Andhra Pradesh: GSU demands apology from tourism department

Itanagar, Sept 14: The Galo Students’ Union (GSU) today demanded an apology from Arunachal Pradesh tourism department for showing Malinithan, a historical place, as located in Assam.

Taking serious exception to a photo published in the department’s magazine Discover Arunachal, where the famous site was described as located at Silapathar in Assam’s Dhemaji district, the union demanded that the department rectify the error in the next issue of the magazine.

In a representation to the tourism secretary, the GSU demanded an inquiry and action against the persons responsible for the error within 15 days, saying the union would otherwise take to the streets. It sought to know if it was a deliberate attempt on the part of the department to alienate the state’s property.

Malinithan is a temple site in ruins situated at the foot of the Siang hills under Likabali subdivision of West Siang district. According to legend associated with the place, Lord Krishna carried away Rukmini, the daughter of King Bhismaka, on the eve of her marriage with Shishupal.

Krishna and Rukmini were welcomed here by Goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva, with garlands, and the site thus acquired the name Malini and the place Malinithan. In course of series of excavation from 1968 and ending 1971, ruins of temples and valuable scriptures were unearthed at this site.

The fame of Malinithan as a holy place of worship draws a large number of visitors and pilgrims. The excavated site has beautifully designed and decorated base of a temple, divine images, icons of deities, animal motifs and floral designs, carved columns and panels. These rich granite sculptures belong to 14th-15th century, the more important being Indra on Airavat, Surya on Chariot and huge Nandi bull.

The temple dedicated to Goddess Durga at Malinithan is built on the classical tradition of Odisha.

PTI