Puya Meithaba observed at Montreal, Jiribam
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 05 2013: As in Manipur and other parts of the globe where Manipuris settled, the 284th Puya Meithaba Observance was also reportedly held at Montreal, Canada yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, renowned writer Thokchom Manihar, who is popularly known as Sonney, said that burning of valuable books happened throughout the history of mankind.

In most of the cases, valuable books were burnt to dominate smaller communities or ethnic groups in term of political and religion domination.

He also recalled the incident of burning of Ashurbanipal Library in 612 BC, burning of many valuable books by Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang and killing of many intellectuals, burning of Zoroastrian books by Alexander, burning of Torah scroll by Roman soldiers and burning of valuable books at Nalanda University by Muslim invaders in 1193 .

Even today, burning and destroying of such valuable assets occurred from time to time in different parts of the world.

Likewise, Puyas of Meeteis which documented information on the origin and civilisation of the Meeteis have been burnt, he added.

Member of International Committee on Puya Mei Thaba (ICOP) Hamom Promud recalled that Puya burning incident was an important incident in the history of Manipur.

However, the incident never succeeded in its objective as more and more Meeteis are realising the motive behind the incident and are today coming forward to revive the lost religion, culture and tradition.

Many other prominent Meeteis residing in Canada also attended the observance function.

The commemoration day of the 284th Puya Meithaba was also observed under the joint aegis of ICOP, MNF Kangleipak, Manipur State Shumang Leela Council and All Manipur Recognised Private School Welfare Association at Jiribam Higher Secondary School yesterday.

The observance was held under the theme of 'Remember, Review, and Revive for Love, Peace and Integrity' .

A painting competition for school students was also organized to mark the occasion.

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