Conference on Puya Meithaba begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 09 2012:
A four-day-long conference on public opinion and response on the incident of burning Puyas has begun from today at Citizens' Club, Soibam Leikai, Wangkhei Khunou here as a part of Black Day observance to commemorate the 283rd anniversary of Puya Meithaba being organised jointly by ICOP and MNF, Kangleipak.
The inaugural function of the conference was attended by Prof W Nabakumar, Dean, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, MU and Joint Director, MSACS, Mongjam Abhiram as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively.
Chief Convenor of ICOP and MNF, Tokpam Thawailamba and RK Sadananda, President, Citizens Club were Presidium members of the function which was also graced by Renowned playwright Ranjit Ningthouja and Thokchom Sumanta as Special Guests.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof W Nabakumar said that if the present generation cannot impart the valuable teachings of Puyas to the future generation, then there will be no future for that generation.
He further said that we normally have the wrong notion that we are acquiring the right and correct form of education if we are getting western education, their scripts, language and culture.
But actual education means getting to know and understand the teachings and knowledge which have been passed down to the generations from our forefathers.
It is very unfortunate that we cannot compete with the rest of the world in the race for knowledge because the Puyas, which were our wealth of knowledge, have been burnt down 283 years back.
This means that in development we are behind others by 283 years, he lamented.
Mongjam Abhiram said that only if we love our own language and script, we can love our motherland.
Those who do not understand the values of Puyas are no better than the enemy of the society and it is such people who can be easily lured to drugs and other moral activities thereby increasing the rate of HIV and AIDS in the state.
The chaotic condition we are witnessing in the society today is the resultant of burning of the Puyas, he added.
Salam Bharat Bhusan, Ex- Editor, Hueiyen Lanpao, was the moderator of the conference and Dr Th Laiba, HOD of Geography, Modern College was the resource person.
At the occasion, prizes of the painting competition organized earlier by ICOP and Ideal Club, Tera as part of the observance were also distributed among the first top 10 winners.
The top three winners were awarded with cash prize of Rs 5000, Rs 4000 and Rs 3000 respectively.
The first prize winner was given a pass that would entitle him to enjoy free foods along with two colleagues for a period of one year at Nahakpam Foods and Beverages, Sagolband.
Similarly, the second prize winner and the third prize winner were also passes for enjoying free foods along with two colleagues each for a period of 8 months and 6 months respectively at Nahakpam Foods and Beverages, Sagolband.
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