Sanajoaba vows to strengthen Meitei-Pangal culture
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 12 2022: Titular king of Manipur Sanajaoba Leisemba, who is also the Member of Rajya Sabha, on Tuesday met with representatives of Meitei-Pangal (Manipuri Muslims) as a part of the annual gathering at his at Sana Konung (royal palace) residence.

The meeting with Meitei-Pangals was held under the theme 'Eegi-Khongul Leeba amasung Pukmen-Pao-mennaba' and was organised by Meitei-Pangal Eegi Khongul Leeba Foundation Committee, said a release by its secretary general Bm Abdul Majid Shah.

The release said that the annual event is being held on July 17 every year since 2019.However, as the MP is scheduled to take part in the ensuing parliament session and the presidential elections, the meeting for this year has been preponed on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by members of Eegi Khongul Leeba led by president Yaima Shah and other representatives including vice president of the committee Fajur Rahman, chief advisor Salim Shah and other executive members, representatives from various Meitei-Pangal concentrated areas including retired deputy director (Archives) Yumkhaibam Abdul Kalam from Sora, Lilong Haoreibi College principal Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh Dolaipabam from Sangaiyumpham, SDC Abdul Majid from Kairang, social worker Altaf Hussain Mayangmayum from Khabeisoi, Azad Khan Basheimayum from Hatta, Khutheibam Amir Khan from Purum Pangaltabi and Yangkhubam Alauddin from Kwakta.

Preserving the unique cultural heritage, traditional art & craft of Meitei-Pangals, adoption of clans (surnames) in giving their identity, proper documentation of clan systems granted by the then king of Manipur, revival of Kaji Loishang system in the aspects of culture and traditions were some of the main highlights deliberated by the titular king in the meeting.

Discussing at length the various issues faced by Meitei-Pangals, Sanajaoba assured that he would look into the pressing issues of the community as an MP and king of Manipur by extending support in all possible ways to uplift the socio-economic, educational and cultural status of the Meitei Pangal communities.

He also expressed his deep concern on the dying traditional art & crafts of Meitei-Pangals, the discontinuing status of cultural synthesis with Meitei counterparts, the traditional skills possessed by their forefathers, which became almost extinct since the last few decades.

He also emphasised on the revival of Kaji Loishang by constituting a board considering the traditional and cultural aspects.

The MP also emphasised on adopting the historical and cultural aspects of Meitei-Pangals in school syllabus and curriculum under NEP 2020.He maintained that the skills of rich traditional art & crafts of Meitei-Pangals should be conserved and fostered by adopting 64 'Kalaas' which are being emphasised in NEP 2020.The meeting also resolved to organise seminars/conferences on past, present and future of Meitei-Pangals before next year's meeting fixed on the July 17, 2023, added the release.

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