आत्मबोध साहित्योत्सव

Two Communities, Two Contexts At first glance, the words Meitei (of Manipur) and Matua (of Bengal) may sound similar. But they point to two very different communities with very different histories. The Meiteis are the main ethnic group of Manipur, originally following indigenous beliefs, later adopting Gaudiya Vaishnavism in the 18th century under King Pamheiba. Their identity is rooted in Tibeto-Burmese origins. The Matuas , on the other hand, are a 19th-century religious reform movement among the Namasudras of Bengal , founded by Harichand Thakur. Their history is about social justice, dignity, and resistance to caste oppression . The only common thread is influence from Bengali Vaishnavism , but the two communities are not genealogically related. The Evolution of the Namasudra / Matua Identity To understand the Matuas, we need to trace their roots. Kaibarta origins : The Kaibartas were an ancient community in Bengal. Some worked on the rivers ( Jala Kaibarta ),...