Imphal, March 15, 2010: Greeting the people on the eve of the Cheiraoba festival, the proscribed PREPAK has called upon people of Manipur to celebrate the Meitei new year with the vision of strengthening fraternal bond amongst various communities settled in the State.

The armed group expressed hope that the occasion herald an era of peace and freedom from hardships.

A PREPAK statement issued by its Publicity in-charge Aheiba Angom reminded that manipur is the home for 36 indigenous group of people with its history enriched by the fact that every community contributed its mite when external forces posed threat.

briefly recounting Manipur's history, Aheiba said when battles were fought against the invading Awa soldiers several individuals from the hills of Manipur displayed their valour and royalty to the nation.

When Thangal General was entrusted to command Manipuri soldiers during the 1891 Anglo-Manipur war it was not only a testimony of sacrificial spirit and bravery of the hill people but also underscored the fact that there existed cordiality between the hill and valley people for centuries.

PREPAK also desired that rather than superficial claims of upholding territorial and emotional unity, revolutionary groups as well as NGOs translate their assertion to action for overall betterment.

opining that writers/authors had been playing a crucial role in the progress and development of a nation, PREPAK also called upon the State intellectuals to voice their visions in the form of publications that could pave the way for attaining the cherished goal.

Pointing out that literatures by French writers such as Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau had brought about radical social change in France resulting in the people's success during the French Revolution, Aheiba also said similar contributions by Indian writers including Bamkim Chandra provided renewed impetus in the struggle against the British occupational forces.

While writers through their literary works can influence a society to move in the right direction it is equally important to ensure that documentation of history is not misleading, Aheiba said and referred to the controversial book entitled 'A Century of Government and Politics in North East India' coauthored by Venkat Rao and Dr Kshetri Bimola as a huge blunder.

Elaborating, Aheiba said contrary to the authors' misleading concept of the 1891 Anglo-Manipur war, manipuri soldiers fought the strong British force with sacrificial spirit at the forefront inspite of the fact the colonial force enjoyed weapon and strategic advantage from their position on the hill range.

Even though Manipuri soldiers were out-numbered and lacked weapon sophistication that ultimately resulted in large casualties of the former, Aheiba observed that despite losing the battle Manipuri soldiers won the war through their sheer grit and royalty.

As such Venkat Rao and Dr Bimola chronicling that Manipur soldiers fled like chickens from the Khongjom battle field is unjustifiable and erroneous, he maintained.

On the otherhand, Aheiba also pointed out that Lt Col Hemo's book entitled 'Manipur Imbroglio' is misleading.

Explaining on the contention, Aheiba said PREPAK leader RK Tulachandra was not a victim of factionalism as the book had mentioned.

Rather Tulachandra died on November 12, 1985 during an encounter when attack was launched at the Kabow Wakching Sugar Mill post of the 7th Bn Manipur Rifles.

Aheiba Angom also rectified Somorendro Thokchom's write-up with regard to a public congregation at the historic Mapal kangjeibung.

Somorendro's book recording date of the event as August 3, 1949 is false as the public congregation to deliberate on Manipur's future was on April 19, 1953, the PREPAK statement clarified while urging writers/authors to take utmost care so that history of Manipur is not distorted with imaginary concepts.

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