Validity of attaching the name 'Manipuri' to 'Bishnupriya'
by Ashim Kumar Singha
In recent years some controversy has arisen as to the validity of the
name Manipuri attached to the Bishnupriya speech. According to
Constitution Act 1956, Article 350A and 350B, the speakers of
Bishnupriya Manipuri language have been demanding since 1963 for
implementation of "Bishnupriya Manipuri" language in the primary level
of education in Assam and Tripura. Though the Assam and Tripura Govt.
agreed to the same and issued the order in October 25, 1983 to
introduce the Language at the Primary stage of education. But the
order was withheld for many times following protests from the Govt. of
Manipur and pressure from Meitei organizations operating in both Assam
and Manipur. There have been suggestions that Bishnupriya was never
the language of Manipur and Meitei is the "Real" Manipuri language.
I am a native speaker of Bishnupriya Manipuri. In this article I
propose to give a short linguistic introduction to Bishnupriya
Manipuri and to present my arguments in favor of the validity of
attaching the name Manipuri to Bishnupriya.
At the outset I should make it clear that, historically speaking, both
Bishnupriya and Meithei were used as languages of communication in
Manipur for centuries, and that I do not claim any exclusive right to
the appellation (Manipuri) to Bishnupriya only.
As a native speaker of Bishnupriya, however, I feel that the people of
Bishnupriya Manipuri group are not given their rightful place and
recognition among the languages spoken in Manipur, much against the
government and census records as well as the research findings of
reputed scholars.
BISHNUPRIYA
MANIPURI: A PROFILE
Language Name: Bishnupriya
Manipuri
Alternative names: Vishnupriya,
Vishnupriya Manipuri, Bishnupuria, Bishnupuria Manipuri, Mayang,
Imarthar, BM, BPM
Regions: North-east India (
Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh)
Bangladesh ( Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sunamganj, Dhaka )
Myanmar & some other overseas countries.
Number of Speakers: 4,50,000 (aprox.)
Source: Close proximity with
the Sauraseni-Maharastri Prakrit, highly influenced by Sanskrit.
Some charateristics of Hindi, some denoting terms of Meitei and a
little influence of Bengali and Assamese incorporated.
Vocabulary: Contains
about 10,000 words of Sanskrit, 8,000 of Tadvava (words derived
from OIA), 6,000 of its own and 4000 of Meitei.
Dialects: (1) Rajar Gang
(Kings Village) and (2) Madoi Gang (Queens village). |
The term "Bishnupriya" is derived from Vishnupurika or Vishnupriya
(followers of the Vishnu cult from ancient times). Orthodox
Bishnupriyas believe that they installed the image of lord Bishnu at a
place in Manipur, which was given the name Bishnupur. No doubt that a
group of people called Mayangs or Khalachais, lived in the plain lands
near the Logtak lake which the 7th century Chinese pilgrim Hsuan Tsang
had mentioned in his account as Ishangnupul. The existance of BPM in
12th and 13th century also appers from historical records. During 18th
and 19th century a great majority of speakers fled away from Manipur
and took refuge in Assam, Tripura, Sylhet and Cachar due to internal
conflicts among the prices of Manipur and due to Burmese attack.
Consequently, it was difficult for the small number of Bishnupriyas
who remained in Manipur to retain their language in face of the impact
of Meitei, although Dr. G.A. Grierson, in 1891 found the existence of
a considerable number of speakers in two or three villages near
Bishnupur, locally known as Lamangdong.( LSI, Vol -V, Page 419).
As the phonological and syntactical structure of BPM was never changed
and the same is even now with its distinct identity, we can conclude
that the Bishnupriyas left Manipur with their fully developed language
and no matter how and when the people were migrated in Manipur, it is
historically founded by eminent scholars and historian that the
language is originated in the soil of Manipur and nowhere else.
Some other points to be noted are-
1. From the last two centuries the Bishnupriyas
outside Manipur, like the Meiteis are known as Manipuri's (People came
from Manipur) to the people of Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh.
2. The dance, music, dress, lifestyle and all other social systems are
identical to the people of both these sections living anywhere,
whether in Manipur, Assam, Tripura or Bangladesh.
3. Even before the fall of "Surma Valley Manipuri Association" in
1931, a Bishnupriya would never identify himself as a "Bishnupriya',
but as a Manipuri.
4. Even if we assume "Manipur" and "Manipuri" are recent terms than we
must admit that their "Manipuri" identity is as old as the "Manipuri"
identity of the Meiteis.
5. The 1931 census speaks about a indo-aryan manipuri community and
language.
6. During the British regime, the main heading "Manipuri" was
sub-divided into "Meitei" and "Bishnupriya" in the statistic of
students of the School board, Cachar.
7. After a few years of India's independence the term 'Manipuri' has
been chosen for 'Meitei' by the Govt. of Manipur, as most of the
Bishnupriyas who remained in Manipur merged with the Meitheis. The
census report of Manipur 1951 shows the existence of only 114
Bishnupriya speakers in Manipur during that time. But the Bishnupriyas
outside Manipur, in pursuance of their tradition, call themselves and
their language 'Manipuri' even now, and use the term 'Bishnupriya' to
distinguish themselves from the Meiteis.
8. In the Census report of India 1961, also the main heading
"Manipuri" was sub-divided into "Meitei" and "Bishnupriya".
9. In the census report of India 1971, Bishnupriya's were recorded as
"Bishnupriya Manipuri".
10. So far as educational concessions are concerned, the Bishnupriya
children are enjoying the same benefit given by the Govt. of India to
the O.B.C. Manipuri pupils.
The inclusion of Meitei language as the Manipuri language in the
Eighth schedule of the Constitution of India came as a rude shock to
the ethnic and cultural identity of the Bishnupriya-Manipuri speaking
people residing in Manipur, Assam and Tripura. They feel aggrieved
that their identity as Manipuri has not been given due consideration
when Meitei was taken to be wholly synonymous to "Manipuri". They are
not against the recognition of Meitei Language, they are afraid that
their cultural identity will be lost if the term "Manipuri" is taken
for language "Meitei", which is only a section of people living in
Manipur.
The term 'Manipuri' has been associated with the Bishnupriya people
whenever others referred to them and the Bishnupriyas always
considered them to be Manipuris. The term "Manipuri" is a sensitive
and prestigious connotation to the Bishnupriyas. That is why the
Bishnupriyas residing in Assam and Tripura have consistently refused
and rejected offers of both the state and central Governments to call
their language only as 'Bishnupriya' and not Bishnupriya Manipuri.
They have voiced their demands through peaceful, and democratic
movements over the years and their demand is completely unrelated with
any kind of economic or political gains.
Dhaka, June 12, 2003
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