Manipuri Muslim (Pangal) Historical Society revived, constituted new Executive Committee
Date : 11th September, 2022

Manipuri Muslim (Pangal) Historical Society revived, constituted new Executive Committee

A meeting of the Manipuri Muslim (Pangal) Historical Society held on September 11, 2022 at Lilong Heinou Khongnembi, Lilong, at the residence of late Md. Halim Khan, the founder Secretary of the society, decided to revive the society and constituted a new executive body.

The society, formed in 1991, with the objective of engaging in historical researches and inquiry to reconstruct the history of Muslims in Manipur, has not been functioning for several years. The last meeting of the society was held on September 9, 2001 at Ghani English School, Hafiz Hatta. One of the major reasons for the inactivity is that several key members of the society have passed away over the years, while many of them are not physically active enough to continue the work of the society.

Few new members were co-opted at the meeting, which included Retd. Principal of Y.K. College, Wangjing, Dr. Md. Serajuddin, Principal of Lilong Haoreibi College Dr. Raheijuddin Sheikh, Assistant Professor in History Department of D.M. College of Arts Dr. Syed Ahmed, Writer and Former Secretary of Writers Union, Imphal, S.M. Sheikh, writer M.M. Ahmed, Assistant Professor in History Department of Chandel College Md. Alauddin, and Guest Faculty in History Department of Lilong Haoreibi College Fm Mustafiz Khan.

A new Executive Committee of the society was also constituted, which included:

1. Md. Islamuddin as President
2. Dr. Md. Serajuddin as Vice-President
3. Dr. Syed Ahmed as Secretary
4. Fm Mustafiz Khan as Joint Secretary
5. Md. Alauddin as Treasurer
6. Dr. Md. Badaruddin as member
7. Dr. Raheijuddin Sheikh as Member
8. S.M. Sheikh as Member
9. M.M. Ahmed as Member
10. Dr. Md. Kheiruddin Shah as Member

The meeting also resolved to change the word, - Pangal, used in the name of the society to - Meitei-Pangal. It also further decided to release the English translation of Nongsamei Puya, edited by O. Bhogeswar Singh and M.A. Janab Khan and published in 1973, shortly. The translation was done by M.A. Halim Khan.

It may be recalled that the Manipur Muslim (Pangal) Historical Society was formed on January 13, 1991 with the following members in the Executive Committee:

1. M.A. Janab Khan as Chairman
2. M.A. Halim Khan as Secretary
3. Dr. Md. Ahmad Ali as Joint Secretary
4. Dr. Md. Islamuddin as Treasurer
5. Maulana Md. Jalaluddin as Member
6. Md. Ziauddin as Member
7. Md. Riajuddin Choudhury as Member
8. Md. Abdur Rahman as Member
9. Dr. Md. Badaruddin as Member
10. Md. Abdul Halim Shah as Member
11. Md. Kayamuddin Pukhrimayum as Member

The society actively engaged in research and inquiry with an aim to reconstruct the history of Muslims in Manipur. One of the major contributions of the society was the research, preparation and publication of the list of names of Manipuri Muslims who fought against the British in the battle at Khongjom and other battle fronts during the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. The society constituted a sub-committee on February 17, 1991 to gather the names of the Muslims who participated in the battle at Khongjom.

The sub-committee included Md. Riyajuddin Choudhury as Chairman, Dr. Md. Badaruddin as Convenor and M.A. Janab Khan, Dr. Ahmad Ali Shah, Syed Ahmed, Kayamuddin Pukhrimayum and M.A. Halim Khan as Members. They visited several Muslim villages and interviewed people to gather the names. The sub-committee managed to collect 30 names and particulars of Muslims who took part in the battle at Khongjom and other battle fronts.

M.A. Janab Khan listed the names of the 30 Muslim soldiers in his article, entitled “Muslim Fighters in the War of 1891,” published in Ch. Manihar Singh's edited volume, One Hundred Years of Manipur's Last War of Independence (1891-1991), published in 1991 commemorating the completion of 100 years of the historic Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. The list was also inserted in the appendix of Kullachandra Sharma & Badaruddin's book, Meitei Pangal Hourakpham, published in 1991.

The society submitted memorandum to the Governor of Manipur for recognising the names of these Muslim soldiers. The society also involved in some of the major issues of Manipur. It participated in the territorial integrity rallies, movement for inclusion of Manipuri language in the Eighth Schedule, engaged in discussion on the use of Meitei Pangal as a nomenclature for Manipuri Muslims in the OBCs list, adding of clan name or surname (sagei/yumnak) in the names of Muslims in Manipur, etc. M.A. Halim Khan delivered a speech at the massive integrity rally organised at Imphal Pologround on September 28, 2000.

Several Muslim academicians, politicians, community and religious leaders of the State were members of the society. Many prominent members of the society have passed away over the years. Few of them are mentioned here. Pukhrimayum Kayamuddin, writer and author of several books, from Keirao Makting died on July 13, 2003 in a road accident. He was an employee of the Directorate of Settlement & Land Records, Government of Manipur.

Dr. Md. Islamuddin died in a tragic incident on May 25, 2009. He was shot dead by some gunmen at the campus of Manipur University. Dr. Islamuddin served as Proctor and Dean of Students Welfare in the University. Md. Majher Ali Shah, who served as Principal of Lilong Haoreibi College, died on December 12, 2009. Dr. Ahmad Ali Shah, who served as Head of Chemistry Department of Thoubal College, passed away on January 18, 2010.

Md. Riyajuddin Choudhury from Hafiz Hatta passed away on February 28, 2011. He served as President of the society from 1996 to 2001. Choudhary served as Lecturer at G.P. Women's College. Syed Ahmed passed away on December 19, 2012. He served as Head of History Department of Thoubal College. He took voluntary retirement on December 31, 1999 and contested Assembly Election of 2000 from Andro Assembly constituency.

M.A. Halim Khan, the founder Secretary of the society, passed away on November 4, 2019. He served as Assistant Engineer in Minor Irrigation Department, Government of Manipur. Cultural Activist and author of several books, Md. Abdur Rahman from Keikhu Muslim passed away on September 11, 2020. Professor M.A. Janab Khan, the founder Chairman of the society, from Hafiz Hatta died on August 27, 2020. He served as Principal of D.M. College of Commerce and D.M. College of Arts, and retired as Additional Director of Directorate of University & Higher Education, Government of Manipur, in November 1997.

However, several other members of the society are still alive, mention can be made of Former Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Dr. Maneruddin Sheikh, Researcher Md. Riyaz Ahmed Shah, Retired Principal of G.P. Women's College Abdul Gaffar, Retired Head of Anthropology Department of D.M. College of Science, Dr. S.A. Latif Shah, Associate Professors at G.P. Women's College Dr. Diller Rahman, Abdul Hakim Shah and Md. Ziaur Rahman Khan, Social Activist Salamat Sheikh, Advocate Md. Abdul Qayum, among others.