Role of hill people not mention in Manipuri history: ZU President
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 09 2013: President of Zeliangrong Union-Assam, Manipur, Nagaland (ZU-AMN) Amu Kamei has claimed that history of Manipur is bias and the role of people in the hills during the course of formation of Manipur are not mention anywhere in the books of Manipur history.

Speaking at 'Reconsolidation Day' observance organized by United People's Front (UPF), Manipur at the Press Club here on Wednesday, Amu Kamei said that when the valley people including the then kings Gambhir Singh and Nara Singh were starving during the Seven Years' Devastation, all the tribal groups residing in the hill areas provided food and shelter to them.

However, in a manner to divide Manipur, historians have not mentioned anything about the roles of hill people, especially during the Seven Year's devastation.

In order to make a united and better Manipur, Meeteis who are in majority in the state should behave like an elder brother and show generosity toward the other smaller communities.

If that had been the case,there would have been no feeling of separatism among the people, Amu Kamei stated.

'Reconsolidation Day' observance organized by United People's Front (UPF)

Highlighting the condition of Tongjei Marin road (also known as National Highway No.150-A/Old Cachar Road) Amu Kamei urged all the organizations in the state to pay homage to our forefathers by developing the road under a committee comprising members of all Civil Society Organisations in Manipur.

Prof.N Joykumar of Manipur University's History department, who attended the function which was held in connection with the death anniversary of Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba, more popularly known as Maharaja Gambhir Singh (5th March 1788 � 9th January 1834), as a resource person, asserted that Manipur had to lost Kabow valley as the then king was not able to produce the required documents to prove that it was part of Manipur.

Before King Kiyamba extended his suzerainty over Kabow valley, Burma (now Myanmar) used to occupy the area after invading Shan state.

So, Kabow valley belongs neither to Manipur or Burma.

But when Burma claimed its control over the valley, the then British government in India handed over the controversial land to Burma on 9th January 1934, he explained.

Stating that study of history is to know the past, understand the present and give direction to future, Joykumar said that all the wars in the world are because of history and if we handle it carefully it good for the society nor would it have invited any war.

Further, he contended that the only gift that the people of Manipur got from India post its annexation to union of India is laziness and nothing else.

President of Kuki Inpi and Guest of Honour of the function Thangkhosei Haokip said that the problem in Manipur is how to solve the problem.

If all the people of Manipur fell secure in Manipur, there would be no issue of separation from their own state.

So, there is an urgent need for creating a sense of security among the people of Manipur.

Moreover, in order to re-consolidate Manipur, we need to avoid the attitude of intolerance, he opined.