Imphal, Sept 16: Members of Kangle Salai Apunba Lup (KSAL), today burn Manorama Book Year Book in protest demonstration at the southern gate of DM College, Imphal for publishing an article which reciprocates the history and culture of Manipur.
Yumkhaibam Meerenkhomba, President of KSAL said that time has come for all the people in the state to stand united and fight against any misinterpretation of our culture, tradition and history.
The interpretation that the traditional Laiharaoba dance of Meitei came form the Raas Leela dance, in the Manorama Yearbook 2017 is baseless and the association strongly condemn, he added.
Meerenkhomba alleged that our beautiful Lai Haraoba Dance or the Khamba Thoibi Dance has been linked with Hindu gods and goddesses Krishna, Radha, Mahadeva, Parvati on page number 885 printed and published by Malaya Manorama Press Kottayam.
The Raas dance was introduced in Manipur during the reign of King Bheigyachandra (1763-1796). However, the invented Rasa dance has been linked to King Loyumba who reigned in Manipur from 1074 to 1122 in the Manorama Year Book, he added.
Meerenkhomba further said that our own culture and tradition cannot be defamed in such a way in the whole world. The Rasa dance is never mentioned in the chronicle or the historical book relating to Khamba and Thoibi, he added.
Mention may be that KSAL had already asked the publisher to change the wrong history and re-edit, through English papers within September 15, but there has no any reaction or apology from the publisher.
With the burning of the copies of Manorama Year Book 2017, KSAL has also banned the book from further publishing.
