CM hums harmony tune on Zomi National Day
IMPHAL, Feb 20 : Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh struck a communal harmony chord at the Zomi National Day celebration today calling out to all to discard the notion of division on the basis of caste, creed and commu-nity.
In a colourful function organised at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre with the presence of a large number of Zomi people from Mizoram and Manipur, O Ibobi called on the people of the State to live in harmony forgetting class, creed, religion and other differences.
O Ibobi, who attended the function as chief guest said, although, there were mistakes and misunderstandings amongst different communities in the past, it is time to forget all those and march forward together to bring development.
Maintaining that the people of the State are lucky to be a part of a secular country like India, O Ibobi said that it is the responsibility of the people of the State to safeguard and promote the rich culture and tradition left behind by the forefathers.
MPCC President Gaikhangam, who was the functional president, said that the State would be adorned with peace and development if people of all the communities participate together in different functions of different communities like today.
Power Minister Phungjathang Tonsing and Tourism Minister TN Haokip were also present at the occasion as chief host and guest of honour respectively.
Pop diva from Mizoram, Mami Varte, acclaimed Tangkhul folk singer Guru Rewben Mashangwa and different cultural troupes enthralled the crowd with their mesmerising presentations.
Zomi community has been observing Zomi National Day to mark remembrance of the historic Zomi Convention, which was participated by around 1000 Zomi leaders at Falam of Myanmar on February 20, 1948.?
TSE
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Ibobi makes clarion call for peace, harmony on Zomi Day
IMPHAL, Feb 20: The 64th Zomi National Day (Zomi Nam Ni) was celebrated today under the theme “Cultural Conformity” with much cultural fanfare and musical extravaganza at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre (BOAT), Imphal.
Chief minster Okram Ibobi Singh, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaikhangam, tribal minister, MLAs, ADC chairmen and members and power/ horticulture and science and technology minister, Phungzathang Tonsing attended the celebration as chief guest, function president, guests of honour and chief host respectively.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi appealed to all people to maintain peace and harmony amongst different communities and bring utmost development to the state.
Ibobi also lauded the Zomi people for being able to keep their culture and heritage intact for a long time and even during the British rule.
“The 2012 edition of the State level Zomi Nam Ni is also being celebrated in different towns and cities of the world like Singapore, Kualalumpur, Tokyo, Wangshiton DC, London, Vancouver (Canada), Chiangmai, Kalemyui, Mandalay, Tedim, Rangoon, Delhi, Shillong, Chennai, Bangolore, etc.,” L.B. Sona, chairman, Zomi Council said in his keynote address.
He said the Zomi, like many other communities want peace and development and added, “We aspire to develop according to our genius and the Zomi of this State dream of a “glowing Manipur” and that such dream can only be realized once the different communities of the 38 recognized tribes living in the State learn to understand and appreciate each other’s unique culture, custom, tradition, past history and aspiration.
The Zomi Youth Association submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to impress upon the state government to February 20 as one of the state’s official holidays, Sona reminded the gathering.
Noted folk singer, Guru Rewben Mashangva, Zomi Artistes’ Association and many famous singers from Mizoram presented different melodious songs at the event as guest artistes and in the meantime Hmar cultural dance, Kabui cultural dance, Mizo cultural dance, Thadou cultural dance, Tangkhul cultural dance and other Zomi tribe’s cultural dance were also performed.
The Zomi National Day is to commemorate the day when Zomi tribe attained freedom from the colonial rule of the British in 1948 thereby ending the suffering of colonial injustice. Zomi is a nomenclature comprising of nine sub-tribes having rich culture, traditions, scattered in different parts of Manipur as well as Myanmar, Bangladesh. According to Zomi scholars, thousands of Zomis gathered for a historic convention at Falam, Myanmar on February 20, 1948 wherein the leaders unanimously resolved to reject autocratic rule and embraced a democratic system of governance. Since then, February 20 is celebrated as the National Day for the Zomis, a day of joy, cultural events and cheerful merry making.
Zomi youths performing the traditional bamboo dance on the occassion of Zomi National Day observation held at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre on Monday.
ifp
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Zomi National day celebrated
SHILLONG: The Zomi people of Shillong celebrated their 64th National Day at the Asom Kristi Kendra here on Monday. The Zomi people comprising of at least eight tribes – the Paite, Zou, Simte, Chin, Vaiphei, Mate, Gangte and Kom are settled mostly in the Churachandpur District of Manipur and some in Mizoram. However there are large chunks of the Chin population in Myanmar.
The Zomi National Day is therefore a sort of solidarity day for Zomi peoples across the world, informed the chief organiser Pupu Zou.
The Zomi National Day celebration started in early 1928 to fight British imperialism but later became a celebration of their own struggle for a ‘nation.’
Addressing the gathering, Mr H, Chin Khenthang (IAS Retd), who was also crowned as the Nam Ni Pa or the father of the Zomi people of Shillong, shared his journey from a small village to becoming an IAS officer through sheer hard work and dedication, despite being born to poor parents. Mr Khenthang urged the Zomi youth to live disciplined and diligent lives.
Executive Member of the Autonomous District Council of Churachandpur, Mr Mangchinkhup urged his brethren to stand tall while demanding for their political rights. He urged the audience to fight against human rights violation by the Indian security forces in the North East. The Zomis it is learnt are demanding for a separate state to be carved out of the present state of Manipur. Addressing the audience as chief guest, The Shillong Times Editor, Patricia Mukhim exhorted the 10,000 strong Zomi residents of Shillong to engage with and be involved in the community efforts to keep Shillong clean and a city to be proud of. She said Shillong is the home of all those who live and work here and it is only a combined efforts that can save the city. While stating that she is supportive of all demands for statehood, Ms Mukhim said all such demands should eschew violence. She cited the example of Meghalaya which was granted statehood without bloodshed. The National Day celebration included songs and traditional fashion show depicting the dresses of the various ethnic communities coming under the rubric of ‘Zomi’ people.
A view of the fashion show organised as part of the 64th Zomi National Day celebration in city on Monday.
theshillongtimes
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