PPCM, TNAL, others visit common history
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 25 2017:
In a bid to make the indigenous people residing in both the hills and the plain realise the bond of fraternity shared among them since ages, Tangkhul Naga Aze Longphang (TNAL), Hao Mee Research Guild and Protection & Preservation Committee, Manipur (PPCM) organized a one-day consultation programme on Manipurgee Pu Wari Khangminaba (Understanding History of Manipur) at Shungriphai village in Kamjong district .
The consultation programme was graced by Shomi Angkang, chairman, Tangkhul Naga Aze Longphang, Jonah Zimik, convenor, Hao Mee Research Guild, N Bimol Meetei, convenor, Protection and Preservation Committee, Manipur and CT Ningkhalem, headman, Shungriphai village as the presidium members .
RS Samuel, spokesperson, Hao Mee Research Guild, S Thanmi, member, Hao Script Committee, Ng Aaron Shimrei, president, All Manipur Hao Inat Thousillup and Dr N Birchandra, Associate Professor, Lilong Haoreibi College also attended the function as resource persons while Rockson A Shimray, secretary, Arts and Culture and M Rakesh, convenor, Finance Sub-Committee, PPCM were the recording secretaries at the programme .
Speaking at the programme, Birchandra claimed that the Tangkhuls are the sons of Kege clan according to records maintained in Puya (Manipuri manuscript) .
He said there were four chaks or eras in proto historical period of Manipur which were known as hei chak, heiya chak, lamba chak and Konba chak .
During heiya chak, Manipur was ruled by a king from Kege clan and he had three sons, namely Khaba, Tangba and Chakot.
The offspring of Khaba went to Burma (Myanmar) and later came to be known as Mon in Myanmar while the progeny of Tangba were known as Tangkhuls and that of Chakot are the chakot tribes living in the State .
Hence, according to the records maintained in Puya and theories underlined within it, Meiteis and Tangkhuls are brothers.
But due to the prolonged ignorance of their own history, the two communities have forgotten that they are the sons of the same father and there has been a rift between them for some time, Birchandra conveyed .
Maintaining that Tangkhul and Meitei people have so many resemblances in physical feature and cultures, he pointed out that many of the daughters from Tangkhul community and other hill communities are being worshipped by Meiteis as Goddess since the ancient time while citing Ireima as one among them.
He further appealed to the Tangkhul and Meitei people to strive together to build a united Manipur by knowing the relation between the two communities .
PPCM convenor N Bimol Meetei observed that the connection between the hill people and valley people contained in the folk tales and manuscripts of Manipur needs to be well-researched and inform the same to the present generations from anthropological and scientific point of views so that the common root shared by them is understood .
He exuded confidence that there will be positive outcome if the stories of close relationship shared between hill people and valley people are infused in the minds of different communities residing in the State .
Asserting that there will be no Manipur if any of the different indigenous communities are left out, Bimol sought co-operation and encouragement from all people for organizing such programme all across the State to bring a united Manipur.
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