NCCB and SHADHONA report incorrect, says IPSA
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 03 2020:
The International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) has claimed that two bodies namely National Crafts Council, Bangladesh (NCCB) and SHADHONA-A Centre for Advancement of Southern Culture submitted an erroneous report christened as pilot inventorying study of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), Bangladesh to UNESCO, Dhaka on February 25, 2018, concerning Bangladesh Manipuri community.
In a statement issued today, IPSA said that the project aimed at conserving fragile cultural heritages in Bangladesh.
Its inventory areas are Kamalganj, Moulvibazar, Sylhet Sadar, Habiganj and Sunamganj.
The submitted report mentioned that Bishnupriya community fled from the erstwhile Manipur Kingdom and settled in Bangladesh as they faced 'discrimination' from followers of Sanamahi faith, even though they were accepted by the then king Garibaniwaj on religious ground, it claimed adding that Bishnupirya community also claimed that Meetei migrated from China and Tibet.
IPSA asserted that Manipuri authenticity is contested by two sides.
The Bangladesh Government also recognised Bishnupriya, Meetei and Pangal in the country as indigenous Manipuri and the Bishnupriya accepted the recognition but the Meetei claims that they are indigenes of Manipur, IPSA added.
Claiming that Bishnupriya is placed at the top of the project's community tree chart while the Meetei and Pangal are represented as sub-clans, IPSA claimed that Meetei is also misspelt in the report.
The report is incomplete and filled with errors as the matter wasn't discussed with experts from Manipur and relevant books at the time of submission, it added.
Bishnupriya in the State can consider themselves as Manipuri, but they can't consider the rich history, art and culture, indigenous sports, handloom and handicraft of Meetei etc.
as their own, IPSA asserted.
Saying that such a contest among communities arises due to lack of understanding, IPSA sought support from the masses to revise the report for the welfare of the Manipuri community in Bangladesh.
"We have also apprised the authority concerned in Bangladesh to review the report," it said and added that IPSA is also considering to convene a meeting over the matter.
IPSA will also urge SHADHONA, NCCB, and others concerned to review the report at the earliest, the statement continued.