PM Modi’s gift to Giorgia Meloni showcases rare Shirui lily from Manipur

KRUL: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented world leaders with gifts showcasing the intricacies of Indian art and rich fruit and millet products from across the country during his five-country tour. Among the gifts was a white silk stole decorated with a red border representing the insignia of the Shirui Lily (Lily mackliniae Sealy), which was presented to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Known locally as Kashong Timrawon, the Shirui lily is native to Shirui peak in Ukhrul district of Manipur. More than just a flower of exceptional beauty, it carries with it centuries of myths, legends and cultural significance for the Tangkhul Naga community.

The flower was discovered in 1946 by plant explorers led by Frank Kingdon-Ward and was later named after his wife, Jean Macklin, becoming known scientifically as Lily mackliniae Sealy. His discovery earned Kingdon-Ward the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society prize at the 1948 London Flower Show.

The Shirui lily is a delicate, whitish-pink, bell-shaped flower that reveals seven colors under a microscope. Every year, between May 15 and June 5, visitors travel to the Shirui Hills in the hope of witnessing its rare flowering. Carefully preserved for generations by the Tangkhul Nagas, the flower cannot be grown elsewhere, even under controlled conditions, adding to the mystery that surrounds both the flower and the hills it inhabits.

According to Tangkhul Naga folklore, a princess lies buried in the Shirui Hills, eternally awaiting the return of her lover. The Shirui lily is believed to bloom from the very ground where it rests. Over the generations, many stories and myths have emerged around the flower, lovingly passed down by the indigenous communities of Ukhrul. In honor of the national flower, the annual Shirui Lily Festival is celebrated during its peak flowering season, highlighting both its ecological and cultural importance.

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Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand shared on Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla also described the gesture as “a gracious tribute to the natural and cultural heritage of Manipur and North East India on the world stage”, adding that it carried the “spirit of heritage, craftsmanship and friendship” across borders.

Despite its symbolic importance, the Shirui lily faces multiple threats that endanger its survival and hamper conservation efforts. A study by Ngayaipam Zimik and Waikhom Arunkumar Meetei highlights that the endangered species, endemic to the Shirui Hills of Manipur, is under severe ecological stress. Climate change and massive human intrusion, including resource exploitation, wildfires, slash-and-burn cultivation, and unregulated ecotourism, have led to habitat degradation and population fragmentation.

Tourism has further intensified these challenges due to pollution, trampling and flower picking. Additionally, invasive species of dwarf bamboo are rapidly encroaching on the lily’s natural habitat, competing for resources and hampering conservation efforts. Difficulties in plant propagation have also complicated ex situ breeding initiatives.

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To address these challenges, a combination of modern conservation strategies and community initiatives have been implemented. Traditionally, the Tangkhul tribe protects the upper reaches of the Shirui Hills as sacred territory, a cultural practice which has naturally contributed to the preservation of biodiversity.

Local organizations such as the Shirui Youth Club and the Mungleng Vathei Hill Development Society continue to play a crucial role in conservation by removing invasive weeds, managing waste, preventing illegal harvesting and collecting seeds for replanting. Effective community forest management remains essential to safeguard not only the Shirui lily but also the wider ecosystem and indigenous knowledge systems of the region.