The capital of Bishnupriya Manipuri

By BN Sinha, Kolkata
We all know that the Bishnupriya Manipuri community is spread mostly in the northeastern part of India especially in Barak and Kushiyara valley of Cachar and Karimgunj districts, in Assam and places in Tripura apart from few places in Bangladesh. Among all the places in Barak Valley, especially Silchar is the place which is most significant.

Silchar can be termed as the hub for all the Bishnupriya Manipuri think tanks, may it be the Bhasha Andolan or any other Brishnupriya Manipuri social renaissance or convention like Mahamel, Silchar has definitely witnessed the most. It is a fact that more that 90 per cent of Bishnupriya Manipuri population live in villages. There are many villages in the Cachar region which has its significance and vital role in all the socio political activities, namely Bhakatpur, Singari, Chengcoorie in Meherpur region and Santipur, Bekirpar, Katakhal in Sonai region and also villages like Bihara, Mohanpur etc in Kalain region are few among prominents.

However, it is a fact that many Bishnupriya Manipuri legend has emerged from these villages as we know Shree Shree Bhubaneswar Sadhuthakur from the Bikrampur region. Villages in Meherpur region always begged the places of most importance among Bishnupriya Manipuri territories, especially in the post independence era. However, when our identity crisis movement and language struggle got the momentum, Bhakatpur emerged as the socio political hub or capital of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community as a whole.

Bhakatpur is the place where all the strategic summit and discussion used to take place as most of the then community leaders belonged to Bhakatpur, consequently it became the starting point of all the rallies, dharnas, and other activities as there was also an advantage that it was the closest to Silchar city. Many Bishnupriya Manipuri  who is who were from Bhakatpur, take music and dance and leaders of our social organizations like NBMM( Nikhil Bisnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha), NBMSU( Studens Union), BMSS( Bishnupriya Manipuri Sahitya Sabha) etc. they have their roots to the land.

Few legends who has immense contributed to enrich our culture are Sh Amusena Sinha, Sh Kunjolal Sinha, Pt. Matilal Sinha, Sh Meenu Sinha, Sh Suronath Sinha. May be the first Bishnupriya Manipuri drama company in pre independence era or the evergreen Bishnupriya Manipuri compositions like Janan Janame More Diya Petheis Hunar Manipure” , ” Lakatake Kader”, O mor konak beibuni”, ” Aar More Ti Ningshing Naais” all these were created in this village. There are other social leaders who has colossally contributed in our language movement, few names are Sh Jagat Mohan Sinha. Sh Mani Kanta Sinha, Sh Manoranjan Sinha.

There are many professionals and educationist from Bhakatpur spread across India who are making their presence felt and doing significantly well in their respective fields of activities. Despite, the ratio has definitely plummeted after late ninties and gradually the focus sifted to another urban Bishnupriya Manipuri village which has off late emerged as the place for most of the present Bishnupriya Manipuri who is who and interestingly that is again Bhakatpur, no not the old one but it is termed as the New Bhakatpur off the Chencoorie Road.

I too belong to the old Bhakatpur village where in I am grown up and if I look to analyze the present village scenario I feel poignant, nevertheless I get relieved that the name Bhakatpur is yet not diminished as the legacy has been taken forward by New Bhakatpur.And I m quite happy to see that…
Proud to be a Bhakatpurian , proud to b a Bishnupriya Manipuri.