TNL chief all praise for Akaba
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, January 18 2014 :
The recent comment of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) president Artax A Shimray on Meitei National Front (MNF) leader late Chingsubam Akaba during the latter's 8th death anniversary observance has revealed the deep philosophy of the Meitei leader in connection with the problems afflicting the region.
Late Akaba believed in 'the people to people relationships and dialogues', according to Tangkhul Naga Long chief Artax A Shimray.
Artax was the advisor to North East Students' Organisation (NESO) for a long time.
The speech of Artax A Shimray which was obtained by Newmai News Network today said, "Ojha Akaba as we remember not only understood the importance of a robust relationship of the peoples in the hills and the plains but nurtured the same.
He was keenly promoting art and culture not only in the plains but in the hills too, as he saw great value in retaining and maintaining these cultures that defines the land, territory and identity of a people" .
"I am impressed by Akaba's work and commitment to revive the cultural tradition that used to be, before Hinduism and his work reflects his understanding that the people in the hills and valley are different yet must walk hand in hand and the celebration of Mera Hou Chongba will bear testimony to this," said Artax while delivering the speech on January 13 .
According to Artax Shimray, Akaba had clearly grasped what the Hindu religion had done to the people and the society; that it had changed the value system and graded some people as 'polluted', built caste system that did not exist earlier and had brought many forms of discrimination and discriminatory
practices.
"It had led to the polarization of the people of the hills and the valleys and the only way to redeem from this injustice and damage was to revert to the traditional Sanamahi religion and therefore his other associated movements and revivalism of rituals like the veneration of the seven Salais, reviving the Meetei Mayek, celebration of Mera Hou Chongba and Puya Meithaba," the Tangkhul leader added.
Akaba's vision was lived through the mission he undertook not as a revivalist but also as someone who placed the welfare of the people is above individual's interest and work tirelessly to improve the lives of the people.
We rarely find men like him these days, said Artax Shimray.
"As one of the very few people who understood what self determination is, he was very clear and passionate that Manipur, which he preferred to call as Kangleipak, is not India.
With this understanding and clarity he supported the Naga peoples' movement for right to self determination too.
In times of misunderstandings he and his friends would undertake missions sometimes much against the wishes of some of his own people talking and attempting to resolve the problem as he could see that these misunderstandings and conflicts were being created by vested interest and he so well understood the power of peoples to peoples relationships and dialogues," the Tangkhul Naga Long president mentioned.
Shimray then added by saying, "Taking a cue from what Akaba had done, today it is left to us of all to decide the kind of future 'we want to share whether we continue to live in doubts and fear - suspicious of each other or whether we collectively fight these nemesis and chart out our future as peoples who can never be separated and must walk together in good times and bad times and work together as peace maker and live harmoniously as good neighbours" .
To begin with, it must come through the respect and recognition of the right to self determination of the various communities in the region, Artax asserted.
"Let us give our spirit of neigbourhood a new leash of life and breathe energy and power into it," concluded Artax A Shimray.
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