'Meiteis should learn to unite'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 09 2024:
While it is important for the Meiteis to preserve and promote their language, history, culture and traditional values, they must also learn to unite, said Manipur University's retired Professor Naorem Joykumar during a seminar today.
Addressing the National Seminar on "Ethnography of the Meiteis/Meeteis-III" organised at GP Women's College, he said, history is a set of facts and it is immensely important for the Meiteis to learn and understand their history to better understand their identity.
While promoting Manipuri language and script, history, culture and tradition, they must also learn to unite, he said.
"Meiteis lack the spirit to unite.
The crab mentality of pulling others down that exists among us is detrimental to our society.
The Meitei society should shed this mentally and learn to unite," Joykumar said.
He said students shouldn't attend educational institutions just to get certificates and degrees.
They must truly learn and understand the subjects they are taught to educate themselves to be successful and become responsible citizens.
Civil service aspirants from among the Meitei community who want to become IAS officers must learn and understand Manipur's history and culture, he added.
Sapam Bheigya, Director of SR Institute of Manipur Studies said it is important for the Meiteis to preserve and promote their history, culture and practices.
He said Meitei's culture, tradition and practices have been diluted overtime and they need immediate steps for preservation.
Aribam Robindro Sharma, Editor of Poknapham daily, said an agreement should be reached to replace the use of both Meitei and Meetei by a single nomenclature.
MU's Assistant Professor, Dr Sapam Dilipkumar said the seminar was aimed at encouraging people to learn their own history and better understand themselves.
Manipur, which was once an independent and strong kingdom in South East Asia, has now been reduced in size and strength.
People in the valley are now unable to go beyond the boundaries of the four districts, he said.
Many academicians and scholars including Dr Th Joyshree Devi, Dr Kh Geetarani Devi, retired Professor E Bijoykumar Singh, Dr Rabikanta Singh, Dr Makhonmani Mongshaba, Dr Y Bedajit Singh and others made presentations on different topics.
The seminar was organised by the SR Institute of Manipur Studies and sponsored by the State Department of Art and Culture.