Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 21 2008:
THE ONE-DAY seminar on "Status of Paona Brajabasi in the history of the Manipur" organised by the Research Forum Manipur (REFORM) was held at Kangla Hall on Saturday.
Education minister L Jayantakumar and MLA Moirangthem Hemanta graced the seminar as chief guest and guest of honour respectively.
Dr N Birachandra, president, REFORM presided over the function.
In his speech Jayantakumar said, "The present scene of Manipur is in a rather pitiable situation.
By nature, we Manipuri have many inborn qualities but we are failing to make a united Manipuri society among the different communities in the state".
"People here are indulging in their own way of living without any concerns for other and this will not bring any development to our society.
There is an urgent need to make a united Manipur among the different communities here," he added.
"Whenever we heard the names of Paona Brajabasi, Tikendrajit and Thangal General, there is only one thing that comes into our mind and that is the war of independence they fought against the British empire.
They fought with the mighty British empire knowing that they will not be able to defeat them.
And we should remember them and get us inspired by their action" Jayantakumar said.
"Besides, there were many other patriots like Chinglensana whose names are forgotten.
We must not left them behind and we should also pay tribute to them" he further added.
MLA M Hemanta saidt that the REFORM has organised this seminar in the right time as a two-member team of Union Ministry of Tourism to develop Kheba hill at Khongjom into a tourist spot.
He further said, "People here are living in a very pitiable situation.
It seems that the people of Manipur have lost their liberty and they are living in a battlefield.
And it is the time for us to unite".
"One can take away the material wealth of a society but the want of freedom can not be suppressed down by any means," he added.
Today's seminar was held in two sessions and was participated by many intellectuals.