Manipur Sociological Society (MSS) organized its first foundation day on 9th March 2014
At Delhi University and at Manipur University

10/March/2014

Manipur Sociological Society (MSS) organized its first foundation day on 9th March 2014

Manipur Sociological Society (MSS) organized its first foundation day on 9th March 2014 at International Guest House, Delhi University at 10am in Delhi and at 1pm at Department of Sociology, D.M. College of Arts, Manipur University in Manipur.

In Delhi program, Satish Deshpande, (Head of Department,) Professor, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics, Rajni Palriwala, Professor, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics, Kamei Aphun, Assistant Professor, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics. Bimol Akoijam, Associate Professor, School of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University were the Chief Guest, GUEST OF Honors and the President of the MSS foundation day. First edition of Manipur Sociological Society Newsletter, Volume O1/March/2014 was also published.

Program was started with a warm welcome address by Akoijam Monica Chanu, Convenor, Manipur Sociological Society, Delhi Chapter, flowed by a Lecture cum Performance on Thoibi Jagoi by Babina Chabungbam.

Dr. Aphun Kamei gave the key note address and followed by a read-out massage from the President of MSS, Prof. Rajendra Kshetri , Former Head of Department , Sociology Department, Nagland University & and a talk on emergence of Manipur Sociological Society, MSS by Seram Rojesh the General Secretary, Manipur Sociological Society and followed by the speech of Prof. Rajni Ralriwala, Dr. Bimal Akoijam and Prof . Satish Despande.

On the key note address by Dr. Aphun Kamei, with the context of subject of sociology in the context of North East India in general and Manipur in particular, he says “ one can claim that Sociology is a very young subject in the region. The book by my own colleague talks about the region as a good “site for Anthropological enquiries” and I would like to add with having rich sociological or ethnographical sites. The political economy of the region needs to be addressed in order to highlight the development gaps in the country. The questions on race, tribes, gender or in that matter the social structure and patterns of livelihood needs to be examined and published widely for better cultural understanding in the country.

Today, there is increase in the emotional and psychological gaps between the northeasterners youths and the mainstream Indians. The recent incident on racial discrimination and related hate crimes, though in a positive way unite the people of the region, yet there is lot more that the Government of India should be doing in the name of nation building. Also what is disturbing is that hundreds and thousands of students are out on the streets fighting for their basic rights and protection. The Government should notice the inherent reason of such a large migration from the region to metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. This reflected a sense of state failure to provide quality education and intellectual environment in the region.

What is becoming a norm in the region is that there isn’t anyone who is considered as ‘successful’ if one doesn’t get exposure to these bigger cities. To many families it has become a part of ritual allowing their children to go out, despite huge uncertainties/insecurities and challenges. What is worth bringing in here is that the region has been until recent times hit hard with many perennial problems such as ethnic conflicts and violence, militarization, dams and displacement, drug addiction, gun culture, questions of territoriality and politics of identity which I personally feel that more Sociologists should come in to address them.”

Manipur Sociological Society (MSS) organized its first foundation day on 9th March 2014

Prof. Kshetri’s read out message on the contemporary Manipur society, He says, “The contemporary Manipur society is passing through a transitional phase of its development. The society is caught in the vortex of multiple conflicts and crises, which are dialectically opposite to one another. Whether it is a conflict between tradition and modernity, socio-religious conflict between pre-Hindu and Hindu identity, the civilizational clash between Indo-Aryan civilization and Mongoloid Meetei civilization, the conflict between ethnic groups, between militarization and de-militarization, the one undeniable fact that threatens the very fabric of our civilization – ‘this single oasis of comparative civilization’ – is that the society is deep in crisis. The crisis of Manipur ranging from HIV/AIDS, drug and human trafficking, rape and violence (not excluding domestic) against women, AFSPA, alcoholism, governance (read lack of), failed state, power (read electricity) supply, acute scarcity of potable water, (mis) uses of mobile phones – the list can go on and on – all these plunge the individual member of the society into a condition of what Durkheim called anomie – that is, a condition of rootlessness, lawlessness, orderlessness, disorientation, of no longer feeling at home in the society.

All these conflicts and crises have made everyone of us feel that we are in the society but not of the society. Given the magnitude and gravity of the crises mentioned above, certain crucial questions crop up. Is development possible? Is progress feasible? Is integration of contemporary Manipuri society not impossible? If the history of relevance of sociology in the contemporary world is any indication and/or anything to go by, then the answer is in the affirmative mode. Sociology with its time-tested, tried and ever-evolving methodologies can study and address these issues/social problems and come up with sociological interpretation, remedies and suggestion for better understanding and appreciation. If sociology can do it elsewhere, I see no reason why it cannot do the same here in Manipur. What we need to develop is a sociological mind, a sociological perspective and yes, what C. Wright Mills termed as ‘Sociological Imagination’.”

Prof. Rajani Parliwala congratulated to the Manipur Sociological Society (MSS) and suggested that sociology students from Manipur may study on other part of the area beyond Manipur at the same time students of sociology from other part of India should also study the sociological question on Manipur.

By congratulating on MSS first foundation day, Prof. Satish Deshpande spoke on how minority discourses are produced by majoritarian discourse and the majoritarian sovereign state. On question of recent hate crimes and racism in Delhi, He said student of sociology should study the majoritarian who are perpetrating the racism not to those who have been victim of racism. He also mentioned that on the question of studying gender – studies are focusing on women and on the study of castism , studies are on the weaker section. He contested it and suggested that studies should be mainly targeted to the dominant group not to the dominated group of people.

Haripriya Soibam , PhD Scholar, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics presented a paper on “Between death and marriage; the widow of the Sikh Martyr”; S. Manikho Kohusii PhD Scholar, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics on Christianity and Division: The case of Mao Nagas in Manipur; Dhana Luwang Ngangom, MA, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics presented on Pakhangba as a philosophy- secret of the sacredness and Seram Rojesh, PhD scholar, Sociology Department, Delhi School of Economics presented an article on “ History as crime”

Langonjam Cha Henba, MA at DSE recited three poems written by him.

On the presentation session of the “Perspective from the Young Mind”, P.Azad Babu, MA at CSSS, JNU presented on “ History as a tool in doing sociology”, Md. Hefajuddin, MA, CSSS, JNU presented on “ Law and Society: A sociological perspective “; Sapam Punshiba Khuman, M.A. Sociology, Delhi School of Economics presented a perspective on Culture and Economy, Babina Chabungbam, B.A. Sociology, 3rd year, Miranda House presented on Nupi Chenba (Eloping) –

As a last program, Boicha Yengkhom, M.A. Sociology, Delhi School of Economics introduced a documentary film on fear called “The program of fear (A virus called fear)”-

See a full Photo Gallery on this event here

Issued by
Seram Rojesh
General Secy.
Manipur Sociological Society, MSS

Babina Chabungbam
Public Relation In Charge
Manipur Sociological Society, Delhi Chapter