IMPHAL, October 18: The Centre for Manipur Studies (CMS), Manipur University has today organized a two days National Seminar on The Native Hill Communities in Manipur from Ethno Historical and Cultural Perspective at the premises of Old Social Science Block, MU.
Prof HNK Sarma, vice chancellor, MU inaugurated the seminar at 11:30 am by lighting the inaugural candle as a chief guest of the function.
Prof E Bijoykumar Singh presided over the inaugural function while Prof N Joykumar Singh, Director, CMS, MU also shared the dais.
A prelude of the seminar was presented by Aheibam Koireng Singh, assistant professor, CMS, MU.
During the function, Dr RK Ranjan Singh, retired Register, MU said that he had travelled across breadth and length of the state in the 70s under the leadership of MK Priyobarta and stated that there are two tongues in the hill– tangible and intangible.
Dr Ranjan further narrated his experiences.
In the Tangkhul society, whenever a family faces accommodation problems in a single house due to increase in the number of family members, the head of the family goes to the village chief and request to be allowed to construct a new house and necessarily felling of trees, he expressed.
The request is followed with the village chief going into the jungle mark out the trees which need to be felled, he said while elaborating that such practices are orally preserved histories and need proper recordings so as to make it ethno historical materials.
Delivering his speech, Prof HNK Sarma, vice chancellor elaborated that organizing such seminars is very important on the backdrop of the varied ethno cultural social pattern available in the state of Manipur.
The Vice Chancellor also mentioned of the importance of digitization of the old text and manuscripts which are scattered throughout the state.
He concluded his speech by wishing the seminar a grand success.
Prof E Bijoykumar Singh, Dean School of Social Sciences who is also the Director of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell, MU expressed that it is time for introspection and organizing this seminar is right in this perspective.
He further maintained that the state remains divided on many counts adding that an understanding based on reality must be established.
Oral history will soon disappear, if it is not given proper protection, and once protected properly, it could be a valuable asset, he opined.
The vote of thanks was made by Vijaya Laxmi Brar, associate professor, Centre for Manipur Studies, MU.