Sanamahi is One of the World's Oldest Religion

Sanamahi religion is one of the oldest religions of Western South East Asia (WESEA). It was developed in Kangleipak (now Manipur) and mainly worships by the Meetei tribes inhabiting in Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Myanmar, Bangladesh and other Northeastern Indian states.

With the dawn of proto history, group pf early men started to settle in groups ( during the New Stone Age) and they have been worshiping natural gods like the Sun, Water, Sky etc. as gods and goddesses. In due course, religions like Hinduism, Budhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism begins to spread around the World.  Sanamahi religion is popular among the WESEA Kingdoms.

Meetei worships natural objects and later regarded Sanamahi - the son of "Tengbanba Mapu" as the supreme deity. Written evidence says that Meetei people first settled in Koubru mountains. From the hills, the Meetei (also called Lai people) descended to the valley and made civilizations in Kangla.

Our legendary ancestors (Koubru, Pureiromba, Thangjing, Marjing, Wangbren etc) whom we worship today have been establishing human settlements in different directions of the Kangleipak (Manipur) kingdom. Ningthou Kangba too established his kingdom at Kangmong village near Nambol Keithel of Imphal West District. From the neolithic tools and postherds discovered from Bishnupur district and Imphal West districts it can be assumed that Ningthou Kangba lived at least 2000 BC. Thus, Sanamahism also started to develop from his reign.

Several kings of Kangleipak - Nongda Lairen Pakhangba, Ura Konthouba, Loyumba, Ayangba, Kiyamba, Ningthoukhomba and Mungyamba have promoted Sanamahi region. This religion reached its zenith during the reign of Ningthou Khagemba.

However, the religion began to decline when Maharaj Garibaniwaz ascended the throne, renaming Kangleipak into Manipur. he embraces Ramandi religion and destroyed holy puyas (scriptures, books and documents). The Hindu king even demolished the Umang Lai and Lainingthou Sanamahi etc.  Thus, Sanamahi religion was forced to decline till 1930.

The year 1930 is the revivalism of Sanamahi religion in Kangleipak. Naorem Phulo (also known as Naoriya Phulo) founded an organisation called "Apokpa Marup" in 1930.

Today, Sanamahi religion has been recognised by the State Government as well as the Central Government of India. The Manipur government constituted the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board Act 1976 to protect and safeguard Lainingthou Sanamahi shrine inside the First Manipur Rifle Compound in Imphal. Now, we need to promote our religion. We are fortunate to have our own religion, which is a symbol of rich civilisation and cultural heritage.

Unrest in Northeast India is due to political terrorists

This book is the first of its kind which documents the failure of democracy in India and the authors expresses deep desire to acknowledge the truth, stands for truth, spread the truth to liberate the people from post British Slavery and confer upon them “Civic Sovereignty”.

The book “At War” Four Pillars of Falsehood and Public of Republic,   justifies that Executive, Judiciary, Legislature and the Press are Four Pillars of Falsehood.  As each one of these institutions has been achieving exactly the opposite for which they pretend to be striving for.

After Independence, Northeast States were accorded step motherly treatment in the Constitution of India. Nehruvian integration through the Assam model was another historic blunder as it considered Assam to be the last outpost of the Indian Civilization in the east, followed by giving away Manipur’s Kabaw valley to Myanmar without consulting the people of Manipur.

Naga issue could have solved a long time back if Dictator Nehru studied the political history of Naga Hills, Assam and Manipur.  The failed meeting of 1953 seemed to indicate that no more room left for a compromise or even talks between the Government of India and the Naga leaders. Today, entire Northeast is suffering with the divide and rule policy of successive government.

Seven of India’s Northeastern states facing insurgency since last 60 years in one form or the other, 23 of its states facing left wing extremism, state of Punjab burnt in this fire for a decade and Kashmir continues to simmer in the heat of this war, that state never wants to win but continue, since it provides strongest excuse for using militia with impunity and sustain proxy war of state against its civil society.

Jawaharlal Nehru speaks to Naga people in Kohima in March, 1953. (Photo: The Hindu)

The authors blame Nehru politicizing Indian army and using it to silence the political dissent in the State of Assam against Naga Hills.  Even after freedom from British Colonial rule, the colonial Indian military raised on the principles of divisive politics to enslave the natives, turned into effectively handy tool, use Sikhs against Nagas in Nagaland, Gurkhas against Meeteis in Manipur and everyone against Muslims in Kashmir.

Kabaw valley was handed over to Burma (Myanmar), without consulting the people of Manipur and in return Nehru gifted the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958 to the entire Northeastern States of India, which empowers even a Lance Naik to shoot and kill anyone on mere suspicion that he may disturb public order, arrest any person under the garb of reasonable suspicion and enter any premises without search warrant. In fact, living with this law is living under the barrel of gun with death just a bullet away. “No Appeal, “No Argument”, No Advocates” but gory street of death for freedom of expression in the state propounded as World’s largest democracy.

“At War” Four Pillars of  Falsehood and Public of Republic  is contemporary history of crisis in India, with tales from conflict and persecution, unleashed upon the people of this nation by authoritative state, as witnessed and analyzed by a frontline operational insider.

The authors states that post British India is engulfed in perpetual war of state on its own public of republic as a design of governance to preserve power formation  that functions on the principles of presenting falsehood as the gospel truth and continue unhindered economic exploitation.

In Manipur, 1528 cases of fake encounters, and another hundred more are missing from the Police and Army custody.  Authors warned that the biggest threat to the lives and liberty of people of post British India comes from the work culture of police, paramilitary and military, with lives being devoured with impunity.  These victims depend on “Judiciary”, the last hope of those, who believe to live within frame work of rule of law.

The authors advocates that the only direct and indirect beneficiaries of spiraling crime and corruption, turned to be Police and Judiciary – thus flourishes the mutual relationship between crime and “Pillars of Falsehood”.

The book is a firsthand account and analysis of tragic events of the role played by police and armed forces, functioning of which provokes conflict, and prepares fertile ground for terrorism and insurgency to prosper and vicious cycle of violence through retributive justice continues, with a heavy price being paid by common man with his life and liberty in peril.

The authors blames that “Executive” pillar of democracy, manned by dumb babus of IAS/IPS without any domain expertise, devoid of problem solving aptitude and devoid of organizing abilities.  Ironically, most of the babus posted in the Northeast states don’t know the geographical and political history of the region.

The author have worked as a front line operation officer of BSF and posted in the towns and villages of North, Northeast and Western India. This book represents the eyewitness account of the grotesque scenes of violence as a fall out of ill trained criminalized militia.

The author also suggest to liberate citizens from the shackles of colonial laws and institutions and redefine citizen’s relationship with the state, that of a sovereign, the independent, to whom every state actor is directly accountable.

In the book, a chapter titled, “The Freedom of 1947- Plot, Traitors and treacheries” exposed everything which needs to be informed to the youths of Nation. Masses that had played foot soldiers with huge sacrifices were overnight transformed from Colonial slaves to petitioners at the mercy of autocratic power formation assumed by Nehru.

This book highlighted the pitfalls and tales of existing Indian institutions in general and armed forces and their role in particular, in provoking the ongoing political crisis into full blown insurgent violence in the Country.

This is an honest effort to inform the common man “why it is happening” and to prepare public opinion as a sequel to the campaign for much needed radical but democratic structural changes India has been longing for!

Presstitute’s freedom for fame!

This is a reply to Ipsita Chakravarty’s article “Dilli Chalo: A protest that began in Manipur has found a new epicenter in the capital” in Scroll. I am neither the custodian of Manipur society nor defender of the Meetei. I am taking my busy schedule to educate Ms Ipsita a little knowledge of Manipur which she ignored while favouring one side. It was an interview of some culprits and their sympathizers who were prevented by Delhi Police from committing a murder! 

Delhi Police controlling the Mob which came to lynch leaders at Manipur Bhawan (Photo - ANI)

Ms. Ipsita is the second writer and third bengali who’s compromising with the genuine history of the region. First, it was Shantidas Gosai, a Bengali Brahmin from Sylhet in united Bengal. Mr. Gosai ‘s entry into Manipur in the early parts of 18th century begins the downfall of our Meetei kingdom. Few days back, another presstitute, Esha Roy of Indian Express published an article based on a photograph which goes viral in Social Media, without further verification of the source and confirmation from the Forensic Lab of the image she used to web a story sabotaging the ILP movement in Manipur. 

Now, Ms. Ipsita again has cooked a story. It seems both Esha Roy and Ipsita Chakravarty have same genetic links with Shantidas Gosai of 18th Century. Both are against Meetei! May be they were told that the Meetei killed that Gosai in the end. 

Ms. Ipsita, your article must be called a “Tribal’s voice in Delhi” or “Mouth piece of Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi (MTFD)”. Have you cross checked the culprits identity that were beaten for attempt to kill the Delhi Police officers? First check their Nationality, from which State they belong? Were they from Manipur, Mizoram or Nagaland? Or are they from Myanmar? And on what basis you used the word “peaceful” protestors? Were you present on the spot of lathi-charge? Did you asked the statement of the Delhi Police to reconstruct the event for your write ups? 

The Chief Minister of Manipur and delegations of political leaders do not have to meet every Tom Dick and Harry in Delhi? The “All Party Delegations” have gone to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and his Council of Union Ministers. Who authorized MTFD to represent the JAC of so called anti Tribal Bills? Asked to the MTFD why the Churachandpur JAC not ready for talk with the government back home? 

The Government of Manipur (GOM) and Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) have been inviting the Chrurachandpur JAC for discussions and several CSO have invited them for debate on why these tribal called the 3 Bills of Manipur “Anti Tribals”.

Have you asked those agitators in Delhi why, instead of discussion on the 3 Bills, they are demanding for a separate administration for the Hills. Or separation from Manipur Valley? Those culprits were timely prevented by Delhi Police before storming into Manipur Bhawan. Their plan was to lynch our political leaders and burnt down Manipur Bhawan.

If you need the footage of peaceful protestors and their hooglism slogans, I may provide the video clipping , enjoy it while eating some pork curry in a Nagaland or Mizoram Bhawan. 

Ms. Ipsita, if you really care to know about the 3 Bills, Manipur unrest and all those drama behind not burying those 9 killed in Churachandpur, browse some official documents as well. Have you asked to the MTFD how those nine were killed and what they want, why they not allowed the Investigations by a reputed agencies, even if they don’t trust the Manipur administration? 

Next time go and verified to the MTFD that out of the 9 deads, 2 were charred to death when the mob burnt houses of Tribal MLAs, 1 got killed in an accident, 2 killed by Kuki militants, 4 were killed by Police when they tried to storm and burnt down the Police Station. Do you think they are fit to be called martyrs and do you agree they are killed by Meetei. Asked who gave order to shoot? A tribal Deputy Commissioner (DC) and a Tribal Superintendent of Police (SP) was in charge of Churachandpur at the time the mob unrest. It was Tribal Home Minister and Tribal Chief Secretary too. Why the MTFD don’t spill out such facts to you? 

Also discuss these points next time when you meet any Tribals who talked of discrimination by Meetei or valley people. You should know the grounds reality that Meetei are being harassed and discriminated by Tribals only. Manipur is composed of 90 percent hills and 4 percent valley, 6 percent water body (lake). Meeteis are living along with all these tribes in as little as 4 percent valley only. 

These valley lands once purchased by tribal cannot be sold to a Meetei without the approval of the Deputy Commissioner. And Meetei cannot buy lands in the hills. Meetei never complained of blockades in Highway by Tribals, looting and collecting illegal taxes from every trucks and buses playing in the National Highway by Tribals. 

Have you ever do a research and write on such discrimination by the Tribals to the Meetei. More than 2 lakhs Meetei voters out of the total 8 voters in the Outer parliamentary seat do not get the privilege to contest elections, but just cast their votes. Where in Indian state, such discrimination are found to a particularly community? 

If those barbaric culprits were beaten by Delhi Police, why the MTFD and JAC against the  3 Bills called for 24 hours total shutdown of  hills in Manipur? Ask to them why they torturing the innocent brothers and sisters of the hills?  Do you have any idea that the JAC have also called for Economic blockades in the National Highways of Manipur?

Consult your friends and counter my reply. We would be happy to debate on this too. The more you write on their behalf, more truth will be exposed to the World!

British officers were proud of the Meetei Race

When Sir James Johnstone was the Political Agent of Manipur, he went to an expedition in Burma border along with Meetei soldiers. They were inspecting the area located in present day Somrah Tangkhul (in Myanmar) and few other places like Jessami. 

When they were at Jessami village, Sir James Johnstone asked one of the Manipuris to challenge any Naga, to a wrestling match. None of the villagers came forward, though the village have strong men. He confirmed his opinion that Manipuris were superior to any of the hill tribes in the kingdom.

British used Burmese soldiers to controlled the Tangkhuls living along the Myanmar border. During one such occasion, 700 Burmese soldiers who were sent by the Britishers were totally wiped out by the Tangkhuls. However, as the Meetei forces advanced, different tribes, after one struggle, quietly submitted and on both occasions, the people in Tangkhul areas were in admirable orders  and behaved as if they had always been peaceful subjects of Manipur.

Thang Ta - Meetei Warrior (Image credit- E-pao.Net)

The Meetei race have stable and industrious qualities which the Burmese and the Shans do not posses. The men are capable of learning anything and the women are famous as weavers. In any expedition, Meetei are always ready to march,and march all day and all night, if necessary.

With such powerful skills in warfare, it was confirmed that for the greater part of the last century, the Kabaw valley unquestionably belonged to Manipur and it was never in any sense a Burmese province. When it was out of Manipur Kingdom, a feudatory of the Shan Kingdom of Pong controlled it.

Terming Meetei as the descended of  Indo-Chinese race, Sir James Johnstone wrote about the enigmatic qualities of Meetei as , " the Indo-Chinese races exceed even the ordinary Asiatic on reserve and Sphinx like Characteristics, and the Manipuris are an inscrutable set.."

One possible reason for linking Meetei with the Chinese might be from the fact that starting 1250 A.D., a large Chinese force invaded the Meetei Kingdom, which was signally defeated. All who were not killed were made prisoners. These taught the Meetei the silk culture and a most of them were made to settled in Senjam Kameng in Imphal West. The Chinese also taught the art of Brick making.

People living in and around the Naga Hills (present day  Kohima ) held the Manipuri more superior than the British. During the Kohima expedition, the Nagas told the Manipuri not to co-operate with the British against them. They prefer to remain under Manipur as a feudal subject  rather than an occupied territory of the British.

Even after bringing  the Nagas into the subjection to the British rule, there were two parties in every Angami village - one attached to the interest of Manipur and another to that of the British.  (Lieutenant Vincent).

Johnstone also mentioned clearly in his "My Experience in Manipur"  that there is every reason to believe that Manipuris in former days did penetrate  into the Naga Hills and exacted tributes when they felt strong enough to do so. All the villages have Manipuri names in addition to their own..

Whenever a Manipuri visited such Naga village he was treated as an honoured guest, at a time when a British subject could not venture into the interior without risk of being murdered.

During the Kohima expedition (1879-1880), the Nagas regarded Manipuri as the greater power of the two, because of her conduct was consistent. Many of the Nagas began to speak Manipuri (Meeteilon) and several villages paid an annual tribute.

N.B. Naga Hills are areas surrounding present day Dimapur, hills of Assam bordering Nagaland and present day Nagaland.  Not a single hills and villages of Manipur was included in the Naga hills