Acknowledgements

The editor and management of Manitombi Devi Educational Trust are grateful for the time, labour, support, practical assistance in the preparation of their esteemed papers, as well as in the discussions solicited by the editor on the content, treatment and various other aspects of the compendium to all those sixteen paper contributors individually and collectively: Padmashri N. Khelchandra Singh, Dr. O. Kumar Singh, Shri A. Kamson, Padmashri R. K. Jhalajit Singh, Shri Sairem Nilbir, Dr. K. Manikchand Singh, Padmashri M. Kirti Singh, Shri B. Kulachandra Sharma, Shri Manindra Singh Mairembam, Shri A. Brajakumar Sharma, Dr. M. C. Arunkumar, Shri Irengbam Arun, late Dr. T. S. Gangte, Shri R. K. Achoubisana, Shri L. Joychandra Singh, and Dr. H. Kamkhenthang.

Thanks for rendering valuable assistance go to Shri Salam Shantikumar Singh, now Research Fellow, Statistics Department, Manipur University (erstwhile associate during the Japan-funded Manipur Sericulture Project's consultancy services:1998-2001). Special gratitude goes, of course, to Prof. Ksh. Bimola Devi, Political Science Department, former Dean: Social Sciences, Manipur University for her esteemed peer review and her words of appreciation (Blurb). And to all those other close acquaintances and offsprings of the editor's late mother Manitombi Devi, whose courtesy and assistance so greatly to the editor's comfort while working on this compendium.

The editor is grateful to each contributor for having so unhesitatingly culled truth and facts from Manipur's annals and rendered their own comprehension of some specific fa�ades of Manipur in lucidly presentable templates as incorporated herein for the benefit of readers in general. In particular he remains obliged to Professor N. Sanajaoba, for having written out an eloquently befitting prelude as Preface to this compendium.

No less gratitude goes to some peers like Prof B.K.Roy Burman, Adviser, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi, at whose suggestion the scope of the anthology was enlarged to cover gender empowerment (Nupi Lal), Naga-Kuki dimension, as also Lai Haraoba and Haraoba festivals of Manipur valley and hills. Particular acknowledgment for specific words of encouragement also due, amidst many others, to Dr. A. Bimol Akoijam of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies at Delhi and a large number of friends and associates for their words of encouragements and support, as it were, "recharging the fagging energy (battery)" of the editor and paper contributors during respective review sessions.

A specific citation of his gratitude goes to Shri B. Biramangol Sharma) for his continuous sharing-in of the `consciousness' all through the editing and its associated `sweat and sour' experiences, including its appendage research project (`Syncretisation of the ethnic groups of Manipur hills and valley), now being nursed by the editor on behalf of the Manitombi Devi Educational Trust, pledged, among others:

"a) to carry out various strategic and foundational research: such as delineating and highlighting the process, profile and configuration of sanskritisation/syncretization (assimilation) among ethnic groups of Manipur hills and valley since their emigration from South China near Yunnan; and contributing positively towards setting at rest any misconception(s) amongst ethnic groups (by removing all existing alienations, hawkish stances and polarizations through a redefined contour and by reintegrating them onto a holistic polity with a well-defined configuration and profile in the past);"

"b) to execute such strategic projects through promotion of original research, innovative development of genetic affinity among ethnic groups of Manipur hills and vales and through such state-level `community relations' work among these groups as are attuned to render positive peace through `peace education programmes and morph the currently `hawkish' society into a dovecote with engrained `positive peace' among ethnic groups."

A special words of thanks for Asem Sudarshan Singh, professional photographer, Cine Care Studio, Wahengleikai, Imphal, who has rendered almost all the rare photographs incorporated herein. Next gratitude is also due to Shri G. Keiraosana Sharma, on whose prescription all the three diagrams of darts (Arambais) are depicted herein. To Mutua Museum's Mutua Bahadur acknowledgments are also due for allowing use of its collections; and to the INA Memorial Committee, Moirang for the INA-associated photographs. Further to the Editor, Poknapham for reuse of Mera Hou Chongba Amasung Chingmee-Tammeegi Amata Oiba Mashak (Mera Houchongba & its Embodiment of Hill-Plains Unity) (October 23, 2004). Also to the Editor of Sanathong( Nov. 2000) for using the materials on Mera Haochongba; The Ishani: The North-Eastern for using an article on Shri Govindaji Temple at Imphal _ Its History and Its Place in the Local Society;further to the editor, The Hindu: for reuse of editorial under caption "An Avoidable Step" in its daily dated 30 July 2001, and also of another item under the caption " Anita Pfaff expresses relief" in its issue dated May 20, 2006; also also to the editor, The Sangai Express daily, for reuse of news item on Mera Houchongba appearing in its issue dt 26-10-2004; and also to the editor, Imphal Free Press, daily, for reuse of news item: "Ethnic clash victims issue ultimatum to Govt for recovering their dues", appearing in its issue dated 3-2-2008; and another news item: "HC Orders Compensation for Rape Victim after 12 Years", appearing in its issue dated Aug 13, 2008;

and to the Director, Department of Economics and Statistics, Government of Manipur for list of kings and yet other information incorporated herein.

For rendering valuable information and views during protracted group and individual discussions the editor is also indebted to Padmashree N. Khelchandra Singh, Padmashree R. K. Jhalajit Singh, Padmashree M. Kirti Singh, Shri B. Kulachandra Sharma, Dr. O. Kumar Singh and Prof. A. Brajakumar Sharma.

- Editor