Centre for Manipur Studies, MU organises seminar
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 06 2017:
A seminar titled 'Armed Violence and Nationalism: Reflections in Manipuri Literature' organized by the Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University (MU) was inaugurated yesterday by Vice-Chancellor of MU Prof Arya Prasad Pandey at the conference hall of Anthropology Department University, MU.
In the keynote address, Prof Nabakumar, Anthropology Department, MU articulated that anti-colonial nationalism is the product of de-colonising forces.
The meaning of nationalism in Asia and Africa is found to be quite different from those propagated and practiced by the western countries.
Instead of 'third world countries', he preferred to use 'Asia and Africa' reasoning that there is an ethical bias in the term 'third world.
Saying so, he also pondered whether it is possible to reconcile the often particularism of Asia and Africa in the light of Globalisation.
He also stated that armed conflict is a symptom of political illegitimacy and stated that the question of whether armed conflict is legitimate or illegitimate nationalism is reflected in the literature.
In the context of India, he reflected whether Indian nationalism can accommodate all the diversities and heterogeneous communities.
Mentioning JP Narayan, the towering post independent political leader, and the distinction he made between the people who comprise the State and the Nation, he said that the former has heterogeneous interest and the later centralized interest.
Making a distinction of the typology of nationalism, he also queried whether armed conflict in Manipur is a manifestation of good nationalism or bad nationalism.
One man's patriot could be others' criminal, he stated mentioning the differing perspective of the core and the periphery.
He elucidated it by citing the example of Bhagat Singh and Khudiram being hailed as patriot from the Indian perspective and being branded criminal from the perspective of the Brirtish colonisers.
While historical justifications have been given to justify the armed conflict, it can be contemplated upon whether the engendering factor of armed movement in the state is germinated from the soil of the land or foreign and derivative discourse.
He expressed hope that learned delegates will discuss all these as it is reflected in Manipuri literature.
Prof Arya Prasad Pandey stated that Manipuri literature had a tradition of writing on themes of nationalism which is evident even during the days of British colonialism and that despite the differences in the cultural practices and physical attributes of the people in the State with those in heartland of India, Manipuri literature is a part of the great Indian mind.