Seminar on 'Life and Contributions of Prof. Gangmumei Kamei'
- Part 3 -

Aheibam Koireng *

Prof. Kshetri Bimola (Former Head, Pol. Sc. Dept., & Dean, School of Social Science, Manipur University)

Proceedings of A Daylong Seminar on
Life and Contributions of Prof. Gangmumei Kamei
organized by Kalyan Ashram, Manipur (KAM),
at the venue of Linthoingambi Girl's Hostel, Palace Compound, Imphal
on Sunday, the 30th April 2017 Time: 10.30-4.30 pm.

Rapporteur:
Aheibam Koireng,
Assistant Professor,
Centre for Manipur Studies,
Manipur University

The plenary and valedictory session was presided over by Prof. G. Kamei and discussed the general problems of organization of Zeliangrong religion in its contemporary situation, the establishment of a religious authority, adoption of the draft constitution, election of office-bearers, naming of religion and other related measures. The following eight resolutions drafted by Prof. G. Kamei were approved and adopted unanimously by the General conference.

The resolutions are:

i. The conference resolved to constitute a religious authority of the traditional Zeliangrong religion entitled the 'Zeliangrong Rachapriak Phom' (The Zeliangrong Religious Council)

ii. The conference discussed the draft constitution of the 'Zeliangrong Rachapriak Phom' prepared and written by Prof. G. Kamei. The conference resolved to adopt the religious constitution of the organization after going through its clause by clause which was appended in this resolution

iii. As per provision of the constitution, this conference adopted and resolved to elect some office bearers namely prof. Mangthoi Thaimei as President, Shri Marlung as Vice President, Shri Chaobam Kamsom and Shri M. Leirenjao as the General Secretaries and Shri Lanbinlung Gonmei as Executive Secretary of the Council.

iv. This Constitution resolve to constitute the Ecclesiastical Council with 30 members.

v. The Conference discussed the name of the Zeliangrong believed and worshipped by Zeliangrong people in great detail. The conference therefore resolved that the zeliangrong religion be named as 'Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak' (TRC).

vi. Further, resolved that every Zeliangrong village should construct a temple or a place of worship to Tingkao ragwang or related gods.

vii. Resolved that there should be community or mass prayer in every village offered to Tingkao Ragwang on every 'Full Moon Day'. There may be prayer in the individual families or group of families also.

viii. This conference resolved to request every Pei to announce these resolutions to the villages and implement the same.

1. In 1994, Prof. Gangmumei Kamei participated a meeting of United Nations' Organisation (UNO) at Geneva, Switzerland and spoke at length on the topic of indigenous tribal rights. During their separate meeting, Prof. G. Kamei urged Th. Muivah, General Secretary NSCN (IM) to direct his cadre not to interfere in the religious matter of Zeliangrong religion of Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak (TRC). Thereafter, there was no interference from the side of the NSCN(IM).

2. In 1997, Prof. G. Kamei became a Cabinet Minister of Forest & Environment, Education, Hr. Edn. Under the Nipamacha ministry and influence him to declare the festival of Gaan Ngai as the General Holiday. Accordingly, 10th January, 1998 was declared as a General Holiday on account of the Gaan Ngai Festival.

3. The book entitled 'Essays on primordial Religion' written by Prof. G. Kamei refuted the allegations of the western writers that the tribal religion is an animism.

4. Prof. G. Kamei was a retired Professor of Manipur University, member vof DoNER Ministry, Govt. of India, a distinguished academician, author of more than 15 books, a seasoned and visionary politician, former national Fellow of Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, Member of Indian Council of Historical research, New Delhi, the Founding General secretary of Manipur Historical Society, the Founding General secretary of Zeliangrong People's Convention (ZPC), Researcher, a straight forward and mass leader, Founder and guide of TRC, an indigenous religion of North East India.

5. He was a lover of traditional religion of Zeliangrong i.e. TRC. He suggested that the nomenclature of religious organization namely 'Zeliangrong Rachaphraik Phom' (The Zeliangrong Religious Council) should be changed into 'Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak Phom, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland'. The reason behind is that the non Zeliangrong people may not embrace in this religion so long the word 'Zeliangrong' prefixed. With this concept, the name of the religious organization was renamed on 16/04/2008 by a General Meeting as 'Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak Phom, Assam Manipur and Nagaland' dropping the words, 'Zeliangrong Rachpriak'.

6. He advised the council to research and find out the common acceptance on Symbol (Boudan) by the majority views. Accordingly, the religious Concil approved the present symbol by the General meeting held on 16-04-1996, G.M. Hall, Imphal after a long study.

7. Again, he advised the religion council to adopt the devotional hymns/songs taught by Jadonang and Rani Gaidnliu and further proposed to compose more prayer songs such as i). Praising the house of Worship, ii). Psalm of Time, iii). Prayer to Tingkao Ragwang, iv). Hymns for long life, v). Prayer for grant of child, vi). Hymns of birth Days, vii). Hymns of the wedding or marriage, viii). Patriotic Devotional Song ix) hymns to learning, (x). Hymns of intellect, xi) Psalm of peace, xii). Hymns for wealth and property, xiii). Song of Unity, xiv). Hymns for good Harvest, xv). Hymns for healing of the sick, xvi). Hymns for rains, xvii). Hymns for stoppage of rain, xviii). Hymns for the prosperity of the village, xix). Hymns for welfare of mankind. Accordingly, 'we composed and started singing those song at present'.

8. 'He always encouraged me to write more books on TRC religion. Accordingly, I have already published six books, 3 in English and 3 in Kabui dialect by his influences…"

Dr. RK Ranjan (Former Registrar, Manipur University)

At the end of presentation by Shri Chaoba Kamson, there were also remarks by those participating in the seminar. Among those,Dr. RK Ranjan (Former Registrar, Manipur University) said, he came into contact with Prof. Gangumei Kamei, in the year 1972 while he was pursuing PhD in Gauhati University. They then started associating together as functionary of MCIC under the initiative of Maharaja Priyobarta and worked collectively for advancing the cause of integration by way of promoting inter-community harmony and amity. Among the contributions made by Prof. Gangmumei, RK Ranjan mentioned that Prof. Gangmumei took the major initiative in establishing Manipur University.

Pradip Phanjoubam (Editor, Imphal Free Press) said ethnicity came to his consciousness because of the writings of Prof. Gangmumei Kamei. He also said, he personally owe to Prof. Gangmumei for his encouragement to apply for Fellowship at Indian institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla, which he eventually got and took a time (for two years) off from Journalism to pursue it.

Dr. Lokendra Arambam (Former Director, Audio Visual Research Centre, Manipur University) commented that the Zeliangrong Religion emerged in a more organized form as TRC and became a potent force thwarting many of the invading elements due to the contributions made by Prof. Gangmumei Kamei.

[With inputs from Dr. Hanjabam Ishworchandra Sharma (Economics Dept., Manipur University), Dr. Beeju Kamei&Dr. Hanjabam Shukhdeba Sharma (Dept. of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus-Manipur]