No reaction to Sidhli demolition

SHILLONG: A day after TOI broke the story regarding the demolition of the old Sidhli House, where Rabindranath Tagore stayed during his last visit to Shillong in May and June 1927, there has been no official reaction in this regard. On Tuesday, chief minister Mukul Sangma had said he would seek details regarding the matter. "There has never been any concerted effort from the part of any organization or committee to preserve the structure connected with Tagore's memory," said M Bhattacharjee, a retired college teacher.

Nevertheless, according to an old timer, the founding chief minister of Meghalaya, the late Captain WA Sangma, had shown interest in preserving the Sidhli House but apparently nothing much was done in this regard. Meanwhile, it is understood that though the old structure has been demolished, the plaque commemorating Tagore's visit would be preserved for posterity.