Cricket tourney
IMPHAL, Jun 19: CRAU, Khamnam bazar crushed THAU, Thangmeiband by four wickets in a low scoring 20th match of the first BP & GP Memorial Trophy cricket tournament at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium today. electing to bat first, THAU posted a miserable tota.....
DPR sent to Delhi for permanent market shed at Tombisana HS CM assures covered temporary market shed at Lamphel
IMPHAL, Jun 19 : Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has pledged to take all possible steps to construct a roofed temporary market complex at Lamphel Super Market, in front of Shankar Talkies cinema hall. As the Minister in charge of MAHUD, the Chief Minister.....
Verdict against rape accused deferred to June 25
IMPHAL, Jun 19 : While absence of a legal representative in the gang-rape case of an U Morok trader led to further deferment of sentence hearing to June 25, JAC functionaries insisted that the accused persons deserve severest form of punishment for their .....
Death due to Hepatitis C shoots up Separate cell for H-C mooted
IMPHAL, June 19: The death rate due to Hepatitis C has shot up in Manipur considerably. This information was highlighted by a leader from the Opposition in the State Assembly today. Legislative wing leader of the Trinamool Congress Dr I Ibohalbi sai.....
60 year old woman raped
IMPHAL, Jun 19: Besides battering a 25-year-old youth for reportedly raping a sixty-year old tribal woman, an incensed mob last night dismantled the house of the accused rapist in Thoubal district. A source said that Md Sanayai (25) s/o Md Ibothem of Y.....
U’khand toll upto 150, K’nath shrine safe but complex damaged
Dehradun, Jun 19 : The terrible magnitude of nature’s fury in Uttarakhand unfolded today as the death toll rose to 150 with fears that it may go up substantially as large parts remained under water while hundreds of houses and buildings lay in ruins. .....
Ramlal Paul HSS imbroglio Govt's decision strongly opposed
IMPHAL, Jun 20 : Student organisations, local clubs, former teachers, families of founders, passed out students and alumni bodies of Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School have decided to stand together against the State Government’s recent decision to cha.....
Nitish Govt wins trust motion
Patna, Jun 19 : After dumping ally BJP, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today comfortably won a vote of confidence in his government in the Bihar Assembly amid signals of a new political alignment as Congress backed the motion. A total of 126 votes, .....
World Refugees Day Burmese refugees to stage rally
DIMAPUR, Jun 19 : Hundreds of Burmese refugees in India will stage a protest rally on the occasion of “World Refugees Day” at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday in order to express what they have been suffering here in India. “We, Burmese ref.....
Guardians put up PMT demand
IMPHAL, Jun 19: Accusing the State Government of furnishing different reasons for the non conduct of the MBBS/BDS exam 2013, the Manipur MBBS/BDS 2013 Entrance Exam Parent/Guardians’ Association has demanded revocation of the Cabinet decision that cance.....
Phungzathang Belittles Outcry Against Cancellation Of State PMT Five demands passed, PMT cancellation defended
IMPHAL, Jun 19 : Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing has belittled the raging protests against the cancellation of MBBS/BDS entrance examination in the State as an outcry by citizens naive on the issue. As the State Cabinet has already announced decis.....
Gangte dialect
IMPHAL, Jun 19 : The recent State Cabinet decision to approve Gangte as a recognised dialect of the State was celebrated today in an impressive programme held at Kuki Inn with the presence of most of the tribe leaders under the aegis of Gangte Tribe Uni.....
Urea in rice confirmed
IMPHAL, Jun 19 : Report about super fine rice variety found adulterated with Urea and DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) has been confirmed today by experts of the Central Agriculture university (CAU). According to CAU Entomologist Associate Professor Kh Iboha.....
Gunfight
IMPHAL, Jun 19 : A gunfight took place between suspected cadres of KNF (N) and troops of 15 AR and 21 Para this morning around 5 at Bongbal Kholen village in Senapati district. A source said that the encounter took place between suspected KNF (N) cadres a.....
Found dead
IMPHAL, Jun 19 : An unidentified body of a man was found near Youth Hostel, Khuman Lampak this morning around 4.30. Sources said that a shrieking sound was heard last night at the place where the corpse was found. A team of Imphal PS retrieved the body an.....
Blank firing
IMPHAL, Jun 19 :Unidentified gunmen opened blank fire at Moreh, Muslim Basti Ward number 4 today at about 6.30 pm. There is no report of any human casualty and all have been put under police protection, said a source......
Aimol VAs
IMPHAL, Jun 19: An emergency meeting of the Aimol Areas MGNREGS Development Action Committee, Tengnoupal Block held at Aimol Khunjai village on June 18 has resolved not to entertain the demand for implementation of 25 percent of MGNREGS fund through ADC m.....
One arrested
IMPHAL, Jun 19: An activist of PREPAK (Pro) identified as Seram Prem alias Bemsingh (37) s/o S Bijoy Singh of Heirok Part-II Thokchom Leikai was arrested by Thoubal district police commandos while conducting a search operation at Wangjing Bazar area today.....
Mahila Cong
IMPHAL, Jun 19: Thiampuina Ruby has been appointed as the acting general secretary of Manipur Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee. She will be the charge of office of office administration subject to the approval of the MPMCC president, according to an o.....
PMEGP beneficiaries urge
IMPHAL, Jun 19: Beneficiaries under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme have urged the authority concerned to release due sanctions to the beneficiaries. Speaking to reporters today at Manipur Press Club, President of All manipur PMRGP B.....
Manipur Masala
By : Sanatombi Angomcha
Redefining the fable of Houdong Lamboiba and Pebet
I recently read a prose by the late Kwairakpam Chaoba. I had an unnecessary quarrel with a friend over the prose. It confused me a lot about many things related to our history, culture and tradition. I pay my due homage to the great poet cum writer and I do not intend to criticise his work. However, I cannot help wondering why poets and writers of their age had a vague understanding of an authentic cultural moor we once had. In a prose titled Khamba-Thoibi, I wonder why the writer compares the plight of Khamnu with that of Kunti from Mahabharat? I believe there could have been a better comparison (or at least I think so?). It seems we collectively lack an apt understanding about the origin of our own history, culture and tradition. And sadly true but it has been going on for centuries. It seems we were dropped from Soraren on a fateful day, chanting hymns of a particular religion (read Hinduism) and all of us were compelled to believe what we were not supposed to believe.
I do not have the slightest intention to hurt the sentiment of people who worship and follow the doctrines of Hinduism. As mentioned in one of my earlier columns, I myself hail from a fanatic Hindu family. It is the sole will for any individual in our state to follow any faith (as citizens do in every secular state). However, one should also have a clear-cut understanding of one’s origin. Our leaders know not their root, which is one hell of a reason why they lack a sense of nationalism and it clearly reflects in their overall attitude. To cite an example, I once felt logically offended by a particular statement by a famous political personality from our state. He acclaimed, ‘Manipur is a Hindu state’. It is quite a shame to admit but religion has been used as the most convenient tool to gain political power. This has been actually going on for all these years. We know this is something indigestible but we did not want to bother further for reasons best known to ourselves. If only religion stays out of the context of our society, we would possibly be able to rebuild an ideal state.
Going back to history let me relate the folk tale of Houdong Lamboiba and Pebet in my own perspective. In the folk tale, the cunning Houdong Lamboiba easily convinced the villagers that he is a harmless monk who was visiting the village as an ascetic. With malicious intention, his motive of visiting Pebet’s village was premeditated. The villagers trusted the Houdong and provided him shelter until he showed his true colour. In the long run it was, however, the victory of the good over the bad. The Houdong Lamboiba successfully failed to overcome Pebet and her kindred. If we had to learn a lesson, this folk tale could have been more than enough.
To me, Pebet’s success in defeating Houdong Lam-boiba’s wicked plan provides the moral of the story. It’s time we redefine the story of Houdong Lamboiba and Pebet. One Houdong Lamboiba changed the entire course of our history centuries ago. We were the foolish Pebets who could not even protect our own culture then. Maybe we were not brave enough; maybe we were not integrated by a common thread. The ugly truth is we still are not integrated by a common thread. It would still take dog number of years for us to stand united with a common cause. But let’s dare to think and act different now. We have lived with enough confusion for too many years. It’s time for some enlightenment. No generation has to be blamed for what all things happened in the past. What had to happen already happened, now it’s time to introspect on many issues. Enough of the confused understanding; let there be some light.
It’s the high time we have the correct notion on our mind that ‘Manipur is not a Hindu state’. Every Manipuri is a Manipuri first. Religion should be a choice among individuals. Let no Houdong Lamboida ever dare to change a common belief that we have among ourselves (if only there is one). Let us wake up from deep slumber, brothers and sisters, before we are further corrupted by a false notion of our cultural and traditional roots. Every community in the state has its own roots. My overall motive is not to flare up a feeling of hatred for any particular Houdong Lamboiba or his race. I just want to make sure that another Houdong Lamboiba does not dare to sabotage our culture and tradition in a merciless manner. It is but one’s duty to protect one’s culture and history. If not, it’s better to admit that we are a race without any origin of our own. It would be quite a bitter truth but we have to live with it if we are reluctant to know where we originated from.
