"Culture"

Kshetrimayum Kamaljit Singh *

Children depicting the various ethnic group of Manipur at 64th Republic Day celebration at Imphal on 26 January 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

It is not unusual when our people don't understand what are the features that define our conglomerate culture, what our identity is and what are our unique cultural heritages?

In this 21st century, who has time to think about other things rather than their own duties?

Everyone is busy with their own personal problems that now we don't have time to see the bigger picture.

And it is not uncommon when we realize that how little we know of our own motherland. Is it due to something we missed in our education? Something not taught to us by our parents?

Or are we interested only on killings, corruptions, racism, communalism, forming committees, sit-in-protest, restaurant drive, etc.?

Are these becoming the identity of our motherland Manipur?

Now it will seem funny when someone asks your children studying out of station about Manipur and all he/she can say is about the killings, corruptions and racism.

But if you realize, this is happening right now in every corner of the world.

And you know it is not the Manipur that Paona Brajabasi, Thangal General, Bir Tikendrajit and many other brave men and women would have sacrificed their lives for.

Today we live in a global world, there's growth, an ever changing cosmos, and even now if we are keeping discontent feelings among us-'the Manipuris' (meaning all the people living in Manipur) for the incidents centuries ago, then how and when will we have growth?

Development in the roads and buildings is another thing, but changing our mindsets needs another form of progress and is necessary for the betterment of our society.

Working with clean heart and clear conscience, no corruption of any-kind, no bias in caste or religion, giving importance to quality rather than quantity are must.

We know it is easy in words but hard in application. But if we want a better future, a better Manipur, now is the time to culture ourselves.

What are the features that define our conglomerate culture? – Hills and plains- Meitei, Kuki, Naga and Pangal are one, diverse yet one. Harvesting festivals and feast, moonlit-dances, Pena, Ras Lila, Gaan-Ngai, Kut, etc., these are our cultures.

What is our identity? – Surrounded by nine hills, blessed with Loktak Lake, Sirui Lily, Brow-entlered deer-Sangai, rich in flora and fauna, we are Manipuris. What are our unique cultural identity? – Kangla fort, Langthabal fort, recently found Bihu Leikon, Kangkhui Mangsor, Tharon, Hundung Mangva caves etc.

[-any suggestions or corrections are welcome. Thank you.]