Action against killers of security guard demanded
The Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Students’ Union has demanded appropriate action against the killers of Ajit Sinha in the Dispur capital complex last month and has asked for due compensation to the victim’s family. Sinha, who worked as a security guard with Industrial Security Force Bureau, was allegedly killed by one Sushil Mishra though some more persons are believed to be involved. Staging a demonstration at Dispur Last Gate today to demand prompt action against Sinha’s killers, the Union submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister. It was mentioned there that Sinha was killed by Mishra and his associates after the former prevented them from carrying out illegal activities. Seeking the Chief Minister’s intervention in the case, the Union has demanded that Sinha’s family should be paid a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. Sinha has left behind his wife Sushila (31) and a son, aged four. [source: The Assam Tribune Online]

Bishnupriya body’s protest march on May 10
The Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Students’ Union, Greater Guwahati Branch will take out a silent procession in the city on May 10 in protest against the alleged apathy of the police in apprehending the culprits involved in the murder of Ajit Sinha, a security guard employed by the Industrial Security Agency Bureau. According to a press release, the victim who was posted at Brahmaputra Construction, was tortured and brutally murdered on May 1. The procession to be taken out from Dispur Last Gate, will start at 10 am. Meanwhile, the Union has also decided to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister, who also holds the home portfolio, to press for appropriate action in this regard. It has also demanded compensation to the victim’s family.
[source: The Assam Tribune Online]


Bishnupriya Manipuris demand territorial council
GUWAHATI, Jan 23: Bishnupriya Manipuri Territorial Council Demand Committee has demanded the formation of the "Bishnupriya Manipuri Territorial Council (BMTC)" covering the Bishnupriya Manipuri localities of Assam and Tripura under the direct control of the Central Government within the ambit of the Constitution.[source: Silchartoday.com]



Bishnupriyas demand autonomy
Silchar, Aug. 22: After the language agitation, comes the demand for autonomy.
On Independence Day, nearly 300 Bishnupriya Manipuris gathered at Mundamala field at Patherkandi town in Karimganj district, under the Bishnupriya Manipuri Autonomy Demand Committee.

In February 2001, the leaders of this four lakh-strong community successfully ended their four-decade long agitation with the Assam government agreeing to introduce the Bishnupriya Manipuri language as the medium of instruction at the primary level. However, the leaders have alleged that the teaching methods are still “lax and tardy”.

President of this seven-year old organisation, Samarjit Sinha, raised the autonomy demand for areas spread over Karimganj and North Tripura districts under a development council.

The leaders said the autonomous development council would comprise two separate areas — one from Kanaibazar in Karimganj district to Dharmanagar in Tripura and another constituting 114 Bishnupriya Manipuri villages stretching from Patherkandi to Ratabari in Karimganj district.

Sinha said they have already drawn up an agitation plan for the council.

The Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha, apex body of the Bishnupriyas, is also peeved at the delay in appointment of teachers and selection of textbooks for Class V students learning the language. Kanakpat, the textbook, has been introduced in Class III.

Deben Sinha, president of the Mahasabha, said, “The Assam government will make a mistake if it continues to take the Bishnupriya community for granted.”
[source: The Telegraph]

Bishnupriya Manipuris move PM, CMs of Assam & Tripura
GUWAHATI, Jan 22 — The Bishnupriya Manipur Language Eight Schedule Demand Committee (BMLESDC) has moved the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as well as the Chief Ministers of Assam and Tripura over its eight-point charter of demands and submitted memoranda in this regard demanding immediate fulfilment of the demands.

Stating this in a release here, the central office of the organisation pointed out that the Bishnupriya Manipuri people living in Assam, Tripura and other States have been deprived of their basic demands since independence. Only in the recent years, the government of Assam and Tripura have implemented the Bishnupriya Manipuri language in the primary stage of education. But other fundamental and Constitutional rights of this community have been equally disrespected and unheeded, it added and called for redressing the long pending demands of this ethnic group of people.

The basic demands of BMLESDC are as follows:– (i) Including of the Bishnupriya Manipuri language in the Eighth Schedule in the Constitution of India; (ii) formation of the ‘Bishnupriya Manipuri Territorial Council’ (BMTC) covering the Bishnupriya Manipuri localities of Assam and Tripura under the direct control of the Central government within the ambit of the Constitution of India; (iii) reservation of seats in the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) for the Bishnupriya Manipuri people; (iv) regular transmission and broadcasting of news and cultural programmes in the Bishnupriya Manipuri language in Doordorshan, Prasar Bharati and All India Radio Services; (v) reservation of seats in the municipality, corporation, town committee and zila parishad etc, from among the Bishnupriya Manipur community. The other demands include undertaking of special package giving financial aids and technical collaboration for the development and propects of the Bishnupriya Manipuri language, literature, art and culture besides social sciences; (vii) undertaking of a special package for ‘Sarbasiksha Mission’ programme for nomination of advisers and members at the national, state, district and local levels for the Bishnupriya Manipuri language and appoint well trained Bishnupriya Manipur official and staff etc; (viii) undertaking of special provision for nomination of advisers and members and appointment of the Bishnupriya Manipuri people in the Central government, State government, Semi government undertakings, corporations, commissions, authorities and boards etc.

The Assam Government has assigned the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to develop and adopt the textbooks for class III and class IV for Bishnupriya Manipuri

[source: The Assam Tribune Online]
 

Boost to ethnic languages: State Govt wary of fallout
GUWAHATI, Feb 11: The State Government is not clear enough whether recruiting language teachers in schools of Assam will develop ethnic languages, or divide the State further on ethnic lines. The State Government has appointed a good number of teachers during the past decade to teach the respective languages of as many as 13 communities, including Rabha, Tiwa, Mising, Tai Ahom, Nepali, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Hmar, Garo and Deori-chutia.

Highly placed sources in the Education Department said that education should not be "compartmentalized," which might prove to be harmful for the society in the long run. "The language issue is very sensitive and the Government is bound to take favourable decisions if such communities demand to teach their languages in schools," an official, on condition of anonymity, told The Sentinel.

It can be mentioned here that lack of proper policy of the Government in this direction has been reflected on the ground and the students from these communities have not benefited from the schemes as most of them have not received textbooks in time, and the teachers are also not well-trained. Besides, there are no guidelines for the teachers to follow.

Mr L.N. Tamuli, Secretary of the Department of Elementary Education, said that no decision has been taken by the Government on more appointments of such teachers. However, Bishnupriya Manipuri language would be taught in L.P. Schools in the Barak valley through voluntary services from the interested general category teachers," he said.

The Government has assigned the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to develop and adopt the textbooks for class III and class IV for Bishnupriya Manipuri, Tiwa and Deori-chutia languages. "The initial work for the Mishing language has already been started, but yet to get final approval from the Education Department," said Ms Meera Sarma, Lecturer at the SCERT here.

Though the teachers for Tai Ahom, Rabha, Hmar and Garo languages have been appointed, the State Government has not made any effort so far to prepare textbooks. As many as 70 teachers in lower primary schools were posted in Rabha dominated areas way back in 1988, but no textbooks had been supplied by the Education Department to these schools for the past five years. "What is the use of appointing teachers without a course and textbook?" questioned Dr Upen Rabha Hakasam, a Rabha language expert and professor of the Department of Assamese at Gauhati University.

Similarly, 200 Tai language teachers were appointed in lower primary schools located in those areas with more than 50 per cent Tai Ahom population by the Hiteswar Saikia Government. "But after repeated requests, the State Government has not taken any step in this regard," said Mr Bidya Borgohain, chief secretary of the Ban-ok Pup-lik Mioung Tai, the apex literary organization of seven Tai communities in the North-east, including Ahom.
[source: http://www.sentinelassam.com ]
 

Popularisation of Bishnupriya Manipuri culture stressed
KARIMGANJ, Dec 22 – United efforts should be made to develop and popularise Bishnupriya Manipuri language and culture in Bangladesh and India, said Swapan Singh, general secretary of Bishnupriya Manipuri Chhatra Yuba Parishad of Bangladesh in a meeting held at Kalinjar near Silchar. The meeting was organised by Bishnupriya Manipuri Chhatra Yuva Parishad, Cachar unit.

Attending as chief guest, Swapan Singh appealed to all concerned to participate in the Chhatra Yuba conference of Bishnupriya Manipuri which will be held on February 11 at Silchar Gandhibag and make the conference as grand success. He informed that Bangladesh Govt and Tripura and Assam govts have given recognition to Bishnupriya Manipuri language but some other demands of Bishnupriya Manipuris are yet to be solved.

To chalkout further phase of agitation programme Chhatra Yuba Parishad and Bishnupriya Manipuri Gana Sangram Parishad jointly convened this conference. A delegation from Bangladesh is likely to attend the conference.
[source: The Assam Tribune Online]


Publication News: New BPM books

From Our Correspondent Dils L. K. Sinha

ASSAM, Dec 6– Bishnupriya Manipuri literature lovers never stop to publish books; even though it is not a profitable business for this society. Some new books came to the market to shine the glory of Bishnupriya Manipuri language.

SL Name of the Book Type Writer
1 Basantar khalik Short Story Anukul Sinha
2 Emmalam Kavita Poem Dils Lk
3 Aahir panir pathgo Song Brojendra Kr Sinha
4 Nungshi pere Song Sukanta Rajkumar
5 Kavita 1990 Poem Champa lal singha
6 Malati-rahal kavya Poem Dils Lk
7 BMP Chhanda Porichoi Essay Brojendra Kr Sinha
8 Karouahan Rabindranath Poem Dananjoy Rajkumar

 

DD prog in Manipuri demanded

From Our Correspondent

SILCHAR, Oct 19 – Assam Naharul Kharirul Sillup, a non-governmental organisation of Lakhipur has demanded the telecast of Manipuri language programme from Doordarshan’s Metro channel and also telecast of regular news bulletin from Silchar Doordarshan Kendra in Manipuri language. These demands were raised in a meeting of the organisation held under the presidentship I Binode Singha. The meeting also demanded the establishment of an FM Centre of All India Radio. On the other hand, Manipuri language Development Society of Assam has demanded the introduction of Manipuri language as one of the subjects in the examination of Assam Public Service Commission (APSC). The society has sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister in this regard and also demanded the cancellation of the order of previous Government regarding the introduction of Bishnupriya Manipuri as medium of instruction in the primary stage.


Minority communities demand exclusive Assembly seats
AGARTALA, Oct 24 — Minority communities in Tripura like Mizo and Brishnupriya Manipuri are now demanding assembly seats exclusively for them. While the Mizos find at least one seat Pechartha constituency out of total 60 be reserved for their community, the Bishnupriya Manipuries find three seats where the community plays a decisive factor be given to them. Recently all the party unit committee of the Jampui Regional Council including Langai valley and Kalagaon unanimously selected RK Liana an INPT leader, as a fit candidate from the Lusai community to represent the 58 Pecharthal Constituency. A memorandum has been submitted in this regard to the INPT president Bijoy Hrangkhawl. “Mizos, residing in Jampui hills are a deciding factor in the Pecharthal constituency,” said RK Liana and added. “Moreover, the Mizos are suppressed by larger communities in Tripura since time immemorial. Now situation demands at least one seat exclusively for the Mizo community of the State. On the other hand, Brishnupriya Manipuries residing in Tripura have also demanded three permanent seats, in the Bishnupriya Manipuri dominated constituencies. Recently, in Kamalpur, the joint action committee of the Bishnupriya Manipuries, Tripura group, has resolved the demand unanimously. Samarjit Sinha, convenor Tripura Brishnupriya Manipuri joint action committee said,” A memorandum has been submitted in regards of seat in Tripura. Besides, in Barak valley in Assam also at least form permanent seats are demanded by the community.” There is also demand for a Rajya Sabha member from the Brishnupriya Manipur community of Tripura. [ From the Assam tribune ]


OBITUARY Devendra Ch Sinha
GUWAHATI, June 5 – Devendra Chandra Sinha, retd Registrar of Govt Press, Bamunimaidan, Guwahati and a resident of MG Path Lane, Christianbasti, Guwahati, died on Sunday last at International Hospital due to massive cardiac arrest. He was 74. He was associated with the development of Bishnupriya Manipuri Radhamadhav Sevashram, Maligaon. He leaves behind his wife, two daughters, son-in-law and two grand daughters.
[ From the Assam tribune ]


Rathyatra observed
Guwahati, Monday, July 22, 2002
Rathyatra: The Shree Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu Rathyatra programme undertaken by the Bishnupriya Manipuri community of B.P. Chaliha Nagar, Bamunimaidan on July 12, concluded at the Radhamadhav mandir on July 20 with a procession by the Bhaktas. People from other communities also took part in the 9-day celebrations, a release said. [ From the Assam tribune ]



Cultural Night
The Geetiswami Gokulananda Sangeet Mahavidalaya is organising its first annual cultural function in collaboration with the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Greater Guwahati at 3.45 p.m. on July 28 at the District Library auditorium. Union Water Resource Minister Bijaya Chakraborty will inaugurate the function, a press release said.