Central Repository of Umanglai Culture of Manipur

Title: Central Repository of Umanglai Culture of Manipur
Author: Thounaojam Ruhichand

ISBN:  978-93-86934-16-1

About the Author:
Dr. Thounaojam Ruhichand is currently working as Assitant Professor at Manipur University of Culture.

About the Book:

Umanglai Haraoba is a ritual and religious festival consisting of fertility rites and ancestors’ worship. It also reveals the Cosmogony-theory of the creation of the Universe then the Earth; Evolution theory of the living creatures especially human being, etc. But, still the Umanglai culture, cultural powerhouse with thousands of years of history, has not got the worldwide recognition. Even in Manipur, the Umanglai culture is losing its prominence. Among the various factors for this situation, a major reason is lack of sufficient research and proper information support system. Even the study and research activities taking place in the various parts of the state are not properly coordinated. They are carried out in isolation. Most of the traditional knowledge of Umanglai culture remained in oral form and are in danger of dying if they are not documented and preserve properly in a central repository for long term preservation, easy retrieval and global access.

Regarding the potential contribution to knowledge in the field of Social relevance or National Importance, the present study will contribute to knowledge in the field of Social Science with respect to the unique cultural heritage of Meitei and Worship of Umang Lai (Ancestral Deities); its documented information will be of great value for research scholars of south-East Asian Countries to explore the formation of cultural identities and cross-cultural relations in South-East Asian region. The present study aims to develop an effective central repository of traditional knowledge of Manipur with special reference to Umanglai culture.  The major objectives of the study include: (i) to study the rich cultural heritage/traditional knowledge of Manipur (ii) to examine traditional knowledge  development programmes/systems adopted by government agencies, NGOs, museums, private cultural centres of Manipur (iii) to study for digital documentation of Umanglai culture for wider access (iv) to analyze traditional knowledge centres in the state (v) to identify various information channels and sources (vi) to assess the problems encountered by the centres (vii) to develop a suitable and conceptual traditional knowledge support system and network for easy retrieval and accessibility, etc.

The Fish Diversity of the Rivers in Imphal Valley in Relation to Its Physico-Chemical Parameters

Title: The Fish Diversity of the Rivers in Imphal Valley In Relation To Its Physico-Chemical Parameters
Author: Ningthoujam Mohendra Singh
ISBN: 978-93-86934-15-4
Year of Publication: 2018


About the Book:

Manipur is a land lock state, on the North-East border between India and Myanmar and consist of a vast area of water such as lakes, wetlands, rivers, swamps with a rich biodiversity and immense fish production potentials. Manipur has a total area of 56.461 hactre of which the lakes, reservoirs, beels tanks, canals etc. covered an area of about 13,221 hact. whereas rivers, streams etc. account for 13,888 hact., Economic Survey of Manipur, (2008).   The aquatic environment is highly complex and diverse. It includes several ecosystems of fresh water streams, lakes, ponds, rivers and wetlands etc. with many different biotic and abiotic components with unique characteristics. The physical and chemical characteristics of aquatic environment can have profound effect on biological activities and impact of chemicals and other xenobiotics.

Aquatic ecosystem involves total complex interaction of physical, chemical and biological factors. Further, similar ecosystems are not affected, by addition of same chemicals. More differences in the chemical and physical environment and in species composition can results in the fate of the chemical and different effects of the system.

The state of Manipur has two major river systems: The Barak River system and Chindwin – Irrawadi system. The Barak River system drains the western half of the state. The watershed is divided from that of the Chindwin by the range on the western hill sides of the Imphal valley. The tributaries of the system are – Irang, Makru, Jiri, Tuvai and other smaller tributaries like – Tuipi, Irang, Iyei and Leimatak, etc.

The Chindwin – Irrawadi system consists of Imphal River and its tributaries. The lakes and marshes lying in the valley and hill streams of Ukhrul, Chandel and  Senapati District,  which drain into the tributary of Chindwin in Myanmar.

The Manipur River system is the longest and most important in the Manipur central valley. It formed a centripetal drainage pattern in the basin. The Imphal River is the main stream, and Iril, Thoubal, Chakpi, Khuga and Kongba rivers are the tributaries. While Nambul, Nambol, Thongjaorok, Khujairok, Irumbi, Lamnganbi and Hentakkhong etc. are the streams which falls into the Loktak Lake. The Khordak channel, 10 km long and about 10 meters wide, known as KhordakMaril, join the Loktak Lake and Imphal River at KhordakIchil.