Ibobi meets Manipuri community at Mandalay
Source: The Sangai Express / Manipur Informa Centre

Mandalay(Myanmar), May 31 2013 : It was a great and historic moment for the Manipuri comunities settled in Myanmar when a meeting of the Manipur delegation led by the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh with Manipuri communities settled in Man was organised by the Embassy of India, Yangon and the Government of Manipur at Amrapura Ballroom, Hotel Sedona here today.

In his welcome address, U Htun Shwe @ Sunder Sharma on behalf of the Manipuri Community of Mandalay said, "In my life time of 75 years, this is the first visit of a Manipur leader to Myanmar, after 1938 when a Manipur leader Hijam Irabot of Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha under the patronage of Manipur King Churachand visited" .

He reported that there were about 20,000 Manipur Meitieis in Mandalay and its nearby areas.

They organised all Manipuri festivals like, Cheiraoba, Kang, Jhulon, Krishnajanma, Radhastami, Deepavali, Maharas.

Goverdhon Puja, Basanta Panchami, Durga Puja, Shiva Ratri and Holi along with Yaosang.

Traditional and ritual ceremonies like Swasti Puja, Yum Shengba, Luhongba, Poiloiba, Phiroi, etc were observed by Manipuri Communities in Myanmar.

He reported , "All the children go to school and they get at least Bachelor Degree with some going on to earn PhD degree.

With regard to occupation, he said, "Manipuris occupy positions from lower clerk level to Director level.

Some are Doctors, Engineers, Army Captains and Majors.

Some are employed in foreign countries like Singapore, Malaysia, England and USA.

Ibobi meets Manipuri community at Mandalay

He stated, "Although our community people are a little prosperous, we are lacking in cultural activities like our language and literature.

Most of the younger gerneration cannot read , write and speak Meitei language.

Our identity is absorbed in other Communities due to the policy of our country" .

He further said, "We are happy that a new change has happened in Myanmar and it is our faith that there will be more avenues for developing business and othet interest in the new set up.

It is heartening to note that the profile of the Consulate has changed in the last two years.

With active support of the Mission, the Consulate has been able to do a lot of activities relating to education, health, commerce, social welfare and other sectors.

We are also committed to help the Indian people to do their business in Myanmar".

He expressed his happiness to meet the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his delegation.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh stated that he was very happy to meet Manipuri Communities settled i n Myanmar He appealed them to preserve Manipuri culture, courage and rights so that could live as Manipuri.

He said that Manipur Goverment with the approval from the Indian Government will send a Manipuri cultural troupe in Mandalay to promote Manipuri cullture.

He said that Manipur University was a Central University.

It had a department called the Centre of Myanmar Studies, which would be tjhe only centre in Indian Universities.

He invited the Manipuris in Myanmar to study in Manipur University.

He made the speculation that the Mandalay- Imphal Bus service would be materialised in the year 2016 and Visa on arrival facilility at Moreh would be in operation in near future.

In due course, there would be a close tie between Manipuris in Manipur and Manipuris in Myanmar.

Charge D' Affairs of Indian Embassy, Yangon Y K Sailas Thangal proposed vots of thanks.

The function was followed by the screening of award winning Manipuri film- ISHANOU directed by Aribam Syam Sharma.