South East Asia Cultural Organisation

International cultural organization

Not to be confused with Southeast Asia Treaty Organization or Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

This article contains the Meitei alphabet. Without proper rendering support, you may see errors in display.

South East Asia Cultural Organisation

South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO)

The South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) works for the development of the Sanamahi religion of the Meitei people of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur') at international level.

Abbreviation| SEACO
Named after| Southeast Asia
Formation| 5 August 2011; 14 years ago (2011-08-05)[1][2][a]
Founded at| Manipur
Type| Cultural, international, non-profit, NGO
Legal status| active
Purpose| humanitarian, activism, peacekeeping
Headquarters| Imphal, India
Location|

* Imphal, India
* Jiribam[3], India

Locations|

* Moirang Khunou, India[4]

Origins| Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur')

Region served

| Indian cultural sphere (South Asia and Southeast Asia)

Official languages

* Meitei (officially called Manipuri)[a]
* English

General Secretary

* Konthoujam Ibochouba Kha-Nganba (as of August 2019[5])
* Irengbam Indrajit Meetei (as of December 2021)[3]

President

| Kolomcha Achoubi Khuman[5]

Advisor

| Akham Langol[5]

Working President

| Sanabam Amuchou Mangang[3]

Chief Advisor

| Paonam Labango[6]

Key people

* Jiri Branch[3]
* L Nilla Moirangcha (president)[3]
* K Babudhon Luwang (vice president)[3]
* Y Naba Khumancha (working president)[3]
* Sagolsem Sarat Mangang (general secretary)[3]
* S Chaoba Moirangcha (treasurer)[3]
* Ch Keba (information & publicity secretary)[3]
* S Lalmani (advisor)[3]
* Moirang Khunou branch[4]
* L Gouramani (vice president)[4]

Affiliations| Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion)

The South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) is an international cultural organization that works for the development of the Meitei culture of Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur').[7] It aims to preserve the unique history, culture, identity, and religion of Manipur. It also advocates to take "extra caution about the issue of preservation of the cultural identity of the Indigenous people in the wake of the present globalization".[5][8]

## Activism for Sanamahi religion

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### Cultural revivalism of religious festivals

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The SEACO is working on the revival of the Meitei religious festivals, including the worship of Pisatao (Meitei: ꯄꯤꯁꯥꯇꯥꯎ) and the Sanamahi Ahong Khong Chingba (Meitei: ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯑꯍꯣꯡ ꯈꯣꯡ ꯆꯤꯡꯕ), which were replaced by the Vishwakarma Puja and the Ratha Yatra respectively in the 18th-19th centuries in Kangleipak (Meitei for 'Manipur').[9]

#### Worship of Lainingthou Pisatao Khutheiba

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Every year, the SEACO is working on the revivalism of the worship of god Lainingthou Pisatao Khutheiba (Meitei: ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯄꯤꯁꯥꯇꯥꯎ ꯈꯨꯠꯍꯩꯕ) among the people, especially craftsmen, artisans and architects of Kangleipak. Historically, the worship of Pisatao was replaced by the Vishwakarma Puja during the reign of King Chandrakirti Singh in Manipur Kingdom. Presently, the SEACO is also providing holy images of the ancient Meitei deity to the devotees.[10][11][12]

#### Worship of Humpu Leima Narengshubi

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The SEACO requested the people of Kangleipak to worship goddess Shingjakhombi Humpu Leima Narengshubi (Meitei: ꯁꯤꯡꯖꯥꯈꯣꯝꯕꯤ ꯍꯨꯝꯄꯨ ꯂꯩꯃ ꯅꯥꯔꯦꯡꯁꯨꯕꯤ), the ancient Meitei deity of education and learning. Historically, her cult was replaced by that of Saraswati during the reign of King Chandrakirti Singh on 12 February 1868.[13]

### Revivalism of goddess Panthoibi's cult

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Since October 2012, the SEACO was extending monetary help to the people who organise the worship of ancient Meitei goddess Panthoibi (Panthoibi Iratpa) and who embrace the Meitei religion (Sanamahism) to save the "almost extinct culture, social norms, traditions, belief" of the Meitei people.[14]

### Efforts of cultural purity

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While wishing people for Sajibu Nongma Panba (Sajibu Cheiraoba), the traditional New Year day of the Meiteis, the SEACO earnestly requested people not to mix the indigenous culture with the culture of others, like mixing it with that of Charak Puja. According to the SEACO, such mixing of indigenous cultures with non native cultures will defame the rich culture of the Meitei people.[15]

### Symposium

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In 2016, the SEACO organised an academic meeting discussing about the revivalism of the Sanamahism, at Ireima Laibung, Pukhoa in Imphal East. During that session, it was said that "reviving of the indigenous cult is the only means for protection and safeguarding" of the identity of the Meitei ethnicity.[6]

### Advocacy for official recognition

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In 2020, the SEACO advocated for the official recognition of the Sanamahi religion (Meitei: ꯁꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡ, romanized: Sanamahi Laining) as the minority religion of India in the census data of the year 2021.[16][17] In 2021, supporting the development of the Sanamahism, the SEACO thanked Nongthombam Biren, the then Chief Minister of Manipur, for his promise of the inclusion of the Sanamahi religion in the 2021 census of India.[citation needed]

## Activism in health sector

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The SEACO urged the authority concerned (National Medical Commission) for increasing the number of seats of the admission to the MBBS in Manipur from 100 to 150 seats, stressing out the fact that the ratio between population of Manipur and the number of doctors serving in the state is highly disproportionate.[18]

## Protests against CAB

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Main article: Citizenship Amendment Act protests

Before the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, the SEACO protested against the bill for having some controversies. They stated that the bill (if passed as an act) will wipe out the indigenous people from Northeast India, as the provision of the bill allows the granting of citizenship to the migrants in India. They opposed the implementation of the bill (now an act) in the Northeastern India.[19]

## See also

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* International Sanamahism Students' Association (ISSA)
* Lainingthou Sanamahi Sana Pung (LSSP)
* Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board (LSTB)

## Notes

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1. ^ a b Most of its officially released information are in the Meitei language (officially called the Manipuri language).

## References

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1. ^ "Phurup amagi nat amasung puwari khangdragadi meeyam mamangda lanna wa ngangdaba fei". www.hoten.life (in Manipuri). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
2. ^ "Ningol chakouba numitna lakpada". www.hoten.life (in Manipuri). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "SEACO organises workshop on Meetei culture". The Sangai Express. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
4. ^ a b c "Public meeting conducted: 16th jan23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
5. ^ a b c d "South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) celebrates its 9th foundation day". Pothashang News. 5 August 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
6. ^ a b Gurumayum, William. "SEACO organises meet to revive Sanamahi cult". Imphal Times. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
7. ^ "SEACO organises workshop on Meetei culture: 13th dec21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
8. ^ "Gaikhangam asserts for cultural promotion on SEACO foundation day: 06th aug14 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
9. ^ "South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) urges: 10th apr12 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
10. ^ Khumukcham, Rinku. "SEACO appeals to celebrate Pisatao Lainingthou". Imphal Times. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
11. ^ "Lainingthou Pisatao Khutheiba on Sep 17: 16th sep21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
12. ^ "Pisatao Khutheiba day". Imphal Times. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
13. ^ Gurumayum, William. "SEACO to worship Humpu Leima Narengshubi". Imphal Times. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
14. ^ "South East Asia Cultural Organisation (SEACO) announces monetary aid: 05th oct12 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
15. ^ "SEACO greets people on Cheiraoba: 28th mar17 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
16. ^ "Sanamahi Laining". The Sangai Express. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
17. ^ "SEACO urgs govt to include Sanamahi religion as minority religion: 03rd mar20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
18. ^ "SEACO appeals Manipur government to increase MBBS seats". Imphal Free Press. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
19. ^ "Citizenship Amendment Bill should not be implemented in North East: 15th jan19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 12 February 2023.

## External links

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* South East Asia Cultural Organisation at e-pao.net
* South East Asia Cultural Organisation at kanglaonline.com
* SEACO at Imphal Free Press