A family convert in Manipur threatened, leave the village or face the consequences

The sole family convert is ask to leave a village in Manipur insisting that the family break the age old tradition of maintaining the village as an indigenous religion and non–Christian village.

A crisis has developed at a village in North–eastern state of Manipur as a family adopted Christianity insists on staying on in the village in defiance of the age–old practice of the village in hope of maintaining the village a strictly indigenous religion, Imphal Free Press reported.

Kabui tribe living at Chingmeirong Rongmei village only practice an indigenous Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak religion and when Mr. Kaphun Malangmei and his family converted to Christianity, the village elders insist that they too must leave the village like the previous converts. However, Mr. Kaphun Malangmei continues to stay on in the village in defiance of the tradition set up by the village elders in order to maintain and preserve the village as ethnic identity of the Kabuis

Speaking to media persons on Monday, 27th August, in this regard, Makulin Remei, a spokesperson of the Chingmeirong Rongmei Pei Authority, said the village authority is determined to maintain their age old religion, and to preserve the rich ethnic identity of the Kabuis.

He said in view of steady inroads being made among Kabuis following the indigenous religion due to the onslaught of Christianity, village elders had several years back adopted firm resolutions to maintain the village as one of Tingkao Ragwang Chapriak followers only and this has been strictly followed till date.

The recent insistence of one family, headed by one Kaphun Malangmei, on continuing to stay in the village after having adopted Christianity is in direct defiance of these long–standing resolutions, he charged.

Elaborating, he said it had been resolved by village elders long back that if anyone in the village adopted Christianity, they should leave the village, so that the distinct identity of the village is maintained.

Further, their land and fixed property were to be given to the other inhabitants of the village.

He said till today those residents of the village who had adopted Christianity had always moved out of the village in compliance with the resolution in order to conserve the indigenous religion, culture and identity. Such conservation is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution of India, he maintained.

He also pointed out that in 1995; two families which had adopted Christianity had left the village without any controversy in keeping with the long–standing resolutions.

In this context, he the insistence of Malangmei`s family on staying on in the village in defiance of the wish of the entire village is with the motive of defiling their indigenous religion, culture and identity.

Remei further charged that Malangmei is trying to foster conflict in the village by bringing other Christian followers in their village.

He said the village authority has decided in this connection that Malangmei who was one of the signatories of the earlier stand of the village elders should immediately stop challenging the distinct indigenous identity of the villagers, and urged him to leave the village to enable them to exist peacefully.

Another spokesperson said Malangmei will be held responsible for any untoward incident that may happen owing to his insistence on continuing to stay in the village after having adopted Christianity.