Bishnupriya Manipuri Online

Prabir Sinha, Guwahati "Hojak Oik", a Bishnupriya Manipuri VCD Film, produced by PR Production, is slated to be released in January next year. The film throws light on the problem of unemployment and its consequences that compel the unemployed youth of the villages to leave their native place and rush to the towns for livelihood. Their strife to conform themselves to the new conditions, new lifestyle and indulge in the other activities. The story and producer of the film is Parimal Singha; the creative by Rita Singha and directed by Asutosh Singha (Ravi). In the Lead roles are Kamal Sinha (Actor) and Pankhi Das( Actress), Ashutosh Sinha (Ravi), Gopal Sinha (Kala Babu) & Niranjan Sinha as comedian. Parimal Singha and his film production team appeals to the Bishnupriya Manipuri people living in India and abroad to give their full support and co-operation for the success of the film. Any query & suggestion please contact 09435108177.

GUWAHATI, Dec 25 – Gopidas Sinha, chief adviser of Bishnupriya Manipuri Language Teachers’ Association and Development Council, Assam has been included as one of the members of the Assam Linguistic Minorities Development Board under Welfare of Minority and Development Department, an official notification stated. Courtesy: The Assam Tribune (December 25, 2009)

Merry Christmas By Ritwick Sinha, Guwahati

By Karunamay Sinha Yes, you’ve rightly guessed it. It is Manipur. If it was Christian missionaries that transformed Mizoram into modernity, it was the last lag of the great Vaishnavite movement of medieval India that reshaped Manipur. Buddhism and Vaishnavism are two religious entities in India that had engaged in works resembling missionary activity. Unlike Christian missionaries, however, Vaishnav missionaries did not entirely banish old practices and traditions. One can thus get to see delightful coexistence of refined Hindu practices and pre-Hindu traditions existing side by side in Manipur. As to the spring festivities in Manipur, one is at a loss where to start. The feel of this space is that of pre-Hindu, pre-Buddhist, pre-Islam, pre-Christian, animistic, pagan or other beliefs and traditions. But you cannot exclude the fervour of Holi while extolling the mood of spring in Manipur. The celebration of this ubiquitous, essentially Hindu Indian festival attains a very remark...

By a Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Dec 20: The general meeting of the Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha (NBMM), greater Guwahati branch, urged Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to immediately issue a separate notification for inclusion of the Bishnupriya Manipuris in the list of Other Backward Communities (OBCs) by honouring the verdicts of the Gauhati High Court and the Supreme Court towards that end, immediate recommendation by the State Government to the Central Government for telecasting and broadcasting of Bishnupriya Manipuri programmes in Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) respectively, immediate grant of Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Council etc. Other demands of the NBMM are appointment of Bishnupriya Manipuri language teachers in all primary schools where the language has been implemented as per government norms and also appointment of Bishnupriya Manipuri sub-inspector of schools as per the last government advertisement for effective supervision of teaching of the ...

By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Dec 20: The 113th birth anniversary of Gokulananda Geetiswami, an alternative media mogul, was observed with a day-long function at Silpgram in Guwahati by the Gokulananda Geetiswami Kalakristi Kendra today. The programme started with the flag hoisting by celebration committee president RK Chandrakanta Singha. Noted Manipuri dance exponent Guru Sashi Kumar Singha was felicitated at the function that was graced by MLA Kartik Sena Sinha as the special guest of honour. Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum (BMWF) president DILS Lakshmindra Sinha and others were also present at the programme. Convenor of the programme Jitendra Kumar Singha delivered the welcome address. Courtesy: The Sentinel (December 20, 2009) Today is Ninthoapa (Monday)

By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Dec 18: Asom Sanmilita Janagusthiya Sahitya Mancha (ASJSM), an umbrella organization of various Janagusthiya Sahitya Sabhas, will organize an urgent executive meeting on December 24, next at the Dhemaji bus stand. ASJSM president Pushpa Gogoi has requested the president and secretaries and the members of the Boro, Mising, Tiwa, Rabha, Manipuri, Bishnupriya Manipuris, Dimasa, Karbi, Deuri, Tai, Sar Chapari Sahitya Sabha, Nepali Sahitya Parishad, Nepali Sahitya Sabha, Axom Xahitya Xabha to attend the meeting. Gogoi stated that the accommodation and lodging of all the members will be taken care of by him. He further said, in the meeting, government apathy towards various tribal groups will be discussed. He also said the motive of the meeting is to work out a solution to problem and requested all the members to assemble at the scheduled place by December 23. Courtesy: The Sentinel (December 18, 2009) Today is Thanksha (Saturday) What next?

By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Dec 17: Byatikram, a publication house, today inked a record in the ongoing 11th North East Book Fair at Chandamari Field in Guwahati today by releasing as many as 17 books on the same forum. The books were released by litterateurs and intellectuals like Anima Guha, Anuradha Sarma Pujari, Rita Choudhury, Rani Gohain, Professor Amalendu Chakravarty, Maini Mahanta, Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum president DILS Lakshmindra Sinha, Gautam Bandopadhyay, Lumding College Principal Ashok Pal, Axom Xahitya Xabha president Ronbong Terang and others. So far, Byatikram has published Bengali, Assamese, English, Manipuri and Bishnupriya Manipuri books. Releasing a Bishnupriya Manipuri book, Sija, Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum (BMWF) president DILS Lakshmindra Sinha said longevity of any literature depends much on its human appeal. He said poetry is a garland of words that create a vivid picture in the minds of readers. DILS Sinha further said: “In th...

By RK Rishikesh Sinha, New Delhi What was the health of the site in the year 2009? Statistically speaking, over 31, 000 pages of the site were opened by 16, 000 visits of the readers. Indian readers accounts for 77.77 per cent of the total readership of the site. Followed up by the United States (7.39 %), United Arab Emirates (3.44 %), United Kingdom (1.54 %), Bahrain (1.19 %) … Besides these, in countries like Bangladesh, Canada, Australia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Qatar, and Oman, the site has sizable population of Bishnupriya Manipuri readers. However, there are readers from Norway, Spain and Hong Kong, about them it is very difficult to conclude whether they are Bishnupriya Manipuri or are those who are interested to the Bishnupriya Manipuri topics that the site is devoted to. Readers from these countries – what do they do in the site – is interesting. Analyzing deeper into the statistics, readers from Norway are the one who are leaps and bounds above t...

(The article published in the Souvenir "SMARANIKA" on the occasion of the 113th Birth Anniversary of Gokulananda Geetiswami by the Guwahati Gokulananda Geetiswami Jonmoutsav Celebration Committee) By Pratibha Sinha, Guwahati “ Woman ” in other words – the counterpart of man with equal mental faculty, the embodiment of love and affection, play a great part in the progress of a family, community, society & ultimately the country. The mental and physical contact of women with life is much more lasting and comprehensive than that of men. Woman is the magnificent creation of god, a multi faceted personality with the power of benevolence, adjustability, integrity and tolerance irrespective of caste, community, religion, nation etc. In our society, each individual have the basic human right to utilize his or her own thoughts and ideas. But it is a matter of irony that in reality each one of us hardly gets any opportunity to display our own individual ideas. Especially th...

Brojendra Kumar Sinha (Translated from Bishnupriya Manipuri by Ramlal Sinha) When the Bishnupriya Manipuri writers run short of ideas and topics, they simply turn cultural cops and appeal to the girls of the community through their write-ups to be strict on preservation of culture of the community by strictly adhering to Bishnupriya Manipuri attires, as if the onus of preserving the culture of the community is that of girls or women only, not of the men folk. This essentially means that the men can wear any kind of dresses and do whatever they like, and that has nothing to do with the culture of the community. Be that as it may, if the girls of the community are coerced into strictly adhering to the indigenous Bishnupriya Manipuri dresses, what dresses will the cultural cops prescribe for them? Should they prescribe leisa (fringe hair cut prevalent among the Bishnupriya Manipuri girls in yestercenturies), rings in ears and yaaberuni (a piece of cloth that had been worn by girls...

( Here are two news items that rediff.com published sourced from UNI on Bimal Sinha a decade ago ) Sinha was a leading litterateur April 1, 1998 Bimal Sinha, Tripura's health minister who was killed by tribal militants in the state on Tuesday, was also one of the front-ranking writers of the state. He had eight books, both in Bengali and Bishnupriya Manipuri languages, to his credit. Sinha could speak in six different languages, though his mother tongue was Manipuri. He was vice-president of the former Ganatantrik Lekhak Shilpi Sangha. Among his wellknown books were Karachi to Longtarai, Alor Thikana, Satyer Aloke, Longtarai, Takhaparar Itikatha, Pourei, Monaiham. Tripura's first feature film was based on his novel Longtarai. UNI Tripura minister killed in ambush March 31, 1998 Tripura Health Minister Bimal Sinha and one of his younger brothers, Bidyut, were killed in an ambush by suspected National Liberation Front of Tripura guerillas at Abhanga under Ka...

NEWS Pratibha Sinha, Guwahati The talented singer Tushar Arjun Sinha aka Tushar Sinha who appeared in ZEE TV’s famous reality show Sa-Re-Ga-Ma-Pa has released an audio album of Bishnupriya Manipuri modern songs “Maya.” Produced by him, Maya will be marketed by Assam BIG Music. The album consists of 7-modern songs. One song of the album is dedicated to Sudeshna, and another on Bhubaneshwar Sadhu Thakur. Supporting female singers who gave their voice in the album with Tushar are Tarulata and Anamika. Lyrics of songs by Tushar Arjun, Rajib and Anamika. Music arranged by Manash Bhagawati, Bablu, Sekhar Goswami and Deepkesh. The album was released on the occasion of 113 birth anniversary celebration of Gokulananda Geetiswami at Silpagram organized by Geetiswami Gokulananda Jayanti Udjaypon Samiti, Guwahati. Shri Hemkanti Sinha, Chief Guest of the occassion, released the album. CDs will be available at contact No.9864621620. Fill in the form to place your order here Read: ...

NEWS Bishnupriya Manipuris of Bangladesh “are generally better educated than the average Bangladeshi. Nearly all children go to school, with a very high percentage taking the secondary school certificate (SSC) examination, and their level of literacy in Bangla is very high,” states a survey carried out by SIL International, Bangladesh. The 100-page report gives a glimpse of the status of the 20,000 to 40,000 Bishnupriya Manipuri population living in Bangladesh: The language proficiency they have on both Bishnupriya Manipuri and Bangla, about their two main dialects 1) Rajar Gang (or king’s-village speech), and 2) Madoi Gang (or queen’s-village speech). The study also touches upon the areas and districts where the community is concentrated. It gives an insightful read to every Bishnupriya Manipuri living in India and in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, almost all of the Bishnupriya (Manipuri) live in the flat farmlands of Sylhet division, mainly in Moulvibazar district. They also resid...

NEWS Pratibha Sinha, Guwahati A1 Paramic Production is going to produce a movie “Hojak Oik”. The film is basically about the problems and situations arise due to the socio-economic changes in a village. The story presents the life-style of the people in a Bishnupriya Manipuri village and the culture, traditions and customs they follow. ‘Hojak Oik’ throws light on the serious problem of unemployment and its consequences that compel the unemployed youths of the village to leave their native place for towns in the search of livelihood. The story further highlights their struggle in a new environment among unknown people to establish themselves; their strife to conform themselves to the new conditions. In the meantime, how they adapt new life style and indulge in the other activities. The producer of the film is Rita Sinha. The story of the film is written by Porimal Sinha and Rita Sinha. The film will be directed by Porimal Sinha. Porimal Sinha hails from Kailasahar(Tripura) an...

NEWS Deepak Singha, Diphu The 113th birth anniversary of Geetiswami Gokulananda was organized by Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Sanskriti Parisad Diphu Branch at Radha Krishna Sevashram Diphu. A.S Gautam V.P of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasaba inaugurated the programme. A.S Gautam, Chief Guest of the function said Geetiswami Gokulananda was the pioneer of the Bishnupriya Manipuri society. The day was also marked with a meeting held under the chairmanship of Aswini Kr. Singha, President Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Sanskriti Parisad Diphu. Speaking on the occasion, Ananta Kr. Singha, Ramananda Singha and social activist Putul Singha said Geetiswami Gokulananda was not only a reformist but also a revolutionist who by his composition educated the masses and modernized the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. At the end of the ceremony, Mini Memorial Trust, Diphu, felicitated Bishnupriya Manipuri college students. Today is Ninthoapa (Monday) What next?

NEWS By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Nov 29: The Greater Guwahati Gokulananda Geetiswami Udjapan Committee observed the 114th birth anniversary of Geetiswami Gokulananda at Shilpgram here today with a day-long function that was presided over by Prof (Retd) Kamini Mohan Sinha and attended, among others, by educationist and social worker Hemkanti Sinha as the chief guest, Prof (Retd) Shyam Charan Sinha as the guest of honour, MLA Kartik Sena Sinha as the distinguished guest and former president of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha (NBMM) Manoranjan Sinha, who was honoured with the Geetiswami Purashkar at the function. In his speech, noted speaker Colonel Bijay Sinha offered some “food for thought” for the Bishnupriya Manipuri intelligentsia by questioning the relevance of and reason behind match-making in accordance with the prediction and description given in horoscopes, a practice very much prevalent in the Bishnupriya Manipuri community much to the problems of a number of i...

Published on the 104th Birthday anniversary of Sahid Raj Babu Sinha By Jogendra Sinha Raj Babu Sinha was born on November 29, 1905 at Chiporsangan of the present Hailakandi district of Assam. His father’s name was Choba Sinha and mother Kusumi Devi. The family of Raj Babu Sinha shifted to Masughat, Cachar, in the period between 1914 and 1915. Chouba Sinha died in the year 1916, and mother in the year 1922. Under the guidance of Nandalal Sinha and aunt Gidhisou, he spent his childhood. In 1916, he was admitted into the Masughat Higher Primary School and passed it in 1921 with scholarship. After coming out from the Masughat Higher Primary School he took admission in Sarat Kalimohon Practising Middle Vernecular (MV) School. In 1923, he passed the MV School with scholarship in first division. He took admission in the Silchar Govt Boys High School in 1924, and joined Calcutta University in 1930. Through out his school life, Raj Babu Sinha was deeply associated with social activi...

NEWS Pratibha Sinha, Guwahati The 114th birthday celebration of Geetiswami Gokulananda was held with religious zeal and zest at Shri Shri Radhamadhav Sevasram, Maligaon (Guwahati) on November 26. The day-long programme saw a huge gathering of Bishnupriya Manipuri people who came from the Guwahati city, Silchar, Tripura and from other places. The programme started off with a flag hoisting ceremony (firal kupani) by Purandar Sinha, a senior citizen, and lamp lighting by other senior social workers. Jayprakash Sinha, President of the reception committee, gave the welcome speech. Narendra Kumar Sinha (Thakur), General Secretary of the Gokulananda Geetiswami 114th Janma Tithi Udjapon Committee and Dils Lakhsmindra Sinha, President of Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum, also addressed the audience and they thanked everyone attending the programme for extending their co-operation in organizing the birthday celebration of Gokulananda. The programme was presided over by Shyamaka...

By RK Rishikesh Sinha, New Delhi Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas, the largest system of Central government schools in India , which serve children of Defence Personnel, share something common in their experiences of school days. About the school:  A Central School or Kendriya Vidyalaya, has always a vibrant and invigorated environment with frequent transfer of students. The most distinct feature that characterizes a central school is its creating a mini-India in the school. KV Students are mostly the children of personnel under different armed forces posted out to different parts of India . They speak different mother tongues, born and brought up in different localities, defence campuses, and bring with them traits of all these specialties. A student who has studied in different Kendriya Vidyalayas located in different regions of India could hardly remember all the friends’ name who had once shared his bench, and classroom in his schooldays. It is often seen one-third ...

NEWS GUWAHATI, Nov 27: The 114th birthday of Geetiswami Gokulananda, an alternative media mogul, was observed with a day-long programme, including an impressive cultural programme that continued till late last night, by the Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum (BMWF) at Radhamadhab Sebashram, Maligaon, Guwahati. The programme was presided over by Radhamadhab Sebashram president Shyamakanta Sinha (Paran). Dr Prabhat Kumar Sinha stole the show light by presenting a comparative study on various aspects of life and contribution of Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha and Geetiswami Gokulananda conducted by himself. Dr Sinha has already submitted a thesis to the University Grant Commission (UGC) on this very topic after completion of his research work. Litterateur Manashi Sinha, while giving a detailed account on Geetiswami Gokulananda, highlighted the efforts made by the alternative media mogul and bard to uplift the condition of women. A woman activist herself, she made a fervent appeal to the wom...

NEWS GUWAHATI, Nov 27 – The Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum celebrated the 114th birthday of Gokulananda Geetiswami, the national poet and philosopher and prophet of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community in the State on November 26 at Radhamadhab Sevashram, Maligaon, a press release said. At the beginning of the programme, the flag of the forum was hoisted by Purandar Sinha, the noted social worker and various senior social workers, writers paid their tributes to the poet. A discussion on the life, literature and philosophy of the poet was held in which a number of intellectuals, writers from various parts of the north eastern region took part and appreciated him as the father of Bishnupriya Manipuri literature, modern thinker and philosopher. The symposium was presided over by Shyamakanta Sinha. Prof Prabhat Kr Sinha and Manashi Sinha were present as special guests. Haridas Sinha, the noted biographer of the late poet and the guest of honour of the programme was emotional bef...