Imphal, May 16: The fifth foundation day of the Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) was celebrated today at Manipur Press Club.

The celebration was graced by HERICOUN president Rev Renghang Chothe, editor of the erastwhile The Freedom RK Ranendrajit, social activist Lt Col (Retd) H Sarat, chairman of Film Forum Manipur W Lalitkumar, editor of the Huiyen Lanpao, Brojendra Ningomba and Prof W Nabakumar of MU. Speaking on the occasion Rev Rehang Chothe noted that Manipur has integrity but lacks unity.

On several issues, the social organisations of the State struggle together but the unity among them never last for long, he lamented.

Stating that HERICOUN had come across such disunity among the social organisations in its five years of existence, Rehang maintained that even as the social organisations of the State have different ideologies, their objectives are more or less the same.

He compared the prevailing situation to a boat being rowed in different directions by many rowers, all aboard, thereby making the journey non-progressive.

Rehang stressed on the vitality of cohesiveness among the various social organisations in view of the existing circumstances.

Prof Nabakumar asserted that the people of the State have been living in bondage at the mercy of external forces.

To free themselves from such a situation of bondage and dependence, the people of Manipur need a serious introspection and a detailed analysis, he observed.

In addition to understanding and promoting indigenous knowledge, a total revolution encompassing economic, social and political dimensions should be launched to free the people of Manipur from the existing situation of dependency, noted Nabakumar.

Addressing the celebration, Brojendra Ningomba remarked that the journalists are facing a critical situation in the State which is plagued by conflicts of varying degrees.

The journalists of the State have been enduring severe inconveniences due to strong pressure exerted by several groups/directions.

People should understand that there is a limitation to what should be done and what should not be, Brojendro observed.

There are instances of politicians and bureaucrats favouring and using some section of the media for their own advantage, he asserted.

Despite all such instances, there is close relationship between media and the civil organisations, he noted while adding that it would be in the interest of all concerned for civil organisations to extend co-operation to media.

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