Bangladesh Report findings: Bishnupriya Manipuris are bilingual, carry a positive attitude towards their mother tongue
The Bishnupriya Manipuri community in Bangladesh are highly bilingual in the use of Bangla language, they extensively use their mother tongue, and they have a positive approach towards it, reads a report prepared by Amy Kim & Seung Kim for SIL International. Read more…
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Bring to book Sangram Singha attackers: Mahasabha demands
Bangladesh: Journalist Sangram Singha beaten up by fundamentalist, now in hospital
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Bisnhupriya Manipuris celebrated ‘Ras Leela’ at the Madhabpur Jora Mandap, Maulvibazar district, Bangladesh
The Manipuri communities living in Madhabpur and Adampur under Kamalganj upazila of Maulvibazar district celebrated their major religious and cultural festival ‘Maha Ras Leela’ on November 13. Celebrations were held at Manipuri Jora Mandaps in Madhabpur and the Sanatagore Mandap in Adampur.The Bisnhupriya manipuris celebrated ‘Ras Leela’ at the Madhabpur Jora Mandap and the Meiteis arranged their programme at Sanatagore Mandap, Adampur.
Read: Manipuris in Bangladesh celebrate 166th ‘Ras Leela’ festival
Shree Krishna Kirtan and Natpala organised at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on 7 Nov
Jyoti Sinha and Shukla Sinha were superb in the roles of Radha and Barayi. Aparna Sinha could have done better as Krishna. The costumes of the protagonists incorporated the traditional Manipuri attire. The dialogue of play was in Bishnupriya Manipuri dialect. Shameer undertook the uphill task of translation. ReadCapturing vignettes from the life of Krishna
Bangladeshi genie is back in Assam
Someone tracking the crisis would know how the media were carrying the news. At first it was hiding the name of the two communities. Of late, however it has started resurfacing the names of the communities: migrated Bangladeshi muslims and Bodo.
The situation in the Udalguri district, as well as in the neighbouring Chirang district, has exacerbated to such an extent that police “in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam are using helicopters to spot rioting mobs”.
Residents of the state of Assam, like this minority-community Bishnupriya Manipuri which has its existence in the Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj districts of the state, and in the neighboruing state Tripura, know how serious the situation is.
Assam like its neighbouring states is consists of many tribal communities living peacefully since centuries. However, the early 70’s saw influx of Bangladeshi muslims in the state, consequently it has changed significantly the demography of the tea state. The exodus of Bangladeshi muslim, no doubt has cast economical, social and political impact on the state. The tension between Bangladeshi settlers and the origins were simmering and the recent incident is an example of the people’s anger towards the settlers.
Here, it is pertinent to mention that in the districts (Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj) and the state (Tripura) where the Bishnupriya Manipuri community like other communities Bengalis, Kacharis, Barmans, Boros (many are not mentioned) are in large numbers, though in minority, there exist a sizable population of Bangladeshi immigrant muslims. In the context that the riot is sweeping fast in the districts, these districts must be kept safe and efforts must be carried out to dodge the fire. If not, then the whole Assam will be in fire.
Readers not acquainted with the state of affair in the north eastern state of India should know that the present turmoil is due to influx of Bangladeshi people (read muslims) from the neighboring country Bangladesh; political patronage they got in the state with voting rights; now defunct IMDT Act favouring them.
Early 80’s saw mass agitation of the people to the issue; ending up with the signing of the Assam Accord between the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Agitation in New Delhi on August 15, 1985, which sat time limit to identify “foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 shall continue to be detected, deleted and practical steps shall be taken to expel such foreigners”.
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Guess Who Is Watching Us?
Rishikesh Sinha
Close your delicate eyes for 15-seconds and contemplate who is watching the Bishnupriya Manipuri community with an eagle’s eye? Got it? Thanks to the Frontline magazine of India for enlightening us about an achievement most of us have been blissfully ignorant!
When I read the article “A new wave of freedom” written by V. Sasi Kumar, I felt a feeling of pride and, at the same time, it took me a few days to forgive myself for the naivete about my kinsmen.
People’s Trumph
“As many as 254 languages of the world have at least one Wikipedia page. Indian languages are not well represented in Wikipedia. Telegu tops with 38,000 articles, followed by Bishnupriya Manipuri at 23,000, Bengali (17,000), Hindi (16,500), Marathi (16,000) and Tamil (13,000).”
–Frontline, May 12, 2008, Page 91
This achievement is collaborative; it is a win for the Bishnupriya Manipuri clan. It shows the people’s unfathomable effort, tenacity, indefatigable energy and unbounded love for the ‘Emar Thar’. Nobody can claim this triumph; no social or political organization can take a leaf out of this tour de force. Those who have contributed to achieve the 23,000 magical figure, have done this not for personal gratification or by carrying an inner motive. They are the unsung heroes of our community. Their work gives our culture, customs, language and history an universal reach and accessibility, and a new direction.
Wikipedia Effect
Having 23,000 articles on one of the pillars of Internet, in the Wikipedia, is not a child’s play.To achieve this figure, it requires establishing a company consisting of an army of writers working day and night, of course, with a heavy financial support. But, all those reading this article would, perhaps agree with me that we don’t have such prolific, paid “messiah” writers.
However, importance of this achievement in the Wikipedia could be gauged from the fact that the ferocious gorilla of the internet and the world’s online marketing giant, the Google, not able to put advertisement on it, has proposed to come up with its own alternative called “Knol”. After all Google was loosing a highly priced real estate space Wikipedia where it could put advertisement and earn money. This is the place Wikipedia has in the Internet world; it is the most valuable entity.
Admittedly 23,000 articles are the present-day posts through which people could peep and know about our community. And these fine articles provide a good glimpse of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community.
In one of my articles (read) I had saluted the guys who have created a page in the Wikipedia. Though I cannot confirm who created the first page on Wiki, I do claim to know two people namely Uttam Singha and Ashim Singha and their contribution is applaudable.
At this juncture, a comment by Uttam Singha, gives a glimpse into how our progress started taking place on the internet: “I would like to thank you for your positive comment about our sites. Yes, indeed I have done lots of web sites for our society, but I could not fill with information because of lack of information, writer, article or book. I started using online 1997, but there was not even single line I found on yahoo about Bishnupriya Manipuri. I was so shamed, shocked, and upset. I just started a free page on www.geocities.com, which is deleted now. Also I started a Yahoo Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bishnupriya-manipuri/ . From there I promised myself, I will fill the entire search engines with Bishnupriya Manipuri information. Also, this incident inspired me to study Computer Information System rather than Criminal Justice (I was a criminal Justice Student in the beginning of my college education in the John Jay College of City University of New York, USA). I registered & started http://www.pouri.org , and next couple of years I started some web sites which are following
http://www.bishnupriya-manipuri.org
http://www.pouri.net
http://www.manipuri.org
http://www.manipuri.com
http://www.manipuri.net
http://www.usingha.com
http://www.mahasabha.org for Mahasabha
Soon after Ashim Singha from Bangladesh started helping me, and he created lots of free web sites and helpful sites for our society. My problem is unavailability of Information on our society. Long time I am in the USA, and it is very hard to collect information. I requested to our writer to write on those web sites, but still no help. I published an offline journal (free of cost) “Pouri International” with just 1 issue. I had to stop because of 0 article. Finally, I received a series article from respected Sushil Sinha, Silchar just last month. Everyone is complaining that those web sites are not good enough or no article, but no one like to help or give me a single line to put on. I am just wasting money for nothing. In this point our famous poet Gitiswami said “Kar Kaje Kadourita akgou har napeila, hobar kaje mattegate hobaneihan ningkorla.”
Anyway, I had some contribution on the article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishnupriya_Manipuri_language on English wikipedia, and I have created more than 500 new articles on English wikipedia (
http://tools.wikimedia.de/~interiot/cgi-bin/Tool1/wannabe_kate?username=Usingha&site=en.wikipedia.org. Also I am an administrator of Bishnupriya Manipuri Wikipedia (http://bpy.wikipedia.org), and there I created (together with my bot Usinghabot) 20,800 Articles in Bishnupriya Manipuri language.
Finally, thanks again. It will be appreciated, if anybody pass me any article on Bishnupriya Manipuri, and I will be very happy to post them on all of our web sites.
my email: pouri_98@yahoo.com“.
At present, Ashim Singha’s blog, Me And My Manipuri Things, is the one that keeps tabs about our community in Bangladesh. It works like an open window through which we all know about each other. In this regard, Ashim would agree, this blog does the same for the many Bishnupriya Manipuri living in Bangladesh and in every corner of the earth.
Mapping Our Roots
We must set our goals higher. I am hopeful, sooner or later, the Wikipedia will have the highest number of articles devoted to Bishnupriya Manipuri community and on Google Earth, our villages, roads, lanes, schools and other physical infrastructure would get highlighted and mapped. Who knows, one day we may become the highest mapped community on Google Earth!
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Bishnupriya Manipuri troupes performed Rash in Bangladesh
The three-day Folk Music Festival ’08 came to an end in Bangladesh with the presentation of Manipuri classical dance titled Rash being performed by the Bishnupriya Manipuri community inhabitants of the country.
The artists presented the Rash in three fragments of art forms. However, the classical dance is performed nightlong.
The festival took place in the premises of the Bangladesh Asiatic Society [BAS] on February 29. BAS arranged the festival to its project called ‘Bangladesh Cultural Survey’.
Besides dance and music, research papers on folksongs were presented.
Ten troupes performed in the evening session of the programme. The event began with staging of the Manipuri Moithy community’s folklore. They staged two Jagous (a traditional performance in dance-music form featuring the myth of Khoma-Khoibi duo). Moreover, they presented a part of Khubak Oishey ( a kind of ballad). The presentation of the indigenous performing art forms of Manipuri Moithy was enjoyable. Reported by The Daily Star.
Other communities of the country like Chakma, Tripura and Marma, also participated in the festival.
I failed to understand: what is a Manipuri Moithy? Bishnupriya Manipuri people in Bangladesh can answer it better.
Source: The Daily Star
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Biography of Pandit Motilal Sinha
There are many luminous artists of Bishnupriya Manipuri who have enriched the art and culture. Especially in music, in the galaxy of artist, Pandit Motilal Sinha’s name comes first.
By BN Sinha, New Delhi
with art and culture in our Bishnupriya Manipuri community. We have a rich cultural background especially in the field of dance and music. And whenever there will be any discussion about the contribution in Bishnupriya Manipuri music it will not be completed without mentioning the one of the greatest in the Bishnupriya Manipuri legends, Pandit Motilal Sinha’s colossal contribution to enrich the Bishnupriya Manipuri art and culture. In my recent visit to Bhakatpur, my village, I had a close tete-a-tete with him.
Pt. Motilal was born in Bhakatpur, Silchar, Assam, in the year 1923. He was the third child of the then great Mridanga Badak , Sree Deveshwar Sinha and mother Smt. Kusum Leima Devi who was also a renowned artist of Bishnupriya Manipuri cultural songs and dance.
Brothers, Mohinimohan, Kunjolal, and Biresh, also had remarkable achievements in Bishnupriya Manipuri art and culture. From the very childhood, Motilal and his brothers were inclined towards music and drama as they were growing in cultural environment of his uncle who had a drama company named “Premsing Jatra Dal”. “Premsing Jatra Dal” was famous in Cachar and Shyllete (of present Bangladesh).
Interestingly, famous Bishnupriya Manipuri legends like, Kunjolal Sinha , Guru Bipin Sinha, Guru Nilmadav Sinha, Behari Sinha, Golap Sinha. Surendra Sinha, Malu Miyan( Bangladesh) etc. all had their first brush in the field of art and music to this drama company.
Brother Kunjolal Sinha is happened to be the first artist to perform in All India Radio , Calcutta from Cachar , and first to record there. Motilal also followed the footstep of Kunjolal and went to Calcutta after qualifying entrance examination for Calcutta University in 1945. There, he met the Great film director Promothesh Boruah, who offered him for playback singing in his film “Ameri”.
Later in 1946 he went to Lucknow to pursue classical music under Bhatkand University, but he could not complete due to poor financial conditions. He came back in 1949 and married to Smt. Ramani Devi who later had a major contribution to make Motilal , the legend.
In fifties , Motilal performed Bishnupriya Manipuri songs written by great Jagatmohan Sinha in All India Radio, Gauhati. Some of the songs are : “ Janam Janame more, diya petheis hunar Monipure”, “Bishnupriya uthone osomoye gunjia thaile”etc..
He also actively participated in the famous “Bhakatpur Natya Sanstha” which was famous in packaged programmes in then Barak Valley.
Where as Guru Nilmadav taught Motilal Uchhanga sangeet and also Rabindra sangeet, guru Surendra also helped Motila in many ways to nurture in him to become a complete artist. In the year 1957 Motilal ranked third in all India examination from Morries Music College, Luknow under Bhatkande University and with special scholarship from Assam government. He passed Bisharad( B.Mus) in 1959.
In 1960 he joined as music teacher in Govt. Girls Higher Secondary in Silchar. He 
established Silchar Sangeet Ashram in 1962 and was also associated with cultural institutions of Barak Valley. In 1983-84 he ranked first in 7th yr of Bangia Sangeet Parishad and awarded “Sangeet Prabor”( M.Mus) with a gold medal. He had also performed in many places in India like Lucknow, Kanpur, Patna. Calcutta etc.
In the year 1987 he was rewarded with the best music teacher by Govt. of Assam. In 1997 he was awarded “ Bishnu Rava”. Alongside with the “Gokulananda Gitiswami Award”, he has also received innumerable felicitation and awards from organizations like Sangeet Chakra, Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya O Sanskriti Sammelan.
The most dignified title “ Pandit” was awarded by Bangia Sahitya Parishad , Calcutta in the Silver Jubilee celebration on 23rd May 2000. In 2002 he was awarded as “Sangeet Jyoti” by Uttar Purba Sangskritik and Arya Samajik Pratishtan. The award was handed over by the Governor of Assam.
Pandit Motilal has also written many songs in Bishnupriya Manipuri and Bengali. Many songs got publication in various language magazines. He has published books on classical ragas named “ Naba Raag Manjari I & II in Bengali which had been approved by D.P.I Assam Govt.and “Kusum Manjari” in Bishnupriya Manipuri language. Moreover, he has also composed many songs on dance dramas “ Baishnav padavali”, “Chitrangada”, “Taser Desh” and many.
Few famous Bishnupriya Manipuri songs by him are “ Saloili Radha Vrindabone”, “ Borak pare joro oilu”, “Laktake kader”, Kalchinkhei bouyor piche” etc.
It is really not possible to illustrate in words the contribution and achievements of Pt. Motilal Sinha in Hindustani classical music. Even at the age of 84 he is still imparting Classical music, Rabindra Sangeet, Najrul geet, traditional and modern songs in Bengali and Bishnupriya Manipuri to thousands of his disciples.
In my pow-wow I learnt that though Sangeet Guru , Pandit Motilal Sinha, Sangeet Nipun( B.S.V, Lucknow), Sangeet Prabor( Gold Medalist) is certainly amongst the greatest of Bishnupriya Manipuri legends still having an iota of penitence for not being rewarded by Sangeet Natak Academy ,Govt. of India ,which he already would have received had he been a Bengali or a north Indian ??
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Videos of the Maha Ras-Lila held at Bangladesh
A photo speaks of 1000 words, and a video speaks of millions of words! Watch out.
By Rishikesh Sinha
Ashim Singha, a Bishnupriya Manipuri of Bangladesh, has uploaded in the Google’s You Tube the event of 165th Maha Ras-Lila held at Bangladesh.
For all Bishnupriya Manipuri people living all across the world, the uploaded-videos shows the magnitude at which the event was organised and celebrated. Moreover, the videos shows our own people in different world, in different environ, in different country and in different shades. The uploaded – videos truly works as a bridge between Bishnupriya Manipuri people scattered all over the world.
Click here. In this video one will see the football of Bishnupriya Manipuri who have come out with full dress rehearsal wearing our cultural dress. The environ is oozing out with activities.
Click here. In this video, one will see bunch of boys and girls performing Rakhual dance in an electrifying environment.
Click here. In this video there is “Raslila – Vrinda” dance. For many, particularly we Indians, the videos shows there is absolutely no difference in the aura the dance is organised.
Click here. The video shows the scale of mass paricipation of people in order to make the event grand and memorable.
I suppose those watching the aformentioned videos would like to know the names of people, dancers and prominent people for which the event got the spellbounding stature and participation. In addition, if possible he would have uploaded the videos of shops and markets busy in doing brisk business here in this grand event. Just a request.
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