Blood ties between Meiteis and Meitei Pangals stressed
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Imphal, Jul 17 : The 7th Pukmen Paomennaba Thouram, organised by the Meitei-Pangal Ee Gee Khongul Liba Foundation Committee (MPEGKLFC), Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh was observed today at Sana Konung, the Royal Palace in Imphal.
The annual programme is dedicated to reinforcing the historical and cultural ties between the Meitei and Meitei-Pangal communities of Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh, said MPEGKLFC in a statement.
The event was hosted by former Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba and presided over by the president of the MPEGKLFC, Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh Buyamayum Yaima Shah.
Distinguished dignitaries in attendance included social activist Tampakmayum Haji Arafat; former Chairman of the State Haj Committee Manipur, Moulana Abdus Salam; Junior MCS Officer Yumkhaibam Ziaur Rahman; Principal of Moirang College, Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh (Shamu) Dolaipabam; EMBRACE president Yumkhaibam Abul Kalam and cultural activist and researcher SM Sheikh, alongside numerous other scholars and social activists from the Meitei-Pangal community.
Addressing the gathering, Sanajaoba appealed to the people of Manipur to foster peace and harmony across all communities.
He emphasised the importance of deepening ties through ancestral connections, urging both Meiteis and Meitei-Pangals to trace their blood relations for better mutual understanding.
Sanajaoba also announced his commitment to reviving a modernised version of the historic Kaji Loishang system.
"While we may not replicate the exact framework of the past, we can establish a contemporary iteration of the Kaji System within the Royal Palace," he stated.
Furthermore, he assured that monthly meetings, featuring eminent personalities from both communities, will be convened at the Palace.
These gatherings are intended to facilitate dialogue on peaceful coexistence and collaborative efforts to uphold the integrity of Manipur, it added.
In a significant proposal, Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh Dolaipabam suggested the establishment of two distinct leadership heads within the community structure.
He proposed that the religious affairs of the Meitei-Pangals be managed by the Jamiat Ul Ulema or other recognised Islamic religious bodies operating in Manipur, while the titular King of Manipur should serve as the Head of Cultural Aspects.
This policy, he noted, would allow the community to maintain both its culture and religion side-by-side while projecting a unified identity to the rest of the world.
BM Yaima highlighted the origins of the initiative, noting that the programme has been observed annually since July 17, 2019.
He described the tradition where Meitei-Pangals bring fresh produce from their kitchen gardens to present to the King as a token of love, providing a platform for open dialogue and direct interaction.
"This programme will be organised every year on July 17, and we plan to scale it up significantly next year," he announced.
He reaffirmed the organisation's ongoing efforts to strengthen the ancestral bonds that have defined Manipur's history since the reign of King Khagemba.
The annual programme is dedicated to reinforcing the historical and cultural ties between the Meitei and Meitei-Pangal communities of Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh, said MPEGKLFC in a statement.
The event was hosted by former Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba and presided over by the president of the MPEGKLFC, Manipur, Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh Buyamayum Yaima Shah.
Distinguished dignitaries in attendance included social activist Tampakmayum Haji Arafat; former Chairman of the State Haj Committee Manipur, Moulana Abdus Salam; Junior MCS Officer Yumkhaibam Ziaur Rahman; Principal of Moirang College, Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh (Shamu) Dolaipabam; EMBRACE president Yumkhaibam Abul Kalam and cultural activist and researcher SM Sheikh, alongside numerous other scholars and social activists from the Meitei-Pangal community.
Addressing the gathering, Sanajaoba appealed to the people of Manipur to foster peace and harmony across all communities.
He emphasised the importance of deepening ties through ancestral connections, urging both Meiteis and Meitei-Pangals to trace their blood relations for better mutual understanding.
Sanajaoba also announced his commitment to reviving a modernised version of the historic Kaji Loishang system.
"While we may not replicate the exact framework of the past, we can establish a contemporary iteration of the Kaji System within the Royal Palace," he stated.
Furthermore, he assured that monthly meetings, featuring eminent personalities from both communities, will be convened at the Palace.
These gatherings are intended to facilitate dialogue on peaceful coexistence and collaborative efforts to uphold the integrity of Manipur, it added.
In a significant proposal, Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh Dolaipabam suggested the establishment of two distinct leadership heads within the community structure.
He proposed that the religious affairs of the Meitei-Pangals be managed by the Jamiat Ul Ulema or other recognised Islamic religious bodies operating in Manipur, while the titular King of Manipur should serve as the Head of Cultural Aspects.
This policy, he noted, would allow the community to maintain both its culture and religion side-by-side while projecting a unified identity to the rest of the world.
BM Yaima highlighted the origins of the initiative, noting that the programme has been observed annually since July 17, 2019.
He described the tradition where Meitei-Pangals bring fresh produce from their kitchen gardens to present to the King as a token of love, providing a platform for open dialogue and direct interaction.
"This programme will be organised every year on July 17, and we plan to scale it up significantly next year," he announced.
He reaffirmed the organisation's ongoing efforts to strengthen the ancestral bonds that have defined Manipur's history since the reign of King Khagemba.