IMPHAL, Nov 29: With the increase of literate persons amongst the tribals, the number of scholars among various tribes have not only multiplied but also are diversifying into different researches on the origins of tribes of the state in order to enable different tribes to show their identities with dignities.
Mentioning this, principal secretary MOBC/RD/PR Lawmkunga IAS attending as chief guest at the inaugural function of the 2-days Tribal Research on Methodology for selected Research Scholars of the Tribal Reseach Institute Manipur held at Tribal Research Institute conference hall on Sunday organised by the TRI, Imphal further said that the finding of the research persons will give information to the general public about the past and present living standards of the tribal peoples.
He said in this research mission the people of state, specially the tribals need to cooperated.
Renowned academic and leader, Prof. Gangmumei Kamei also presented a paper on Ethnos and Ethno history.
Dwelling on ethno history of Manipur and its prospects, Prof. Kamei said that Manipur history is so far concerned with the evolution of the Meitei polity, society and culture in the valley of Manipur.
This valley based history is due to the abundance and availabilities of the source on Meitei history, whereas the surrounding hill tribes do not have written records of their past.
However, he said historical records are available since the colonial period. The vast and rich literature of the Meiteis, dealing with the religious, secular or creative, and subjects provide the source materials for the reconstruction of the history of the kingdom of Manipur.
One also can find the ethno-historical trends in the historiography of Manipur in brilliant books like TC Hodson magnificent work, The Meitheis, which gives the ethnographic, culture and linguistic background to the history and society of the Meiteis.
These works by colonial administrators and scholars greatly reinforce the study on the history of Manipur he said.
Prof. Kamei also presented an another paper on the Scientific Method in Social Science Research contending that Social Science Research is a systematic method of exploring, analyzing and conceptualizing social life in order to extend, correct or verifying knowledge about it.
Social science is concerned with the discovery and interpretation of social process, pattern of social behavior and their similarities and dissimilarities, which apply to social phenomenon, he said.
Further Prof. Kamei said scientific method, collection of data, interpretation and analysis of the data, presentation of the finding of the research activities of the institution etc is what serious scholarship is about.
Dr. H. Kamkhenthang general lecture, Prof. CH. Yashwanta Singh HOD Linguistic MU general lecture, Dr. PK Singh and Dr. MC Arun also presented papers on different topic such as Study on Musical Instruments of Different Tribal Communities of the Region, Study of correct Position of Education in Ukhrul District, Study of health and Nutrition Problems in tribal areas region, Tribal Traditional Diet and Its food value, Medicinal Herbs and plants- Tribal Medicine and Monograph on Maram Tribe etc.
Research Scholars from different hills district both male and females were presented in the workshop.
On the last day Dr. Ksh Bimola Devi and Dr. E. Bijoy Kumar Singh will present their paper on working of District Councils in Northeast, Study of Tribal Movements in recent Time etc.