IT News
Imphal, Nov 5: South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) has stated that there is no confusion to the date of the burning of historical Meitei script which falls on 17th of Mera month, 1732 as it has been recorded in many of the books and write –up of Manipuri scholars. In a press statement the SEACO said that they can produce evidence to clarify the doubt to the date if any. It said in a seminar held on June 7, 2009 organized by an association called REFORM, Research scholar Naorem Indramani had stated that the sacred books of the Meitei were collected and piled up in front of Uttra Sanglen and cremated at page 3. In a write up at the Orient Vision, Volume V, Issue –I, Jan-March, 2008, Professor Arambam Lokendra also agreed with the date of burning of the Meitei Manuscript. At page number 137 of the Cheitharol Kumbaba published by the Art and Culture Department of the Government of Manipur the date of the burning of the Meitei manuscript puya has been mentioned as 17th of Mera Month, 1732. There is no difference to the record maintain in the Cheitharol Kumbaba, edited and translated by Nepram Birahari and forwarded Professor Gangmumei Kamei. At page number 57 of the record file called Diary of Manipur type by Nithore Benerjee in 1904 the date of the burning of Puya is stated to have been happened in 1932. Likewise scholars of the state like Chana Lukhoi, L Jaicandra Pandit Kharaibam Dev, Pandit Thongam Madhav also agreed in their writing that the date of the burning of Meitei manuscript the Puyas happened on 17th of Mera month, 1932. SEACO said it is better to observe the Puya Mei Thaba Numit on the exact date as it is a matter of our history.
