By Santosh Kumar Singh, Manipal
BISHNUPRIYA MANIPURI: CASE STUDY……..DARE TO GIVE SOLUTIONS OF THE PROBLEMS
Case study is a process of learning practically which provides somebody the capability to find options of solutions of the problems one may face in his daily life or in future by discussing various past and current cases. Case is discussed among a group of members, asked to have a brainstorming session and come out with some innovative solutions individually. It has been a great success of capability building in learning process, accepted and used by many premier business schools, business corporates. It enables to get a pool of innovative ideas out of which one can choose the best option based on the current circumstances. While going through many company's case studies, suddenly an idea clicked. Idea is about making case studies on various currently happening issues of Bishnupriya Manipuri people living in remote villages, towns, cities and abroad. So, a small effort is made on making some case studies which are currently happening with Bishnupriya Manipuri people. Identities like names; addresses etc. are concealed so as to give respect to the individual privacy of the people who are involved in these cases. It is requested and appreciated not to use the names of the people involved in the cases while discussing, if one can identify. All Bishnupriya Manipuri intellectual peoples are requested to go through the cases thoroughly and give solutions under the given circumstances. The suggestions will be communicated to the people concerned which will help them in taking decisions.
THE CASES ARE BASED ON REAL STORIES
Case 1: A non-Brahmin guy fell in love with a Brahmin girl in a Bishnupriya Manipuri village. As the relation is not socially accepted, they did not have any other option except running from village and they did so. It became a big issue in the village and other villages nearby especially from the Brahmins side that how could the Brahmin girl ran away with a non Brahmin guy. Both the families were very upset with that incident and from that day, both of them have not been allowed to enter the village. As time goes on, both the family members realise the absence of their children and communicate with them in secret. The fear is that if society comes to know about it, it will point out its finger on it and threaten their social status which is very important to live in a village and is like hell to live without. Both the families want to accept the couple socially but do not take the approach as villagers and society will not accept it. When the issue was discussed with the senior members of the village, they told how they could accept it and go against their ancestors who never accepted it. They are afraid to accept if other villagers comment on it. So, everybody is keeping quiet, nobody is taking approach to bring the couple and their families together as that will create a bad reputation and lose his so called izzat. Both the families cannot take initiative, fear is what villagers will say, similar is the case with the villagers being afraid of other villagers comment on it. Finally both the couple and their families are suffering to maintain the social norms.
Problem:
(a) Should the couple be socially accepted? Justify your point.
(b) What approach should be taken by the families and the villagers so that they can accept their children and BISHNUPRIYA MANIPURI society will not point out finger on them?
Case 2:
In a BISHNUPRIYA MANIPURI village, a Brahmin family has accepted its son and his non Brahmin wife who did court marriage. Some villagers have accepted it while some have protested. Based on the acceptance of the marriage couple socially and allowing the Brahmin groom to participate in rituals viz. leisaange puja dena, mantra solkorani, baandara radani etc. the villagers are splitted into two groups out of which one group has accepted and other has not. All invitations (Bartons) are banned between the two groups, so no participation of social activities between them. Even the group who does not accept the marriage couple is planning to hire one more Brahmin in that village and set up a new temple and maalthep. A village of 50 houses is going to be split up. Youths and children are suffering as they are protested to mingle with their friends belonging to other group. Unity is broken into bits and pieces.
Problem:
(a) Should the groom and the bride be allowed in ritual activities? Justify your point
(b) Give a solution of splitting of the village into two maaltheps and maintain their unity.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteHmm thats not a new thing but it is reality, that everyboby wants to be happy with their own community.. but that should not be like this Bcoz only we are those persons who made different different communities so that should not be like this.... Here I want to say that there is not need to afraid from anyone...and they should accept their relationship(Boy & Girl marriage). we can not divide love in community or even we can't bound it..
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSantosh girokgo!
ReplyDeleteNobody will comment! But don’t worry u have highlighted a serious issue. One of the best article by u.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTo be respected in a society and to respect someone in a society there are are norms one needs to follow. However India being a democratic country an individual may choose to do what he wishes to do.
ReplyDeleteTechnically the answer would be let love prevail.But it may set a trend. Cliched it is. But it is.
Practically life is something else.It may have a different answers.
Personally I would say let love stay.
bramins enjoy a very high degree of respects in a BM society. to command that respect, the society expects certain norms to be observed by the brahmins. if that is not maintained then it is un-ethical to expect the respect and love from the society. if we want to maintain the uniqueness of our society, we must have some sanctions in place to check the tendency of such marriage.
ReplyDeleteyes!!!!!!!!!!!you have the liberty to love a person and marry her\him but same time no community Bandara and dowar-sewa please.
legally, there is no bar. as its not a registered marriage, as the parties are hindu, the hindu marriage Act will apply. presuming that they are not belong to same gotra, the marriage is a valid one.
i wish a ceaseless love life for both the couples.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to site another example:'man ran away with his cousin(paternal uncle`s daughter)
ReplyDeletegot married,having grown up children.`Now in this case what is to be done?Every problem has got a solution.In Maharashtra and Andhra pradesh the maternal uncle is given the first preference to marry his
niece; but in our society it is not allowed.The social reformer, Gokulananda Geetiswami wrote in his poem:Kale Kale kalor kotha na hunani nakorer.....Social reforms are very much needed and we are for that ie Obostha bede byobostha.
Other day at Guwahati some one reported to me, 13 BM girls ran away with Muslim boys from various
villages and people are so annoyed that the are ready to kill the couples. We should not loose heart.
I would say,guardians are partly
responsible.In future we should be
very much vigil not to happen such
incidents.
regarding marriege with brahmin boy or girl.now in this era this is foolish to think of it .everybody should think when a sound professional marry to a brahmin you are readily accept as he is not approachable or if he marry to other caste everybody keep quite as people will not get help and also if u cut relation he does not require.
ReplyDeletebut one day if the persons children are well established and they know how to speak bm language than i don't think there will be anyone who will reject to their offer or even villagers.
why to accept later accept now so that they can be called our community people and later with open heart everybody can approach the man.
its may be wrong pls reply.for the case regarding brahmins marry it should be accepted by villagers but the rules for the puja participation should be as decided by ancestors.
by
bipul
mumbai