An attempt at Renaming the villages of Jiribam District in Manipur

Sanjib Deb Laskar :: 30-09-2021

Random change of nomenclature has become the order of the day.  The process of renaming has gained momentum in recent time, and the peripheral areas of the country are not outside its purview. Close to Cachar district in Assam, in the district of Jiribam a group of local Mythei submitted a representation to the district authority for change of the nomenclature of a number of villages in the district and the matter was taken up in the meeting of the district authority, at the behest of the Deputy Commissioner, Jiribam District, dated 23 December, 2020 on the subject, which created resentment among the non-Mithei dwellers residing in the targeted villages traditionally for centuries, as the bona fide  residents of Manipur with no allegiance to any other state beyond the territory of their beloved state.

    Jiribam, as a matter of fact, is the gateway to the outer world via Cachar district of Assam. In the pre-colonial period, when Cachar was an independent Kingdom with Khaspur as its capital, the socio-economic and political transactions of Manipur were carried out through this place, and as such a diverse demography formed in and around the area with Bengalis as one among the major components. Besides, Cachar-Jiribam area played a pivotal role in carrying neo-Vaishnavite philosophy from Bengal to the state of Manipur, and as such Ras kirtan, Manipuri dance form, gained popularity in the entire area covering Jirighat, Jiribam and the adjacent areas of Southern Assam, which, again drew the attention of the great Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore who brought this excellent dance form to the notice of the nation and of course, of the world.

It needs be mentioned, the clarion of Freedom movement reached Manipur through the Cachar corridor. In the national history the area made its mark with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose reaching Beshenpur with INA in the forties of 20^th century, and the villages in and around Jiribam have a special place of in the mind of the southern part of Assam. The places also bear the heritage of freedom movement associated with Netaji as well as  Bir Tikendrajit.

The decision of changing of the villages names particularly the ones of Sanskriti origin, like Durgapur, Madhupur, Kalinagar, Babupara predominantly resided by the Bengalis for centuries is looked upon as a desperate attempt to distort history with the objective of challenging the bona fides of the Indian citizens in their native soil, an ominous trend which seems to threaten the very foundation of our national integrity.

It may be noted that in the adjoining districts of Barak valley in Assam there are over dozens of place names bearing the testimony Manipuri settlements, and these were gladly accepted the people of the valley. Manipur, (Manipur Niskar Gaon Panchyet) in Hailakandi, Manipur (in Basrichandrapur in Cachar) Manipuri basti (in Tarapur and in Labak), Aranglaikai (meaning Easter location), Asralaibuk (paddy field), Kaithellaikai (a place adjacent to market), Khunou (new village), Thanjemlaikai (the land of Thanjem, a title) ,Ningthemun (a village of the descendents of royal  family), Nowraj ( associated with Garib Newaj), Makhalaika (south area), Matumlaikai (a village of the Matum title holders), Mamamlaikai (end), Laikal (temple of God), Sharangthenlaikai (a land of the Saramthems), Lalang (meaning war preparation, a place associated with Gombhir singh). To the Bengalis in Barak valley, these place names are unquestionably accepted as part of a unique tradition of synthesis and coexistence.

These are recounted here just to show that nomenclature of villages is part of the glorious heritage of the residents of the particular places. The  decision of renaming the place has been viewed by several organizations of the minorities, Bengalis, Kukis etc., as an ominous threat to social harmony and to the ideal of national integrity.