Imphal Times Supplementary issue Page No. 2 Editorial Open Letter to the Chief Minister of Saturday, July 27, 2019 In this esteemed newspaper, I academic activities. To handicapped to pursue their make a humble suggestion to the on behalf of the student mentioned one factual context career in which they are state government and the communities I would like to draw that is, the tribal students of interested or intrigued upon and concerned authority pertaining The fools think we the attention of the Chief Manipur pursuing Bachelors, also it may even let the students to any scholarships of the Minister of Manipur to please Masters, M.Phil, and Ph.D. in the undergo psychological trauma. students, it must be a top priority kindly look into the Post-Matric Tata Institute of Social Sciences Studying outside the state and primary onus. Lackadaisical the people can be Scholarship for the academic across all the campuses of the doesn’t mean all the tribal gestures of the state government session 2018-2019 for the tribal institute are yet to submit their students are from the sound on scholarship matters will fooled easily students pursuing studies Post-Matric Scholarship to the economic family background. implicate the students’ career outside the state on priority Institute for the academic year There are also students and the ramifications will only be Manipur today is in dire strait once basis albeit unstable financial 2018-19, as this scholarship is belonging to low economic a burden of the parents. Thus, more with no custodian to look into the position of state’s exchequer as meant for payment of fees. background who solely depend your esteem office is requested affairs of the public. The incumbent Chief the scholarship is yet to be Hence, the students’ certificates upon the scholarships and to kindly look into this matter and Minister who always came forward to look reimbursed to the respective of Bachelors, Masters, and fellowships provided by the takes the necessary action as into the problem of the people and who students. It is unfortunate that M.Phil are withheld by the government of . And soon as possible for a positive it has become a trend for institute’s authority, unless the also tried his level best to look into the moreover, there are students outcome. Thanking you. reimbursement of Pre-Matric and scholarship is submitted their with their outstanding Yours sincerely, grievances of the people now is busy Post-Matric scholarships certificates will be withheld performances got merit Gofort Koko trying to protect his seat. The Cabinet untimely for the past two leading to detrimental of their scholarships and fellowships for Ph.D. scholar, colleagues who had dedicated their service academic years. The tribal career though how motivated their higher studies to sustain Tata Institute of Social for the poor in the last two years are seen students depend on the they are to scale the pinnacle. their educational expenses and Sciences, Mumbai. nowhere in the state when people of the Scholarship for payment of fees, Moreover, the withheld of also supporting their siblings Resident of Berukhudam state need them. The MLA whom the and other expenses of essential certificates by the concerned too. Village, materials related to their authority is letting them people had elected remains silence except Therefore, I would like to Chandel District, Manipur. for one – Khumukcham Joykishan, to voice for the people, when a minor girl was mysteriously died in her hostel room. At Contd. from Yesterday Issued present the farmers are shedding tears worrying their future due to scarcity of water. The daily wage earner , labourers in Manipur who live on by mining sand and stones On the first day of small huts arrows. This is followed by the Karan the previous earring is which is to be arranged by both from the river bed now came to the street of straw are made where the idol of blessing of the new born by replaced by a new one. Then a marriage parties and get exchanged. disturbing normalcy after the High Court Shri Gourachandra is placed and showering money and gifts. The barber shaves off the head of the Other forms of matrimony like had imposed banned on the mining of sand worship in the evening. After the morning ritual is Meitei tradition child. Fire worship (Yagya) is Loukhatpa , Lai – Tin Thaba , from the river bed. At this crucial time is over the huts are burnt. After while evening’s ritual is Hindu performed by the for the Keinya katpa do not involve when people across the state are facing this small children would go from based. child’s well being. This ritual is done Sankirtan but Laipot is a must. multiple problems, the government is door to door for Nakatheng (asking Chakumba: when the child enters 3 or 5 years Sankirtan is only the manifestation equivalent to defunct as the ruling BJP for money). Besides this the This is the ritual of introduction of of age with a grand feast. of Hinduism. It was adopted later as MLAs are now busy fighting for power. Not unmarried ladies come out on the baby to first solid food. The ritual is Luhongba (Marriage): it was believed that whatever is road, stopping passers-by by performed at 5 months for baby girls Marriage is a compulsory ritual for offered without Sankirtan were not only the BJP MLAs but also the Congress blocking the road with a rope and and at 7 months for baby boys. On the Meitei community and is being accepted by Lord . MLAs who are in the opposition also remain asking for donations. There is this day the child is made to wear performed since early times. The Death ritual: quite for reason best known to them. As playing of colours, singing of holi silver ornaments - anklets, bangles, coming of Hindu religion influences Sankirtan is also a part of death stated earlier except for Congress MLA hymns by old and young and neck chain etc. with traditional new the ritual. The word Shubh Vivah is ritual. There is a difference in the Khumukcham Joyishan, almost all MLAs, Thabal Chongba at night (a kind of dress. The ritual may be performed used for the Marriage ceremony. activities performed by the Meitei Ministers and even the Chief Minister are dancing to the music by holding in a simple way without Brahmin, There will be Sankirtan throughout priest and Brahmin for the ritual. Not leaving the people of the state at their each others hands). These are the Priests or Astrologers. The child is the ceremony. As the groom sits the only this, the Brahmin and the Meitei various activities that take place made to taste the fish and rice just bride would go round the groom for hold death rituals on own to face the multiple problems of during the five day Holi. Old people for namesake after offering it to the seven times. Marriage ceremony of different days. After one year suspicious dead, drought like situation and (both men and women) would offer gods. Then the child is made to early times is quite different from another ritual called Phiroi is held cry of sections of people including their service to Shri Govinda, Shri touch certain objects like book, gold, today’s marriage ceremony. In the and this will be the last death ritual. teachers, surrendered militants among Bijoy Govinda temples by singing currency note, paddy etc. which are early times the elders of the bride From the manuscripts we come to others. Holi hymns. Holi is totally a mixed placed in front of him/her. This is and the bride groom after mutual know that the people in the past Now, the prolonged unsettled issue of festival in Manipur. It is not done to see what the child would agreement will perform a ritual called bury their dead by putting in a coffin. the NSCN-IM, is nearing solution and the celebrated in this way in other parts become when he grow up. With the Heijing Kharai Puba . This ritual is After one year the dead body is dug of the country. The name of the coming of Hinduism the ritual considered equal to marriage. out, the remains are cleansed and BJP government will someday introduce festival itself is different. It is called changes a bit. In the , Marriage ceremony of the present then buried again. This ritual is the contentious Citizenship Amendment Yaoshangin Manipur. The tradition rice, sugar and milk are offered to day is almost influenced by Hindu called Lu Tengba . Thus we can see Bill (CAB), besides , it is likely that certain of Thabal Chongba dates back to Lord Vishnu for making Kheer (a religion. Marriage as mentioned in intermixing of Meitei religion and agenda of the BJP to make India a one the time of origin of this land. sweet dessert). Then the kheer is old manuscript like Thawan Thaba Hindu religion in the death rituals nation and one religion country may also Burning of Yaoshang (straw hut) is given to the child. So it is either Hiran, Panthoibi Khongul, also. take up as the BJP led NDA government associated with the story of kheer or fish and rice which is given Tutenglon, Nongban Pombi Hindu religion may have some at the center is strong, very strong that Gouranga Mahaprabhu. Playing of to the baby in this ritual. Luwaoba etc. is quite different from influence on the various rituals but they can now do anything like passing of Holi is related to and . Naming: today’s marriage. Once Heijing it cannot make them totally Hindu It is also related with the story of Naming of the child is considered Kharai is completed the groom based. Hindu religion cannot replace the Bill to make the country strong but Holika (daughter of Hireinya very important as it is believed that need not go to the bride’s place. The Meitei religion. Till today which hurts sentiment of many people Kaushipura) and Prahlada. All the if a child is not appropriately named bride will be sent to the groom’s Sanamahi, Leimarel is worshipped. from state like Manipur, Mizoram, Hindu festivals that are celebrated then he might have short life or will place on an auspicious day with a There is no place for Hindu religion Nagaland, parts of and Arunachal in Manipur are all modified suffer from illnesses. So priests are dowry. For example, during the time in Lai Haraoba . Lai Haraoba still Pradesh. No one can say when will this according to the tradition and way consulted before naming a child of Meidingu Charairongba (father signifies a pure Meitei Tradition. things happen that has the potential of of life of the place. So they all seem and the child is named after of Garibniwaj Maharaja), when his Now in Manipur many Hindu burning the state but the way the ruling to have originated here. studying his birthday and month. daughter Chakpa Makhaongambi festivals have been replaced by Birth Rituals: For the Meiteis who follow Hindu got married, the groom i.e. the King Meitei festival. For example, BJP MLAs keep continuing the fight for Birth rituals that are carried out religion they consulted astrologers of Samsok (Ava) did not come. She puja is replace by Panthoibi power and the taking up of the pending nowadays shows intermixing of old for the same. The ritual is not held was sent after the Heijing Kharai Eratpa (puja), April 14 Cheiraoba disqualification case of some congress Meitei tradition with Hindu religion. in a big way for majority of the ceremony. In old manuscripts like is replace by Sajibu Nongma MLAs who joined the BJP is a worrying In Meitei tradition during Meiteis . But for the Chakpa Panthoibi Khongul, Thawan Panba Cheiraoba etc. These changes factors for the people. It is likely that if pregnancy the would be mother community of Manipur like Andro Thaba Hiran etc. we can find that signify the return of the Meiteis from the situation continues the center may and father have to refrain the ritual is held in a big way by the groom did not go to the bride’s Hindu religion to Meitei religion. have no other option but to kept the state themselves from doing certain arranging feasts for the people of place. Today’s marriage ceremony The Meiteis never leave their things. On the fifth day after the their community including the shows intermixture of Meitei traditional culture. That is why Assembly under animated suspension and birth of a child the mid wife priests. religion and Hindu religion. Heijing Hindu religion cannot replace Meitei impose president rule. ( Chabokpi Maibi ) performs a ritual Mana Hutpa / Chura Karan: Kharai, Yumlai Laipot, Lamlai religion. We can know this from the Once president rule is imposed, the for the long life of the new born in This is the ritual of piercing of ear Laipot, Apok Asa are all related with various rites de passage. All the legitimate platform which could oppose the morning. This ritual is called lobe. Nowadays it is performed in a Meitei religion. Sankritan is not at Meitei ritesstill have the traditional any move of the center that could spark Epan Thaba . At dusk, the Brahmin bigger way. The piercing of ear lobe all related with marriage. The most element in them. If the various rites mass protest will no longer available. The performs Swasti Pujah . He prays is done either on the 5 th day after important element of marriage is de passage are studied thoroughly only means will be going out in the street to the Destiny god Swasti for the birth of a child or any other arrangement of offering for the only then we can establish the true and shout like wild dog where any person the child’s long life. The child’s auspicious day by calling a gods is Laipot (for house deities identity of the Meiteis . . maternal uncle (mamma) will shoot goldsmith. On the day of Chura and for deities outside the house) (Concluded) could be hit by the merciless bullets of the Security Force. References: The representatives who are putting 1. Ibungohal L. & Khelchandra N. Cheithrol Kumbaba, Manipur Sahitya Parishad, 1967. a grinding halt to the functioning of the 2. Khelchandra Singh N . Ariba Manipuri Sahityagi Itihas , Chirom Yaimabi Devi, Imphal 1972. 3. Bhogeshwor Oinam. Ningthourol Lambuba (Ahanba Saruk), Imphal, 1967. government should know that people of 4. Bhogeshwor Oinam. Sanamahi Laikan , Tamara Publication, Imphal, 2 nd Edition 1995. today are no fool in this age of high tech 5. Bormani sarangthem. Meitei Ningthourol , Barsa Publication, Imphal six eidition, 2014. information technology. People know what 6. Chandrasekhar Khulem. Inatki Harao Kumei , Meitei Mayek Orgenising and Research Association Manipur, 1994. you people are playing and for what at the 7. Chandrasekhar Singh Khulem. Sakok Lamlel Ahanba , All Manipur Umang Lai Haraoba Committee, Uripok, Naoremthong, Imphal1992. cost of the live of the people of the state. 8. Ashokumar L. Ariba Manipuri Sahityagi Paring , Yumnam Ibopishak, Imphal, 1992. 9. Ashokumar L. Ariba Manipuri Sahityagi Paring (18 amasung 19 gi Manipuri Sahitya), Jenifar, Jenita, Shibadata, Imphal, 2000. 10. Gourachandra Mayanglambam, Nongkhrang , Imphal 1980. Letters, Feedback and Suggestions to ‘Imphal Times’ 11. Gourachandra Mayanglambam, Ariba Meiteilon gi Ramayan , People Museum, Kakching, 1991. can be sent to our e-mail : [email protected]. 12. Rajendra Sharma B. Meitei Bamon gi Hourakpham amasung Sageigi Gotra , Shri S. Irabot Singh, Imphal, 5 th Edition, 2009. For advertisement kindy contact: - 0385-2452159 (O). 13. South East Asia Cultural Organization. Khongul Mutsanlaklaba Yelhoungeigi ( Kanglei Khunaigi ) Harao Kumheising , Imphal, 2012. For time being readers can reach the office at Cell Phone 14. Madhumangol Singh Th. Shri Gobinda Nirpan amasung Lai 7 Nurupon Toukhiba, Imphal, 2003. Etc. No. 9862860745 for any purpose. (Paper presented in the Seminar organized by the Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University)