Speakers all praise for KP Sinha’s works, oeuvre

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, January 3: The speakers were simply dumbfounded at the oeuvre of Indologist KP Sinha that met their eyes. His contribution to Indian Philosophy and Bishnupriya Manipuri linguistics, literature and culture makes any evaluator, be it a person or a system, dumbstruck. Thus each speaker of the day had to speak out apiece of the philosopher’s diverse contributions.

Presided over by Debadutta Sinha, the birth anniversary function of the Indologist at Dibyashram in Kachudharam, a sleepy village on the outskirts of Silchar town, has speakers from Tripura and Assam. The chief guest at the function was Dr Krishdas Sinha of Tripura.

Speaking on the occasion, Tezpur University Professor Smriti Kumar Sinha said: “What KP Sinha did for the Bishnupriya Manipuri language can be compared only to what Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar had done for the Bengali language. Despite being a stalwart of Indian philosophy, KP Sinha had to take a long time out between his teaching and philosophical works to undergo research on the Bishnupriya Manipuri language. He did a lot of study on Bishnupriya Manipuri phonology, linguistic morphology and grammar, besides a great deal of lexicographical works in the language. These are some of the reasons why, I, at the top of my lung–power, want to call KP Sinha as the Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar of the Bishnupriya Manipuris.”

The former president of a faction of the NBMM, advocate Bireshwar Sinha, was on record saying “to be among the scholars is a different taste altogether. Today’s is a gathering of scholars. I’m happy to be among them.”

Lunglei College’s Associate Professor, Dr Harendra Sinha said: “Those who could ensure the implementation of the Bishnupriya Manipuri language in primary education in Assam are a forgotten lot in the community nowadays. Since the community has no state of its own, those language movement leaders live like commoners. Had there been a state for the community, they would have become MLAs, ministers and the chief minister.” Dr. Sinha was all praise for student and other leaders who dedicated the prime time of their lives for the well–being of the community.

Jourlist Anita Sinha, editor of Kakei, a Bishnupriya Manipuri daily, was nostalgic while delivering her speech. “The credit for Kakei becoming a daily goes to KP Sinha,” she said in a choked voice. The jourlist is hailing from Tripura.

The gathering heard a lot on the language movement from the horse’s mouth. Anil Rajkumar, who had led the NBMSU from the front during the language movement, said: “Kaliprasad Darshan scripted a history. I appeal to all writers to enrich our language, literature and culture the way KP Sinha did.”  

Speaking on the occasion, Associate Professor Mas Sinha said: “KP Sinha is a stalwart in Indian philosophy. Besides writing many books on India philosophy, he could establish his own theory. He could establish in the philosophical world that, in essence, Sankardev’s Jbad and Chaitanyadev’s Bhaktibad have the same goal.”

KP Sinha, P.Hd., D. Litt had his teaching career in Gauhati University, Tripura University and Assam University. His philosophical works on Indian Philosophy in English, Bengali, Assamese and his linguistic works in Bishnupriya Manipuri language are highly acclaimed in the philosophical and linguistic worlds. He passed away on June 2, 2011.