Tripura king to grace 'Footprints 2011'

On 26th February is the North-East – Tibetan Festival at the college. The Festival will begin at 5.00 p.m. and closes at 8.00 p.m. His Highness Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman, the King of Tripura, aged 32 will be the Chief Guest. You have the details on the King below. This information is sent to you early so that you are able to make it for the festival. The festivals will a presentation of the dances, songs and other aspects of the rich culture of the North East and Tibet.

Fr Ambrose Pinto SJ

Principal

Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman

Maharaja Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman Manikya Bahadur, also Known as P.B.K Manikya (born on July 4th, 1978) is the current king of the Royal House of Tripura. He succeeded to the throne of Tripura on November 27, 2006.

He is the Chairman of the Royal Heritage Hotel

Member of the All India Congress

Chairman and Editor of “The Northeast Today” Magazine

Advisor to the North East Students Committee in Delhi

Advisor to the North East Regional Development Association (NERDA)

Chairman of the Royal Tripura Foundation

Member of the Governing Council of Tripura Central University

Activities

A keen sportsman, he was a junior representative in cricket and football. He is also a recipient of NE TV's Entrepreneur of the Year 2004, an award for young entrepreneurs of the northeast of India (for the first heritage hotel in the northeast of India). A social worker, he has worked in helping children and the elderly with constant charity and social get-togethers. He is also a music fan and was instrumental in bringing the American band Fire House to the Northeast for the first time. In perhaps the biggest concert yet in the Northeast, he invited both Fire House and White Lion to play at Shillong and Dimapur to packed audiences of over 42,000 and 17,000 respectively. The proceeds of the shows went to Providence School run by his ex-schoolteacher Br. D’ Souza. Along with education, the school also stresses vocational training for economically challenged children. The band White Lion spent some quality time with the children and teachers alike. Barman was also pivotal in promoting Indian Idol winner Sourabhee Debbarma.

In an interview, Pradyot Barman discussed his work with unprivileged children across the northeast and his desire to contribute more in the fields of health, education and rural development. He has been quoted as saying that his struggle is not against any political party but against the caste system and inequality, which he wants to eliminate. The new king has launched a magazine called The Northeast Today which covers topics such as politics, social development, education, music, and sports from around the region. He is a member in the executive council in the first constituted body of the Tripura Central University by India's Ministry of Education. He also continues to help underprivileged children through various charities and has been a vocal activist for drug addiction and AIDS.

The bomb blasts in Tripura revealed another side of Pradyot when he strongly condemned the incident, in which even his palace was not spared. He openly challenged the terrorists to take on the family openly. The humanitarian and social side of Pradyot was also evident when he visited the hospitals and helped the victims. The open challenge to the militants is the first of its kind by any royal family in India.

Politics, Media and Sports

There have been frequent talks about him joining politics, but he has constantly shied answering this query by saying contribution to the state can come in various means and not just only by politics. The magazine “The Northeast Today”, for which he is the Editor and Publisher is now the largest circulated local English magazine in the region. Recently the Maharaja has spoken about promoting the game of Football and other sports in the Northeast Region. He is supporting clubs and other youth activities in the region. It is reported that he will also be sponsoring the women's football team in Tripura. He is one of the youngest Kings in the country and also considered to be one of the most eligible bachelor in the country. The Tripura Dynasty is also the second oldest in the world from a single straight line, the present king being the 186th. Only the Mikado Dynasty from Japan have an older lineage.