Photo Courtesy: tripuratimes
Agartala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the July 26 broadcast of his Mann Ki Baat radio programme to spotlight the Chongpreng. This three-stringed bamboo instrument hails from Tripura. It produces a sound similar to the Sarod. The music had been fading away. Now, it is coming back.
Suraj Kumar Debbarma leads this revival effort. He works to promote the instrument, Kokborok folk songs, Baul music, and Bengali folk traditions among the youth. Modi played an audio clip of the Chongpreng for the national audience. He urged listeners to share details about traditional instruments from their own regions.
State leaders took notice. Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha watched the programme at booth number 51 in the Pratapgarh assembly constituency. He thanked the Prime Minister for the recognition. Agartala Mayor Dipak Majumdar attended a community listening session at Naniamura Alimuddin JB School with local leaders and supporters. He called the broadcast a major moment for the state.
Majumdar noted the broader themes of the 136th episode, which touched on sports, Olympiads, handicrafts, and development in Jammu and Kashmir. Regarding the Prime Minister's message, Majumdar said, "The Prime Minister reminded us that safeguarding folk instruments and culture is the duty of the present generation. His words are an inspiration for Tripura."
The event carried extra weight for some locals. Officials distributed houses to 26 beneficiaries from Ward No. 8 under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana. Majumdar urged citizens to prioritize cultural heritage alongside national progress.
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