Hindu proselytization in Manipur 5

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E-Pao! Manipur - A Critique of Hindu proselytization in Manipur - 5

A Critique of Hindu proselytization in Manipur
— Ordeals and upheaval —
- Part 5 -

By: Dr. Thingnam Kishan Singh *

The proselytization campaign made attempts to transform the whole social and political system of Manipur into a Hindu State and society. [ 26 ]

Shanta Das drew up a scheme of transplanting the indigenous Meetei social structure with Hindu structures. The Meetei social structure was based on a federation of Clans or tribes known as Yeks or Salais.

Cheitharol Kumbaba records the preparation of genealogies of the Meeteis in order to supplant them with Shanta Das's Hindu gotra system in 1731.

The King and all the converted Meeteis were proclaimed kshatriyas and transplantation of the gotras assumed significance:

Yek/Salai	Gotra
Ningthouja	Shandilya
Angom	Kaushika
Chenglei	Bhardhwaja
Luwang	Kashyap
Khuman	Madhugalya
Moirang	Aitereya
Khaba-Nganba	Gautam

Festivals associated with the traditional Meetei religion were either banned or transformed and modified by giving Hindu names and forms.

An important festival known as the Heigru Hidongba celebrated with an annual boat race was rechristened Jal Yatra. Ayang Yoiren Iruppa, an annual bathing ceremony in the month of Wakching (December/January) was transformed into Snan Yatra at Lilong Sahanpat.

The annual archery festival called Waira Tenkap festival in the month of Phairen (February/January) was transformed into a Kirtan of the Hindu god Rama.

Kongba Leithong Phatpa, an oracular ceremony in the Manipuri New Year month of Sajibu (April) was converted to Vishnu Sankranti. Rath Jatra soon replaced Ahom Khongching festival in Ingel (June).

The traditional festival associated with offerings to ancestors in the month of Langban (September/October) was replaced by Tarpan or offering to pritulok. Wakambung Chingnung Nongombi festival was replaced by Dasana Kwaktanba of Durga Puja or Dusserah.

Chanou Hui Chintu, a festival associated with the new harvest was replaced by Goverdhon Puja.

Hindu proselytization brought about an upheaval resulting in dramatic changes in the hitherto self-contained world of the Meeteis and the hill tribes of Manipur.

Prior to the conversion to Hinduism, the Meetei society was totally alien to the concept and practice of caste system. It was fundamentally a casteless society.

One of the tragic implications for the people of this ancient land was to face the ramifications of casteism as the Meeteis including members of the royal lineage were declared Kshatriyas.

The Brahmins who enjoyed exclusive patronage remained a separate caste outside the Meetei society.

Gradually, the consolidation of this caste system led to the seclusion of the non-Hindu Meetei Lois and the hill tribes and the Shan Buddhists in the Kabaw valley, which was then a part of Manipur.

Casteless society based on traditional Meetei faith had seen cordial relations between the valley people and the hill tribes.

With the widening gap between the valley and the hill people due to steady polarization on grounds of seclusion and ocstracisation practiced by the Hindu converts zealously, intermingling and intermarriage declined rapidly.

For the first time, rules of commensality, concept of pollution and dietary differences began to be used to exacerbate this widening gap.

Increasing practice of casteism led to a widening gap between the people in the valley and the hills. This widening gap consequently weakened Manipur in the face of conflicts perpetrated by forces from outside.

— to be continued

* Dr. Thingnam Kishan Singh is Assistant Professor of English in Manipur University. He taught earlier at Shyam Lal College (Delhi University) and D.M. College of Arts, Imphal. He is the author of the book "Rethinking Colonialism" (Delhi and Kolkata: Worldview Publishers). Besides contributing regularly in several journals across the country he is also editor of the quarterly journal Alternative Perspectives since 2005. He can be contacted at th_kishan(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)in . This article was webcasted at e-pao.net on March 7th , 2008.

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