Bishnupriya Manipuri Online

Ranjit Sinha, Associate Editor of ‘The Arunachal Times’ is seen receiving ‘Best Interjector’ Award in the debate competition from the Arunachal Pradesh DGP Ajay Chadha in a state-level debate competition held on the topic “Should criminals enjoy human rights”, at Police Training Centre, Banderdewa on March 28 last. The competition was organized by Arunachal Pradesh Police and NHRC to bring awareness on the Human Rights. Mr. Sinha is the native of Pathakandi in Karimganj district of Assam.

By Rebati Mohan Sinha As I was also a scout in my school days and participated in a state’s jamboorie held in Naugaon in 1956. Having read the news piece [ Mrs. Kumkum Sinha Appointed Commisioner (NE Region) of the BSG ]I was overwhelmed and thought of giving a brief about Bharat Scouts & Guides for the readers of this blog. This is a voluntary non political, educational movement for young people conceived by Lord Baden Powell in 1907. The purpose of the movement is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their physical, intellectual, social and spiritual as individual, as responsible citizens and as member of the local, national, and international communities. I would like to give a small organizational chart which will give the position of Mrs. Kumkum Sinha as National H.Q .Commissioner for Scouts and Guides. The vice President of India is the patron of B.S&G. The organization Chart is headed by a President and six Vice Presidents and followed by the Nat...

The Bishnupriya Manipuri leaders are silent on the exclusion of the community's name in the OBCs list of Assam. By Rebati Mohan Sinha I fear the SC judgment will damage the reputation of our few elite institutions like IITs and IIMs. Although I am against the quota system; but one thing, I appreciate the most the way the Govt. has shown its sincerity. I could see that our leaders in the future will be our next generation OBCs, if they are not better educated, governance will not get improved. Why then should I feel ill about it? In my view the hidden agenda of OBC quota was to put children of OBC netas , babus in to our top ranking institutions through this unfair means. Since talent is such a scare commodity, successful nations nurture it through elite institutions, such as IITs and IIMs. At the same time they meet the demand of others through an adequate supply of institutions. This is the way they achieve excellence. The demand for quota in higher education arises from scarcity...

Mrs. Kumkum Sinha, Deputy Director, Assam Elementary Education is appointed as National Head Qtrs Commissioner (North East Region) of the Bharat Scouts and Guides. She is the first lady of Assam who is able to reach to this position. Her copy of warrant of appointment is attached herewith. Source : Nua Ela, March 2008 issue Please SUBSCRIBE to the Bishnupriya Manipuri Blog.

In recent times, ‘communities’ devoted to the Bishnupriya Manipuri community in Orkut have seen a staggering growth. And so the responsibilities of the owners maintaining these communities have increased. Members joining these communities must be now diligent to their activities. By Rishikesh Sinha, New Delhi We all have witnessed how the social networking site like Orkut has developed itself to the present stage. Ask any active Orkuttians, the gradual progression that took place in the Orkut. They will nod a ‘yes’ answer. Now, users have more control over their profile than it was before. And it is a good sign and especially at this time when ‘privacy’ is taken seriously and given due importance. Things are changing fast in Orkut, as new and innovative features are being added daily; thus enabling us to express in much better way to our friends and to all those who are associated with us. All is not well Unfortunately, it has a flip side as well. The unfathomable impact and influence ...

Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate poet, writer, philosopher is probably the most prominent figure in the cultural world of Indian subcontinent and also was the greatest patron of the Manipuri dance and culture. It was him who popularized the Manipuri style of dance with its high zenith among the people of the world. He deserves the honorable place in the style and regarded as the “Pioneer of Manipuri dance and culture”. continue reading Please SUBSCRIBE to the Bishnupriya Manipuri Blog.

By Rebati Mohan Sinha This year Bishnupriya Manipuri people of Pune-Mumbai welcomed the new year, (son 1415 saal) by celebrating Bishu at Vishrant Wadi, Pune on 14th April, the first day of the year and on 20th April, the concluding day of celebration at Panvel, Navi Mumbai. Bishnupriya Manipuri people at Pune arranged the Bishu’s first day celebration in the Mandop of Basanti Puja at Vishrant Wadi. However, the game of Dush-Pochis was played through out the night. The youngsters enjoyed a lot, as if they had played in a village Mandop . Early in the morning, at the end of the game, the Khichri-Kheer was served in kola pata (banana leaves), specially brought for the occasion. On 20th April 2008, Mumbai people arranged first time at Panvel, the concluding ceremony of Bishu. The entire celebration was sponsored by one Mr. Sujit Sinha at his resident. Being on Sunday, the people started gathering leisurely in the new township, Panvel with their own vehicles. Dush–Pochich game was sch...

It comes as a serious issue that in the online government records that are available, the "Bishnupriya Manipuri" community has not been mentioned in the OBCs list from the state of Assam ( click here ) whereas it is added in the state of Tripura ( click here ). Please read the following text. The implementation of reservation in admission under the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admissions) Act, 2006 [No. 5 of 2006] in respect of persons belonging to the socially and educationally backward classes (OBCs) had been ‘stayed’ by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, while hearing Writ Petition (Civil) No. 265 and a bunch of other writ petitions. The Apex Court has now finally disposed of the petitions on the 10th April, 2008, upholding the constitutional validity of the 93rd Amendment [Article 15(5)] of the Constitution in so far as the Central Educational Institutions, established, maintained or aided by the Central Government are concerned. The court has also...

By Rishikesh Sinha Do you remember when you last time had a bathe in the cold water of a pond? I am sure, 100 per cent sure; those reading this article haven’t even seen a pond, forget taking a dip, since their last visit to their village. Perhaps have forgotten the feeling of freshness that comes when one takes a bathe in a pond! Taking a bathe in the cosy and private four-walled bathroom can’t be compared to a bathe taken in the lap of nature. It is so refreshing, invigorating and rejuvenating that those who haven’t ever been near to our verdant pond ( pohorigo ) can’t imagine it. You play, you swim, and take a bathe in the pond without any slightest remorse that the whole of India is facing a severe water scarcity and people are fighting for it! You are in your own world. If there is something that is going with you into the pond it is your khuttai that you are wearing. Of course, soap is not a prerequisite in this daily ritual. But even you are allowed to take it. (It is better if...

Bishnupriya Manipuri weekdays are vanishing from the consciousness of the community. But no more. Read By Ranita Sinha, Kolkata How many of us (the Bishnupriya Manipuri people) do really know Sunday as Lamboishing and Thursday as Shakolsher ? Someone would say they have heard it once or twice uttered by their parents or grand parents; again some would wonder what it is all about. These are the Brishnupriya Manipuri terms used to address the seven days of the week. I have heard it many years back when I used to visit my parental village from my grand parents and from the elderly people. Also my mother sometimes used to utter " Aji te Shakolsher, aji niramish radani ". But nowadays these terms are not heard at all. We are very much comfortable with either addressing the seven days of the week in English as Sunday, Monday or in Bengali as Ravibar, Sombar etc. Many of us does not even know that there are Bishnupriya Manipuri terms to address the seven days of the week. Myself k...

Solemnizing a marriage in the Bishnupriya Manipuri community calls for an acid test from both the parties. How? By BN Sinha, New Delhi It is said that marriages are made in heaven and performed on earth. Then why this hue and cry about the matchmaking, why don’t we sit idle and wait for the occasion to happen to us automatically. Well, it is a fact that considerable amount of luck plays a role in finding a soul mate or a better half. A marriage in one’s life is supposed to be the most auspicious and important incident in ones life. There is no fixed time frame for a person to get married as it depends on many issues related to personal and social aspects and also there are strict rituals and customs in every community to perform a marriage. Even in the 21st century sci-fi era, instead of all those modern lifestyles people still love to follow all the typical community customs or norms when it comes to performing a marriage. As we know that in love marriages the partners are adequately ...

Bisnhnupriya Manipuri people residing in Assam are in a catch 22 situation. Reason? By Rajesh Sinha Firstly, we have Bengalis neighbours (read Bangladeshi Bengalis) that don't have a much say in the politics of the state. Unfortunately, at the end of the day they are our immediate neighbours; and comparatively enjoy better political and administrative powers than the Brishnupriya Manipuris. Secondly, the community resides in a state of Assam where majority of the people are Assamese. Now, the million dollar question is, where do the community align itself, to the majority Assamese people or to the neighnourhood Bengalis. The crux of the whole affair is that the Brishnupriya Manipuri community shares a very cordial relationship to both the communities. The Bishnupriya Manipuri people are very conversant to the cultures and customs of both the Assamese and Bengali communities. But, having a cordial relationship to both the communities is not the end. The Bishnupriya Manipuri commu...

The first celebration of ‘ Basanti Puja ’ outside Assam-Tripura… Bishnupriya Manipuri staying in Pune are heading for a hat-trick this time: first one being the foundation laying ceremony of International society for Shri Shri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur Sevashram, the second one, Prothom Akhil Bharatiya Celebration of Sadhu Thakur’s Birth Anniversary at Pune’s Range Hill and the third one is ‘First celebration of a Basanti Puja’at Vishrant Wadi,Pune. The entire Basanti Puja was sponsored by one Shri Ramsena Sinha, a registrar of one of Pune’s prestigious Balaji Education Society (having seven colleges). It may be mentioned here that our Bishnupriya Manipuri students have passed out from this society’s IIMM college and secured very good jobs in Mumbai. The puja was celebrated from 11th to 15th April 2008 with great fan fare.The ‘ dosho-bhuja ’ god is worshipped to earn prosperity and good-will for five days. The entire moholla is transformed into one carnival, dancing with the music o...

By Rebati Mohan Sinha The ‘Bishu’ is the biggest festival of Bishnupriya Manipuri, celebrated from the last day of the month of Chaitra for five days and it is basically a new year celebration where we are bidding a farewel to the old year and welcoming the new, with great enthusiasm, hoping the new year will bring happiness to each of our Bishnupriya Manipuri family. Now if some one ask me the meaning of word ‘Bishu’, I may not be able to answer; instead describe the activities going on during the festival. The preparations are afoot at least 15 days before the celebration i.e storing of enough rations, including fire wood so that one should not ask anything (borrowing)from the neighbours during the festivity period. Borrowing is considered to be ‘o shubo’. There are so many Do’s and Don’t’s to be followed before and during the festivity. On the first day of the festival, each Bishnupriya Manipuri house-hold clean the house, specially kachcha floors(ghor-mankol), with a mixture of mud...

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India on April 10, 2008 upheld the law that provides reservation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs)in Central educational institutions. However, SC also ruled the exclusion of creamy layer among the OBCs from the quota benefits. The decision had a direct impact on the future of the community Bishnupriya Manipuri since it comes under the bracket of OBC. Now sons and daughters of the MPs and MLAs of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community will not be entitled to get the benefits that they had been enjoying till date. Ironically, till date there has not been a single MP from the community. While there is one Bishnupriya Manipuri MLA Kartik Sena Sinha in the present Legislative Assembly of Assam. The Supreme Court also added that periodic revision of the reservation should be done since it cannot be in perpetuity. Moreover, the court also said that the central government can decide when to implement the quota this year itself. On this issue the Court ...

A foundation stone for the ‘International Society for Shri Shri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur Sevashram’ was laid by the sevait of Gobinda Mandir, Nabadwip, on the 11th. November 2007. The ceremony took place on the occation of Akhil Bharatiya‘s first celebration of 137th birth anniversary of Shri Shri Sadhu Thakur at Pune, Maharashtra. It witnessed a huge public gathering. The main purpose of the International Society for Shri Shri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur Sevashramma, which is an institution, is to build Sevashrams in Delhi, Kolkata, Pune and Bangalore and other cities with the help of NRIs and the people residing in those cities. The International Society for Shri Shri Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur Sevashram strives for the spiritual, social and educational upliftment of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community and mankind at large. It's philosophy is based on the universal religion of Naam Sankirtan which is to impart service to the people irrespective of caste, creed, color and gender. The...

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The Bishnupriya Manipuri language is at a very pathetic stage. Their own people living in the far off places are disrespecting their mother tongue by not using it in the day-to-day communication with their own fellow. By BN Sinha, New Delhi The Bishnupriya Manipuri language has got many resemblances with few of the languages of east and north east India like Bengali, Assamese etc. The script used to write the Bishnupriya Manipuri language is mainly the Bengali script which is already in the use in the primary level of the education in Assam. Though the language is not very rich with respect to literature and grammar but it is very fondly termed in the community as " Amar Thar " or few say " Emar Thar " . Till last decade the language was widely spoken by all the Bishnupriya Manipuri people but unfortuntely it started plummeting with the passage of time even in the rural areas. The impact of the other community culture and language is much prominent in the Bishnupriy...

In one of the comments in Bishnupriya Manipuri Status in Google it reads: Anonymous said... Dear Rishi, you have done good analysis.. in addition I like to name some other sites on Bishnupriya like http://freespaces.com/ithaak and http://manipuri.freehomepage.com which worth mention. Curiously enough all the websites about Bishnupriya manipuri in world wide web are the contribution from the Bangladeshi Bishnupriyas. Is there any website or a single page about Bishnupriya Manipuri by any Bishnupriya from Assam or Tripura or any state from India? Is it not a strange thing that 70% of Bishnupriyas live in India? It is really an unfortunate affair and is a scathing attack to the fact that India where a bigger population of Bishnupriya Manipuri exists, its contribution in the Internet world is almost nowhere, absolutely nil. It is not that in India, the Bishnupriya Manipuri populace are socially marginalised, away from the modern education, and to all those resources that are required to...

Among many rituals being followed up by Bishnupriya Manipuri community, Apokapa Dau Homa Dena is the one which is of relevance because here all sakei people congregate and celebrate it thus building up a bonding and comity amongst them. By Rebati Mohan Sinha All human beings are strongly influenced by culture and ritual inheritance, so the Bishnupriya Manipuris are no exception to that. Our ancestors have been celebrating various rituals like birth rite, marriage rite and funeral rite and so on for the well being of family and no one could ask them, the purpose of these rituals. During our childhood we enjoyed having played with our kith and kins' children, came for attending such rituals. I prefer one such ritual, Apokpa Dau Homa Dena where our all sakei people assemble to celebrate at a house of lokei-r senior most member. Some one may ask who is Apokpa? I may not be able to explain properly; but what ever I have seen and learnt, can be stated. This is an idol of senior mos...