goes – work more, talk less. We don’t have time to stand on the roads, in the markets just to impress people, but the work is not done. Our government is one that works a lot, talks less.”

Shullai said the government had already declared the site as ‘Kiang Nangbah Square’ in 2022 and communicated the same to the Transport Department. He noted that 10,000 square feet has been earmarked for a full-size statue of the freedom fighter.

“In 2022 we initiated this project at this very spot and we also wrote to the Transport department that we have declared this place as Kiang Nangbah Square. At that time, we discussed that we need 10,000 square feet to build the statue of Kiang Nangbah, it will be full size,” he stated.

The Minister added that the local MLA had recently reminded him about the pending project ahead of the Assembly session.

“On this occasion, before the session the local MLA reminded about this project and now we have decided to retain the 10,000 square feet area from the Transport department and after that we will do what is needed,” Shullai said.

Citing the government’s broader development push, he said, “Just now, projects worth Rs 52,000 crores have been launched. The people must see the example and the message I am sending is work more, talk less.”