Imphal, November 22 2010: A book titled "The Origin of the Meiteis of Manipur and Meiteilon is not a Tibeto-Burman Language" written by Dr Irengbam Mohendra Singh, BSc MBBS, MD MRCGP (Lond), FICA, FRSH was released by Minister of Information & Public Relations, PHED and Tourism, TN Haokip at a solemn function held at Hotel Classic here.

Minister TN Haokip was the chief guest and Padmashree Awardee Laishram Nabakishore was the president of the function.

Film-maker Dr Makhonmani Mongsaba, Dean of Students' Welfare, MU Dr Th Ratankumar, former editor of Prajatantra and ISTV news, K Madhumangol and former Principal of DM College of Science, Dr Longjam Rajendra were the guests of honour.

The author, Dr I Mohendra, who has already written two books namely "My Search of God" and "Quest of Religion," gave a gist of the book "The Origin of the Meiteis of Manipur and Meiteilon is not a Tibeto-Burman Language" .

He said, Dr Grierson and Konov, who, long time back, said that Meiteilon is a Tibeto-Burman language, had never come to Manipur.

They sat in Calcutta and did their research on the table.

Based on certain similarities and resemblances among the Meiteis and other races of the South East Asia, they just concluded that Meiteilon is a Tibeto-Burman language, Dr Mohendra contended.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Haokip said that the book would be very useful and enlightening for researchers in the subjects as its title points out.

Dr Makhonmani Mongsaba said that researchers, scholars and academics of Manipur have all along believed that the Meiteis are the Tibeto-Burman group of people and Meiteilon is a Tibeto-Burman language.

Many researchers have acquired PhD degrees in thesis on the same subject.

But as Dr I Mohendra's book has thrown a new light on the subject, which scholars and researchers would find quite resourceful.

Veteran journalist K Madhumangol observed that there is no guarantee that the finding of a research work would remain as the truth and unchanged forever.

A new research may prove that the earlier finding has turned out to be wrong.

Similarly, Dr Mohendra has done deep research and questioned the earlier belief that the Meiteilon is a Tibeto-Burman language.

He also expressed his confidence that the book would provide many interesting points for researchers to study.

Dr Th Ratankumar expressed surprise that though there are many sections concerned, such as Manipuri Department, Linguistic Department, etc in the Manipur University, no one has so far reacted to the argument of Dr I Mohendra as he has strongly placed in his book that Meiteilon is not a Tibeto-Burman language.

The same book has been heard of and is available in the library of MU, nobody has disputed or endorsed the argument of the book, Dr Ratankumar said adding that it would pave the way for a deeper research on the subject.

Dr Longjam Rajendra spoke about the book pointing out certain facts that he would like to support.

He said, it is true that Dr Grierson and Konov, who propounded the theory and belief that Meiteilon is a Tibeto-Burman language had never set foot on the soil of Manipur.

They just did their research on the table in Calcutta.

Dr Rajendra said, it is not an easy job to find out the origin of a race.

Knowing the origin of a race and the language it speaks can not be just imagined up, it should be done scientifically.

In the modern times, there are methods of DNA and G-nome studies to find the origin of a people.

However, there is not an absolutely pure race and language.

Every race and language has inter-relationship with other neighbouring race and language, he said.

Dr Rajendra observed that the book would make way for new research on the subject.

Padmashree Awardee L Nabakishore, who also spoke on the occasion, appreciated Dr Mohendra's love and concern for his people, language and native state, even though he has been living in London for nearly 40 years.

Dr Mohendra's wife Mrs Margaret Leah Robson Singh and son Neil Andrew Irengbam were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Prof Ch Jasobanta of Linguistic Department, MU, while talking to this newspaper this evening, expressed disagreement with the argument of the book.

The Professor said, so far not a single writer has ever maintained that Meiteilon is not a Tibeto-Burman language.

In the books written by Paul K Benedic, Robert Sepher, James Matisoff, David Bradley, Robert Burlin, etc, it is found that Meiteilon is a Tibeto-Burman language.

The book "The Origin of the Meiteis of Manipur and Meiteilon is not a Tibeto-Burman Language" does not give any proof to cancel the arguments of many authors, Prof Jasobanta said.

He observed that it would be much better and fairer if experts give review of the book and also the people react to it.

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