Dispute over death anniversary of King Narasingh creeps up
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 06 2012:
As is visible in every sphere of Manipuri society where difference of opinions marred everything, controversy over the day and date for the observance of death anniversary of King Narasingh has surfaced.
The controversy has given birth with one group observing the death anniversary of King Narasingh on April 11 every year while the other group opining that the birth or death anniversary of King Narasingh should be determined according to the lunar calendar and not Gregorian calendar.
Speaking to media persons in this regard, RK Mohinikumar, President of Narasingh Maharaja Memorial Descendents Union, said that according to Cheitharol Kumbaba, King Narasingh was born on the 28th day of Lamta, the Meetei lunar month.
He further said that before Manipur was taken over by British Empire, all the happenings in the Manipuri society were discussed and recorded in accordance to the Meetei lunar calendar.
The Gregorian calendar was introduced in Manipuri society by the British.
However, King Nara Singh died years back before the arrival of British in Manipur.
He also pointed out that the Death Anniversary of Maharaja Narasingh is being observed by the Narasingh Maharaja Memorial Descendents Union every year taking the date of his death according to the Meetei lunar calendar.
However, RK Tomalsana and RK Manisana, who are dissidents from Narasingh Maharaja Memorial Descendents Union formed a committee called Maharaja Nara Singh Committee and started observing April 11 as the Death Anniversary of King Narasingh.
Since then, the controversy has surfaced, Mohinikumar observed.
While welcoming the decision of the state government to declare the death anniversary of Maharaj Narasingh as a State Holiday, he, however, cautioned that it would be big blunder to destroy the culture and tradition of the Manipuris.