Dear Members,

The year is coming to an end and Cheiraoba is in the year now. This year both Cheiraoba and Charak puja are next to next namely sajibu nongma panba and charak puja fall on the same week. I am sure many people in this group who are away from home either working or studying will miss this day. Many students in this forum will be heading for the final exams etc etc. However the year is coming to an end and New Year is knocking at the door.

As a Manipuri Meitei, this year we all faced many changes starting from financial crisis, law and order fiasco and most of all amidst odds a baby legislative assembly formed. I pray that in the coming new year things will improve more, there will be more harvest with every farmer and there will be more peace and tranquility at each corner of Manipur. Thus making the land and people the way it should be and we all long to be.

The striking blow that we all faced was there was trend for formation of two nuclei in Manipur one based at Imphal and another at Senapati making everyone feel that the boundary of the state is sure to be divided again. We all worked to save it, we all gave a stern warning with all our moves that the state boundary will never be reoriented at any cost. What we prove in the long run is that Manipuri have become more MANIPURI and no force could have given a hand on it.

"Manipur - jewel of India" named by Jawahar Lal Nehru at Koirengei as he landed at the airport for the first time. Perhaps, he was illusion by the name Mani that he made this statement. Had the name been different he must have named other. But now, it is not the same place, many thing have changed many directions have been made by different sectors, leaving no scope for a combined one. So I feel if J Nehru arrives now he may have named something else.

I just pray that thing improve more this year the glory of the land will rise once again.

Happy New Year Maliya 3400 to all of you.

Regards,

Khumancha Meiraba.