ZCOs raise posers on FoH monolith plan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 11 2024: Zeliangrong civil organisations (ZCOs) have expressed concern and provided feedback regarding the plan for installation of monolith by Federation of Haomee (FoH) .

The plan, which involves inscribing the names of all indigenous tribes of Manipur on a stone monument, has been praised by ZCOs, who see it as a commendable initiative.

However, they advised the Federation to clearly identify the genuine names and numbers of indigenous tribes before finalising the plan to avoid confusion for future generations.

In a statement, ZCOs emphasised that the monolith, intended to be a historic remnant, should accurately reflect the crystal-clear history of the indigenous tribes of Manipur and not become a memorial pillar that dilutes or confuses their history.

Social media platforms and various WhatsApp groups have circulated a widely seen tableau design of the monolith, listing tribes and communities such as Aimol, Anal, Chiru, Inpui, Kabui, Kharam, Khoibu, Thangal, Koireng, Kom, Lamkang, Liangmai, Mao, Maram, Maring, Meetei/Meitei, Moyon, Monsang; Poumai, Purum, Rongmei, Tangkhul, Tarao, and Zeme.

ZCOs advised FoH to avoid being misled by misinformation, manipulative government tribe recognition orders, momentary emotions, or political influences.

They stressed that all responsible individuals of the state's indigenous groups are well aware of the names and numbers of their tribes.

Any attempt to impose false narratives or inaccurate depictions would be more detrimental than beneficial for the future.

ZCOs, comprising the Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front, and Zeliangrong Students' Union, specifically called for inclusion of "Zeliangrong (Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei, Kabui)" as a unified entity in the monolith, instead of listing these groups as Separate and distinct tribes.

They pointed out that these groups share an undisputed common ancestry and history and should not be fragmented based on misinformation and fabrication.

ZCOs appealed to all re sponsible and sensible individuals, particularly leaders of different organisations and the government, to participate in correcting any errors rather than promoting falsehood and accepting unjustifiable actions.

They emphasised that the monument should be based on valid theses, proven facts, customs, practices, and cultural heritage to define and distinguish tribes accurately.

In their statement, the ZCOs underscored the importance of preserving the integrity of Manipur's indigenous tribes and cautioned against any efforts that might undermine their historical and cultural unity.

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