DESAM annoyed over 'misrepresentation' of 'Phanek Mayeknaiba'
urges Government to take actions
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 16 2021: Taking strong exception to the misrepresentation of cultural significance of Meetei's 'Phanek Mayeknaiba and Rani Phee' by a self proclaimed designer on social media, the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has drawn the attention of the State Government to take necessary action.

DESAM in a press release said that a self proclaimed designer named Priyanka Anna Joseph has culturally misrepresented and disregarded the cultural significance of the 'Phanek Mayeknaiba' by modifying it into a miniskirt and a coat and Rani Phee into Kurta on social media.

DESAM condemns her act and treats it as a threat and disrespect to our cultural rights and tradition, the student body said.

She has also hurt the sentiments of the Meetei community as "we regard 'the Phanek" in an auspicious way and wear it only in cultural or formal functions to identify ourselves and sometimes politically as a resistance," said DESAM.

Her modification of 'the Phanek' which has a cultural, social and political value into something proves that she doesn't regard and respect Meetei's culture, said DESAM while adding that it supports modernization taken by different designers but doesn't support misinterpretation.

The Meetei community always regard 'Phanek' as a distinct sacred object and it is a belief that a piece of mother's phanek protects their sons and daughters, it said.

The communities of Meitei and Meitei Pangal also stand proud of the 'Phanek Mayeknaiba' as a cultural heritage, it said while terming the act of Priyanka Anna Joseph as not acceptable to the community which always has a distinctive dress code.

She has used the 'Phanek Mayeknaiba' to mock and disrespect our culture which is a crime and she should apologise publicly, said Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur.

Professionalism, modernization, and human rights are complementary to one another and they go hand in hand but it should not jeopardize the core cultural values or tradition and so dress and costumes of ethnic communities should always be looked on carefully before doing something or else that can hurt the cultural sentiments of a people, said DESAM.

One should always keep in mind the need to balance ethics, professionalism and human rights with cultural rights, said DESAM while sending out a strong message that it doesn't want anyone to mock Meetei's culture.

DESAM also urged everyone not to misinterpret the culture of one ethnic community or others in the future.

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