Manipur Sociological Society studies transitional phase
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 10 2014 : The contemporary Manipur society is passing through a transitional phase of its development.

The society is caught in the vortex of multiple conflicts and crises, which are dialectically opposite to one another.

Whether it is a conflict between tradition and modernity, socio-religious conflict between pre-Hindu and Hindu identity, the civilizational clash between Indo-Aryan civilization and Mongoloid Meetei civilization, the conflict between ethnic groups, between militarization and de-militarization, the one undeniable fact that threatens the very fabric of our civilization � 'this single oasis of comparative civilization' � is that the society is deep in crisis, said Prof Rajendra Kshetri, Former Head, Sociology Department, Nagaland University, who is the President of Manipur Sociological Society (MSS) .

Discussion session during the 1st foundation day of Manipur Sociological Society

In his message on the 1st foundation day of Manipur Sociological Society, Prof Kshetri said that the crisis of Manipur ranging from HIV/AIDS, drug and human trafficking, rape and violence (not excluding domestic) against women, AFSPA, alcoholism, governance (read lack of), failed State, power (read electricity) supply, acute scarcity of potable water, (mis) uses of mobile phones � the list can go on and on � all these plunge the individual member of the society into a condition of what Durkheim called anomie � that is, a condition of rootlessness, lawlessness, orderlessness, disorientation, of no longer feeling at home in the society.

All these conflicts and crises have made everyone of us feel that we are in the society but not of the society.

Given the magnitude and gravity of the crises mentioned above, certain crucial questions crop up.

Is development possible? Is progress feasible? Is integration of contemporary Manipuri society not impossible? If the history of relevance of sociology in the contemporary world is any indication and/or anything to go by, then the answer is in the affirmative mode.

Sociology with its time-tested, tried and ever-evolving methodologies can study and address these issues/social problems and come up with sociological interpretation, remedies and suggestion for better understanding and appreciation.

If sociology can do it elsewhere, I see no reason why it cannot do the same here in Manipur.

What we need to develop is a sociological mind, a sociological perspective and yes, what C.Wright Mills termed as 'Sociological Imagination' .

MSS organised its first foundation day on March 9 at International Guest House, Delhi University at 10am in Delhi and at 1pm at Department of Sociology, DM College of Arts, Manipur University in Manipur.

In Delhi programme, Prof Satish Deshpande, Head, Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics; Prof Rajni Palriwala, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics; Kamei Aphun, Assistant Professor, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics; Bimol Akoijam, Associate Professor, School of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University were the chief guest, guests of honour and the president respectively.

Prof Satish Deshpande spoke on how minority discourses are produced by majoritarian discourse and the majoritarian sovereign state.

On question of recent hate crimes and racism in Delhi, he said students of sociology should study the majoritarian who are perpetrating the racism not to the victims of racism.

Haripriya Soibam , PhD Scholar, Sociology Department, DSE presented a paper on "Between death and marriage; the widow of the Sikh Martyr"; S.Manikho Kohusii PhD Scholar, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics on Christianity and Division: The case of Mao Nagas in Manipur; Dhana Luwang Ngangom, MA, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics presented on Pakhangba as a philosophy- secret of the sacredness and Seram Rojesh, PhD scholar, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics presented an article on " History as crime" .