MLA bats for restoring hill-valley bond
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 26 2012:
Accepting that the British occupation of the erstwhile independent kingdom of Manipur was the turning point for the strain in the hill-valley relationships, Tamei AC MLA Z kikhonbou Newmai called upon the people to relentlessly work for promoting and restoring the age-old bonhomie.
Speaking as the chief guest of a seminar held today at Hotel imphal, Kikhonbou expressed that when the indigenous people of Manipur were practising their respective customs and traditions the bond of friendship between the hill and valley was very cordial and remarkable.
However, with the advent of Christianity in the hills during and after the British rule and the valley people embracing Hinduism created chasm between the indigenous people, the MLA highlighted and suggested that constant interaction between the people would be helpful in restoring faith and cordiality amongst the people of the State.
Crediting the Government for paving the path of redemption through egalitarian implementation of welfare programmes in both the hill and valley areas, he also opined that redressing the problem of shortage of teachers in the hill area schools might be one of the ways to strengthen unity and integrity of Manipur.
The seminar on the topic 'Hills Matters ...
an indifferent perspective' was organised by International peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) and presided over by IPSA president Elangbam Johnson.
Expressing hope that the seminar will be able to adequately highlight need for strengthening the hill-valley relationships, Johnson affirmed that if there is unity among the people no external force would dare to drive wedge between one group of people and another.
The seminar held with Manipur University's Dean of School of Social Science Prof Amar yumnam and Dean of Centre for Environmental Studies Prof W Nabakumar as moderators of the morning and afternoon sessions respectively also had ISTV chief editor Yumnam Rupachandra, IGNTU-RC Manipur's Political Science Asst Prof Dr Ng Ngalengnam, CSSEIP Asst Prof Dr Thathang Vaiphei, MU History Department's Asst Prof Dr C Mathews, and social scientist Dr Dhanabir Laishram deliberate on related issues as the resource persons.