Promoting culture, religion must to protect community: ISSA
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 07 2021:
In order to ensure safeguard of a community, one needs to protect and promote the associated culture and religion of that community, said International Sanamahism Students' Association (ISSA) Kangleipak general secretary Lourembam Kangleinganba on the occasion of celebrating the 8th foundation day of the Association at Manipur Press Club here on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, Kangleinganba observed that the number of followers of Sanamahi religion, which has history of several millennia, is dwindling today and the desire to revive the indigenous religion of Meeteis was the driving factor behind the establishment of ISSA on September 25, 2014 at Lainingthou Sanamahi Shanglen, Kangla.
There are laws to protect wildlife, natural resources, and sacred places as well to safeguard and support minority religions but there is no such protective mechanism for Sanamahi religion, which has become a minority in its own soil.
As such, it is high time for the followers of Sanamahi religion living across the globe to join hands and protect and promote the religion, he said.
As the younger generations seem uninterested in understanding the ideologies and beauty of Sanamahi religion, it is high time to review the education syllabus so as to understand the extent of coverage on the indigenous culture of Manipur, he said and added that ISSA will take up proactive steps in this regard.
Manipur University of Culture registrar Laishram Radhakanta, ISSA Kangleipak president Khaidem Kangleingakpa and Manipur University head of Law department Dr Y Premananda attended the event as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.