Time to retrace the lost Puyas jointly: RV Mingthing
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 16, 2012: "Observing the incident of Puya Mei Thaba will be meaningless if we do not follow the footsteps of our forefather who left behind a rich culture, tradition, religion and philosophical background which almost come to extinct after the burning of Puyas" said titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba while speaking as Chief Guest of the 283rd Puya Mei Thaba Observation organised by International Observation Committee on Puya Mei Thaba (ICOP), MNF at Iboyaima Shumaang Leela Shanglen.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanajaoba said that Shantidas Goshai instigated the then King of Manipur Pamheiba to burn all the Puyas of Meeteis with an aim to root out the indigenous culture and religion.

If we still remain unchanged from what we were after the advent of Hinduism in the state even after we know the reason of burning the Puyas, then it should not be wrong to take it as a welcome nod to the evil thoughts of Shantidas Goshai.

"It is high time for us to root out all those alien culture which have got mixed up with our identity.

But we should keep it in mind that reacting against someone or some groups of people for the incident will be a foolish thing, which our forefather would never forgive" he said.

On the value of Puyas he said that those Puyas which were burnt on the behest of non Manipuri scholar were manuscripts which included philosophical backgrounds and findings of Arts of Living, Social values, Sociology, Politics, Economy, tradition, culture and religion.

They were not only for the Meetei race but for the entire mankind since many of them recorded advanced theories of cosmology, evolution of mankind and many more, he said.

Leishemba further said that Shantidas and other scholars who entered the then Kangleipak thought that the then society was pretty backward.

But when they realised the knowledge hidden in the Puyas, they decided to destroy the Puyas to make it possible to spread Ramandi cult among the Meeteis.

They carried out the inhuman act which none in the human history had ever done to a civilisation.

While stating that there would be no meaning for observing the incident if people could not change themselves, Leishemba urged the people of the state to realise the truth and pledge to follow the path of our indigenous culture and traditions.

Chairman of MNF RV Mingthing said that Kangleipak had faced many unfortunate incidents in the past, but none worse than the destruction of cultural and traditional resources.

It was the non Manipuri scholars who came in the Kangleipak, destroyed all the cultural, traditional and religious resources and created differences among the people in hills and plains.

Now it is time for people of the state both hills and plains to dedicate themselves in retracking the lost Puyas jointly, he said while urging the people of different communities to remember the loving relationship that existed between them since times immemorial.

Vice Chairman of MNF Sairem Nilbir also said that retracking the lost Puyas and following the path of the forefathers should be the main objective of observing the incident of Puya Mei Thaba.

Renown writer and folk singer Chana Lukhoi was conferred with the Maichou Ningshing Mana as part of the function.

Exponent of Hao Music Rewben Mashangva and his son Saka Mashangva were also honoured with the Chingtam Nungshi Khudol.

Earlier, before the function, a rally was organised which ended up at Kangla Utra Shanglen where the participants observed a two minute silence remembering the incident of Puya Mei Thaba.

Later they bring sacred fire from there and returned at the Iboyaima Shumaang Lila Shanglen.

Mutua Bahadur, M Noudalenkhomba, S Nodia, S Bharat Bhusan, T Thawailemba, W Surchandra, Tanwari Nurjahan, Chief of Thangal cave K Langkham Thangal, Chairman of Purum Lilkli S Renaichong Purum, King of Makakching Paoleiching Kom, Chairman of Sadar Hills Seipu Sitlhou, Lalboi of Kangchup SIngda Kuki, Chief of Patzang Lenkholun, King of Ichum Kom Keirap Mothang Kom, Instructor of All Tripura Thang-Ta Association RK Tapanjit, President of All Tripura Manipuri Students; Association Kh Champu Chief of Kangchup Irang Aphou were among others who attended the function.

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