ABOUT THE BOOK:
VOLUME 1:
About Manipuri civilization, C.J. Lyall writes, "It was my fortune to visit Manipur only once (in Feb., 1888) during my service in Assam, and I am thus acquainted with the subject chiefly by hearsay. But I have always taken a lively interest in this singular oasis of comparative civilization and organised society". Lord Irwin called her 'Switzerland of the East' and Ethel Grimwood described her as 'the most beautiful show place of the world'.
Presently a constituent State of Indian Union, marginally bigger than Israel or El Salvador or Lebanon and Cyprus combined together, the early State of the Meeteis and its 9 sister ethnic communities in days of glory, Manipur, defeated the invading Chinese, the Burmese, the western immigrants called Meeyangs, and took the British forces to task, when the latter made a lightning military compaign against the Meetei royal palace in March 1891. At her nadir, Manipur was devastated completely by the Burmese, who were again routed by a daring Meetei prince.
Manipuri civilization, known to foreign historians, including Ptolemy, had its origin in a remote State, governed by a Constitution since the 5th century A.D. which was finally moulded into a written form by King Loyyumba in 1100 A.D. The cultural and social system, recorded in not less than 1000 old Meetei scriptures is a living testimony of the rich heritage embodying Meetei sciences, philosophy, Meeteilogy, ethics, aesthetics, various arts like arts of prediction, statecraft, diplomacy, conduct of war, and above all, the Universal, casteless Meetei Sanamahi religion.
The present volume, which is the first of the three volume series is a compendium of voluntary contributions of eminent scholars and specialists in their respective fields on the multi-faceted civilization of Manipur which shows remarkable thematic coherence. The Book of Treaties, including historical documents and rare photographs, constitutes the Appendix. Manipur the veritable dreamland and a silent-valley of unrivalled beauty deserves your intellectual journey. The past is very much alive in the present as will be found unfolded in the succeeding pages of the book.
VOLUME 2:
About Manipuri civilization, C.J. Lyall writes, "It was my fortune to visit Manipur only once (in Feb., 1888) during my service in Assam, and I am thus acquainted with the subject chiefly by hearsay. But I have always taken a lively interest in this singular oasis of comparative civilization and organised society". Lord Irwin called her 'Switzerland of the East' and Ethel Grimwood described her as 'the most beautiful show place of the world'.
Manipuri civilization, known to foreign historians, including Ptolemy, had its origin in a remote State, governed by a Constitution since the 5th century A.D. which was finally moulded into a written form by King Loyyumba in 1100 A.D. The cultural and social system, recorded in not less than 1000 old Meetei scriptures is a living testimony of the rich heritage embodying Meetei sciences, philosophy, Meeteilogy, ethics, aesthetics, various arts like arts of prediction, statecraft, diplomacy, conduct of war, and above all, the universal, casteless Meetei Sanamahi religion.
The present volume, which is the second of the three volume series is a compendium of voluntary contributions of eminent scholars and specialists in their respective fields on the philosophy, culture, art and literature of the multi-faceted civilization of Manipur. Manipur the veritable dreamland and a silent-valley of unrivalled beauty deserves your intellectual journey. The past is very much alive in the present as will be found unfold in the succeeding pages of the book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Late Dr. Naorem Sanajaoba (30.12.1946-13.12.2009) Former Professor and Dean of Law Faculty, University of Gauhati, Assam. |