One-day Puya Exhibition held
Parijat stresses need for preservation of Puyas
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 24 2010: Health and Family Welfare minister Ph Parijat declared that our Puyas are a priceless treasure of Manipur which has been preserved by our forefathers while appealing to all concerned to help preserving the Puyas.

He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of a one-day Puya Exhibition held at Khurai Leikhurembi Shanglen.

The exhibition was organized by Maichou Ningsing Lup amasung Leishemlongi Enat Chatnarol Apunba Lup under the aegis of the Manipur State Archives.

Around 500 Puyas were displayed at 18 stalls opened at the exhibition.

The stall of Ingba Mangang of Porompat who displayed 105 books received the best exhibitor award while the second and third prizes went to Bidhu Khaman of Kondompokpi Mayai Leikai and Th Thouyamba Meetei of Kongba respectively.

Bidhu displayed 79 books while Thouyamba exhibited 55 books.

Art & Culture Minister Ph Parijat along with officials and Puya experts observing the ancient books (Puyas) of Manipur being put on exhibition

Each participant was given Rs 500 and a certificate as consolation prize by the organizers.

The inaugural function graced as chief guest by Health and Family Welfare minister, Ph Parijat, it was presided over by retired chief engineer of CADA, W Kumar.

President of the organizing body, Yumnam Gouraman, director of Manipur State Archive Ch Ibohal and LEICHAL president Warepam Nabachandra attended as guests of honour of the function.

Ph Parijat, in his speech as chief guest, observed that books like puyas are precious treasures of the people of the state and "we should not allow elimination of these priceless books which were preserved by our forefathers" .

"Puya show the origin of our society, they teach us how to behave, how to treat diseases, explain our scripts, and explain the art of living.

We need to preserve these books and do research on these books to find more about our ancient civilization," he said.

It is because of this precious treasure, that we can live proudly in this world and it is a rare case that people residing in such a tiny state has its own script, he added.

Expressing his happiness in organizing such an exhibition, the minister observed that organising such an exhibition will enlighten the people.

Asserting that the language used in this old books are difficult to understand by today's generation and by people from outside Manipur, he stressed on the need for translation of these books into English.

This will of great help in understanding more about the people of this tiny state.

For conservation of these books from damage, the state archives have taken up various plans.

They have even started distribution of iron boxes to the people who own such books but who do not want to deposit them to the state archives, he said.

Naorem Indramani, an official of the Manipur State Archive observed that there were hard edivences that "our forefathers preserved these puya books very carefully.

The most important thing for today's generation is how to conserve these books without affecting its original forms for all generations to come.

"We cannot remake a puya.

Once lost, it will have vanished forever.

Instead of concealing such rare books, people should deposit then with the Archives, he said.

No one can argue on the write ups in the puya about the origin of human civilization, reign of kings, human society, etc., he said.

The minister also released a book entitled "Leishemlon-gi Manungda Khousarol" written by Saikhom Awangba Mangang.