Conclave of Bishnupriya Manipuris of Manipur and Mayangmati held

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By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 20: Separated for centuries together during which even their language had to die an unnatural death at the very place of its origin, the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Manipur had a nostalgic meeting with their brethrens in Moyangmati i.e. places outside Manipur like Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh at the venue of the 140th birth anniversary of Sri Sri Bhubaneswar Sadhuthakur at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district yesterday.

Talking to this reporter over telephone from Diphu late last night, Assam State Committee vice-president of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Sanskriti Parishad (NBMSP) Shimu Sinha said: “The conclave between the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Manipur and the office-bearers of the Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha (NBMM) was possible because of NBMM interlocutor and vice-president Anil Singha Gautam and T Chandra Kanta Singh of Manipur. During the cordial discussion, those from Manipur who continued to defy their Bishnupriya Manipuri identity over the years mainly due to the socio-political situation in Manipur admitted with tears in their eyes that they are Bishnupriya Manipuris even though they neither speak nor know the Bishnupriya Manipuri language. In order to make the merger of the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Mayangmati (places outside Manipur) and the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Manipur possible and to put an end to the language barriers, the conclave laid stress on reintroducing nuptial relationship between them.”

An elated and nostalgic Shimu Sinha said though the meeting is just the initiation for reunion of the community that was scattered in diverse directions like the Barak Valley in Assam, Tripura, Burma and Bangladesh during the exodus following the historic Burmese attack (Owar Bhagan) in the 18th century, it can be considered a mile stone achieved. He said the 10-member Bishnupriya Manipuri team from Manipur comprising T Chandra Kanta Singh, T Nimai Singh, an esulpa (singer) of rasakirtan, Maniranbam Maniton Singh, who conducted a detailed study on Sadhu Thakur and read out a paper on him, and others has invited a delegation of the NBMM to Manipur in order to strengthen their fresh bond.Talking to The Sentinel, NBMSP general secretary and Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum president DILS Lakshmindra Sinha said: “It’s a laudable step. This step will enable us to make stride in the days and years ahead.” THE SENTINEL