CM urged to unveil statue of Dumraon estate’s ex-ruler

Buxar: Ahead of his scheduled visit to Buxar on March 25, as part of the fifth phase of the Samriddhi Yatra, CM Nitish Kumar has been urged to unveil the statue of the late Maharaja Kamal Singh—former ruler of the Dumraon estate and a member of the first Lok Sabha.Man Vijay Singh, a senior member of the Dumraon royal family, has appealed to the CM to unveil the statue. The life-size bronze statue of Maharaja Kamal Singh, installed at the Dumraon sub-divisional office in March 2022, has not been officially inaugurated for over four years, causing disappointment among locals.Maharaja Kamal Singh is remembered as a towering personality in the Shahabad region, known for his contributions to education and healthcare.

The statue, commissioned by the state’s building construction department at an estimated cost of Rs19 lakh, was approved by CM, who had attended the Maharaja’s shradh ceremony in Jan 2020. Despite this, the formal unveiling is yet to take place.Dumraon SDM Rakesh Kumar said the delay occurred because the royal family wished that the CM unveils the statue.A proposal for the ceremony was sent to the CM’s office last year, but approval is still awaited, according to district officials.

Buxar BJP district president Omprakash Bhuvan described Maharaja Kamal Singh as not only Buxar’s first MP but also a heritage figure of Shahabad’s socio-political landscape. Dumraon JD(U) MLA Rahul Kumar Singh has also raised the issue in the assembly.Pradeep Kumar Jaiswal, president of the Dumraon Sub-Divisional Chamber of Commerce and Industries, emphasised the Maharaja’s pioneering role in regional development.Man Vijay Singh reiterated the family’s request, stating that the statue was installed with the support of the CM and urged him to unveil it during his visit.