By Haokholala Thangjom
In the days of yore, there was a broad divide between the tribal people and the non-tribal people in Manipur. The majority non-tribal people, the Meiteis embraced the Gouradharma sect of Hinduism and the tribal people mostly embraced Christianity and the rest may be aptly called as animists.
I still remember that the Meiteis claimed to be descendants of the Aryans through Chitrangada spouse of Arjuna according to the Book of Badrudahon Pokpa by late Lairenmayum Ibungohal Singh, an eminet jurist and writer of yesteryears in the thirties. Late Dwijamani Sharma was a staunch supporter of the claim. Circumstantially, as an attendant fact, untouchability or Amang Aseng was very much rampant in between the broad divides till the forties.
The derogatory term applied to the tribal people by them was Hao. (In fact, the term Haomei is used by the Kabuis to identify themselves and in the absence of other voluble term the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group used as common parlance the term Eimi, means “our people”. At the time when cinema film like Jumbo or Trazan was screened the unknown Jungle people were called Haos in Manipuri or Meiteilon.
Significantly, the blaring call of late Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to abolish untouchability in the Indian society penetrated Maanipur, from the year 1964. The call was responded by the staunch supporters in Manipur. The activists of the movement in Manipur or precisely, our Meitei brethern forged ahead with sincere conviction which scripted the dawn of emotional integration in our State.
Factually, the names of the Sougaijam family, the valiant anti-obscurantist, the Maharajkumari (Iche) Binodini and a host other names are worthy of mentioning as Pro-liberals or pioneer of reformers.
I count myself fortunate as to an activist to share the splendour of their momentous idea that moved them to such “bloodless revolution” in our society which still thrives till today which is one of the ties that bind the people of Manipur. While the ugly head of Untouchability still raises its ugly head in other or our country it has been pulverised and became a thing of the past.
Another feather in the cap of the people of Manipur is the most dreaded communal riot on the basis of religion or ethnicity or caste and creed is unknown to us. The enviable beauty of Manipur lies therein. Manipur is lucky in not involving boundary dispute with any neighbouring States.
In regard to official language of the State, the legacy of the British regime still continues. The English language in the higher heirachy English and in the lower echelon Meiteilon/Manipuri have been going side by side without any fuss or raising eyebrow as happened in Assam.
I remember still that when the K.C.S.I.9 Knight Commander Star of India was conferred on late Maharajah, Churachand Singh by the British. The relation between him and the tribal Chief was very cordial and intimate.
Let the Government of the State remember the development of the valley people, let them not forget the development of the people in the tribal areas of Manipur. (Note: the Hill Areas). Blessed be the ties that bind the people of Manipur!
The Sangai Express
In the days of yore, there was a broad divide between the tribal people and the non-tribal people in Manipur. The majority non-tribal people, the Meiteis embraced the Gouradharma sect of Hinduism and the tribal people mostly embraced Christianity and the rest may be aptly called as animists.
I still remember that the Meiteis claimed to be descendants of the Aryans through Chitrangada spouse of Arjuna according to the Book of Badrudahon Pokpa by late Lairenmayum Ibungohal Singh, an eminet jurist and writer of yesteryears in the thirties. Late Dwijamani Sharma was a staunch supporter of the claim. Circumstantially, as an attendant fact, untouchability or Amang Aseng was very much rampant in between the broad divides till the forties.
The derogatory term applied to the tribal people by them was Hao. (In fact, the term Haomei is used by the Kabuis to identify themselves and in the absence of other voluble term the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group used as common parlance the term Eimi, means “our people”. At the time when cinema film like Jumbo or Trazan was screened the unknown Jungle people were called Haos in Manipuri or Meiteilon.
Significantly, the blaring call of late Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to abolish untouchability in the Indian society penetrated Maanipur, from the year 1964. The call was responded by the staunch supporters in Manipur. The activists of the movement in Manipur or precisely, our Meitei brethern forged ahead with sincere conviction which scripted the dawn of emotional integration in our State.
Factually, the names of the Sougaijam family, the valiant anti-obscurantist, the Maharajkumari (Iche) Binodini and a host other names are worthy of mentioning as Pro-liberals or pioneer of reformers.
I count myself fortunate as to an activist to share the splendour of their momentous idea that moved them to such “bloodless revolution” in our society which still thrives till today which is one of the ties that bind the people of Manipur. While the ugly head of Untouchability still raises its ugly head in other or our country it has been pulverised and became a thing of the past.
Another feather in the cap of the people of Manipur is the most dreaded communal riot on the basis of religion or ethnicity or caste and creed is unknown to us. The enviable beauty of Manipur lies therein. Manipur is lucky in not involving boundary dispute with any neighbouring States.
In regard to official language of the State, the legacy of the British regime still continues. The English language in the higher heirachy English and in the lower echelon Meiteilon/Manipuri have been going side by side without any fuss or raising eyebrow as happened in Assam.
I remember still that when the K.C.S.I.9 Knight Commander Star of India was conferred on late Maharajah, Churachand Singh by the British. The relation between him and the tribal Chief was very cordial and intimate.
Let the Government of the State remember the development of the valley people, let them not forget the development of the people in the tribal areas of Manipur. (Note: the Hill Areas). Blessed be the ties that bind the people of Manipur!
The Sangai Express
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