Tripura government has faced an embracement with the report
of family dispute that prevented Padma Shree awardee 97 –yrs old Thanga Darlong to
fly Delhi in attending award receiving ceremony held on March 12 last.
He hails from remote Muruaibari in Kailashahar of Unokoti district of North Tripura
and a hardcore Jhumia (shifting cultivator).
After 25 yrs, BJP-IPFT government had persuaded for Darlong of to accord fourth
highest civilian award for his unique performance of Rosem. He is the last tribal
musician to play Rosem – a bamboo-made flute-like musical instrument, which made
of seven bamboos and with a dry gourd.
The invitation to attend the award giving ceremony had reached to Darlong through
state government but the officials did not follow it up. Darlong had never been beyond
Tripura and there was none to help him to fly to Delhi and he did not have money.
Darlong had received a handsome amount of money from several government and
non- government organisations as a gesture of goodwill for his contribution to the folk
music in the state after being nominated for Padma Shree but today he is empty
handed.
According to report, Darlong’s three sons and three daughters along with grandsons
are involved in the conflict over ownership of money he received as Padma Shree
recipient. The amount of money was taken away by the members of the family and left
him empty pocket.
The family chaos has left him in financial distress and this has forced him to cancel
his Delhi trip, sources in his village said. After accordance of Padma Shree, a house
on PMAY was sanctioned for him that has also triggered further dispute in family over
the ownership of the house.
The matter was informed to the local administration but there was no action.
