IMPHAL, January 10: International Observation Committee on Puya Meithaba (ICOP) commemorated the 286th Puya Meithaba as Black Day at Standard Roberth Higher Secondary School today. It was commemorated under the theme `Remember, Review and Revive for Love, Peace and Integrity`™.
During the commemoration, Keirao A/C MLA Karam Thamarjit attended as chief guest, President All Manipur Recognized Private School Welfare Association Ph Landhoni as functional president, President, IUCB Limited Dr Th Dilip and Secretary COHSEM Sarangajit Khundrakpam as guest of honor as well as Convenor ICOP N Tomba and Advisor MIKAL Th Ibungohal as the special guest.
Speaking as the chief guest, Karam Thamarjit said only someone with great will and determination must investigate the historic event of the burning of Puyas (our ancient texts).
The time has come for us to join hands in searching for our ancient texts to keep it safely for our future generations, he added.
In his speech as a special guest, ICOP convenor N Tomba said according to the ancient writers, the Puya was not only one book but comprised different types of texts depicting various characters.
He said the Puya was burned during the reign of King Garibaniwas over a period of time and was lastly set on fire in 1729 before the Kangla Utra Shanglen with Hindu rituals normally performed during the burning of dead bodies.
The Black Day is being commemorated to learn from the incident for never repeating it again in the future, N Tomba said.
He further said that the observation committee will organise the Black day in various schools of Manipur before `the main day on January 13`.
We should not destroy our property which was handed over to us by our ancestors, he added.