Issues related to colonial, post colonial histories discussed
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 29 2015 : Various issues related to colonial and post colonial understanding of Manipur's history was discussed at the opening day of the two-day seminar organized by Ideal Girls' College, Akampat, Imphal East sponsored by University Grants Commission (UGC) on Wednesday.

The seminar under the theme "Narrating Manipur: Colonial and Post Colonial Histories" aims to address various issues that form the basis of "scripting and narrating" Manipur's past.

Based on the concept note of the seminar, eminent historians and scholars of Manipur dissected issue pertaining to how one should be looking at the historiography of the State beyond the prescribed approaches followed so far.

In his key-note address, Dr Lokendra Arambam opined that the present mode of history teaching and learning aims at serving the interest of those in power.

He stressed on the need to initiate different directions to revisit the history of Manipur through new perspectives.

He called on scholars to begin engaging in adopting approaches to history by making present day Manipur and the North East region as the reference point.

Eminent historian Prof Gangumei Kamei who also addressed the inaugural session said research scholars engaging in the study of Manipur's past should resist descriptive mode of history writing.

Pointing out that there was a need to lay importance on analytical historiography, Prof Gangumei said research on post colonial history of Manipur should be able to shed light on the idea of democracy and development.

The inaugural day of the seminar was attended by historians, scholars and students.

The two-day seminar proposes to deliberate on reliving and revisiting colonial Manipur, popular movements in democratic movements, ethnic assertions besides opportunities offered with the introduction of the Look East Policy by the Government of India.

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