English rendition of Chainarol released
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, April 18 2012:
"A clear demarcation between combatants and non-combatants, respect of the body of the dead warrior, and a conscious attempt to avoid harm to the surroundings are found in Chainarol" .
Governor of Manipur Gurbachan Jagat stated this in his speech as the chief guest on the event of the release of the book entitled "Chainarol: Way of the Warriors", the English rendition of the Puya (ancient manuscripts of the Meiteis) 'Chainarol' by Human Rights Alert, Manipur at Hotel Classic, Imphal on Wednesday.
He said that Manipur which has a rich tradition of martial arts requires its practitioners not only skill and strength but also high moral and discipline, along with respect of opponents and human values being equally important aspects.
These codes which were recorded in Chainarol were enunciated so that society survives during those difficult times and anarchy does not prevail, said the governor.
"The Contemporary International Humanitarian Laws date back to the middle 19th century resulting from the traumatic experiences of the European Wars of that period.
These are in essence, measures to limit sufferings of war by protecting certain categories of people who are not or no longer taking part in the hostilities and by restricting the means and methods of warfare.
These humanitarian laws find a distant echo in the code of conduct as envisaged in Chainarol.
This shows that humanitarian values have universal appeal and are nor restrictive", stated Gurbachan Jagat.
As the name suggests, observed the chief guest, 'Chainarol' means rules of personal combats or duels, known as 'Chainaba', which are found in many other cultures too both in written and unwritten codes for such duels; but in Chainaba, however, there is a strong undercurrent of humanity, and a clear demarcation between combatants and non-combatants, respect of the body of the dead warrior, and a conscious attempt to avoid harm to the surroundings are found in Chainarol.
He complimented the Human Rights Alert, Manipur, for taking the onus of getting the puya translated and also the team of scholars who have translated the text, expressing confidence that the English rendition of this old text will open the door for international readers and scholars besides the indigenous readers who are no longer familiar with the archaic languages used in the puyas.
Prof W Nabakumar of Manipur University while speaking on the occasion said a book like Chainarol will reveal that it was not only the Europeans that had considered and value the humanitarian side of things but even in oriental world the people were civilised enough to follow humanitarian laws.
It can be noted that Chainarol is a book translated by a team of people involving scholars, activists, journalsts and others.
Editor of the book Irengbam Arun, who is also the Resident Editor of Imphal Free Press while delivering a speech during the program recalled how they managed to bring out the book He said it was a herculean task to bring out a book in English like the Chainarol.
The book release function was attended by Simon Peter Brooks, deputy head of mission, South Asia Regional Delegation, International Red Cross Society, Dr Mayanglambam Lala Singh, general secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Manipur State Branch and Babloo Loitongbam, executive director, Human Rights Alert.
Human Rights Alert member Basanta Kumar while giving a welcome address said Chainarol was a humble project of the human rights body with a profound historical and contemporary relevant in Manipur and humanitarian tradition across the world.
Babloo Loitangbam, executive director of the Human Rights Alert also narrated the story of hardship while translating the book.
He said initially they had planned to finish the translation in six months but it surprisingly took them four straight years to complete the task.
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