Imphal, April 08: As part of AMESCO's (All Manipur Ethnical Socio-Cultural Organisation) Sajibu Khudol Tamba Eegi Khongul Liba, Manipuri Muslim (Meitei Pangal) women presented gifts to their Meitei brethren to remind and celebrate their common ancestry.

After conducting the programme at different venues of the State, today's programme of presenting gifts was held at Lilong Haoreibi Makha Konjil.

Unlike earlier Sajibu Khudol Tamba Eegi Khongul Liba programmes during which Meitei women presented Sajibu Khudol to brothers belonging to other ethnic groups of the State, in today's programme, women belonging to Meitei Pangal community presented Sajibu Khudol to their Meitei brothers.

The presentation of gifts by Manipuri Muslim women to Meitei brothers and by Meitei women to brothers belonging to other ethnic groups is amied at reinforcing the age-old fraternal bond among all the ethnic groups of Manipur, thereby making AMESCO's campaign of Sajibu Khudol Tamba Eegi Khongul Liba a grand success.

Today's function was jointly organised by AMESCO, AMUCO, ICRO, YVC, IVACO and HOT.

Among others, the programme was attended by AMUCO advisors Thounaojam Iboyaima, Dr Dhanabir Laishram, AMESCO president LS Guite, AMUCO vice-president KT Rehman, COHR spokesperson Phulindro Konsam, NRC president Sunilkanta, ICRO president Hatim Ali, YVC president Md Hakim, IVACO vice-president Md Zuma Khan, HOT president Md Riyajudin and Councillors of Samurou Gram Panchayat Adries Khan, Md Nurjahan, Md Jalil Khan and secretary of the Poirei Leimarol Apunba Meira Paibi Manipur Apabi as presidium members.

Speaking on the occasion, Thounaojam Iboyaima reminded that Meitei Pangals have been settling in Manipur since the time of king Khagemba.

Though they have been living together with Meiteis after marrying Meitei women, the Meitei Pangals were segregated as outcaste from the society at a certain historical point of time, noted Iboyaima.

Even then, they never left the place during and after World War II and they have been sharing the bright and dark phases of the Manipuri nation together with other ethnic groups of Manipur in its long history.

Now with the realisation of their bloodline, the Meitei Pangal women born to Meitei women are presenting simple gifts to their blood (Meitei) brothers.

The day would be remembered in history as the 'day of awakening' remarked the AMUCO advisor.

IVACO vice-president Zuma Khan observed that it's a little late for Meitei Pangals to acknowledge that they were progenies of Meitei women.

The fact that Meitei Pangals are progenies of Meitei women need to be disseminated to every nook and corner of the State, Zuma Khan asserted.

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