Asserting that the present location was renamed as Paona Bazar well after the Majid was established, the committee said that a masjid cannot be a market and no attempt should be made by anyone to project it as one.
TFM Desk
Seeking to dispel any misgivings and doubts in the minds of the public over ‘Sadar Bazar Jame Masjid’ controversy, its managing committee issued a statement on Monday saying that the name “Sadar Bazar Jame Masjid” should be interpreted as a name of the masjid. There is absolutely no attempt to rename or establish a separate market, it said.
Asserting that the present location was renamed as Paona Bazar well after the Majid was established, the committee said that a masjid cannot be a market and no attempt should be made by anyone to project it as one. “The committee which is composed of “yelhoumees” reveres the great Paona Brajabashi as a hero of the state irrespective of any community and it is unfortunate that some vested interests are trying to project a particular community in a bad light.” It added.
In the statement, the managing committee said the Sadar Bazar Jame Masjid , Imphal, Manipur located on the eastern bank of the Nambul River and western side of Masjid Road, Paona Bazar of Imphal City, Ward No. 4 Imphal Municipal Corporation is an age old and historic masjid established in the year 1896 AD.
As per the committee’s statement, the present Paona Bazar was formerly called Sadar Bazar which means main or chief market (sadar is an Arabic word meaning chief or main). The Sadar Bazar area was under the British Reserve, the administration of which was under the British Government through the Political Agent. The name was originally called Jame Masjid, Sadar Bazar.
It further said when World War-lI broke out and Imphal was bombed by Japanese Forces in 1942, the firm who was managing and most of the businessmen left Imphal for their homeland. The masjid was abandoned for a short period but some Muslims personnel of Madras Regiment of British Indian Army stationed at Kangla took care of the masjid till the war was over. After the war was over, the local residents of Hafiz Hatta who were doing business at Imphal formed a Committee comprising eight members to take care of the masjid, it added.
It also stated that during the course of time, the masjid committee planned for reconstruction and expansion and the Masjid was re-constructed in 1965 with pucca structure and expanded its area to accommodate more namajis.
In 1970, the Masjid was expanded further vertically by constructing the 1st floor. Further, in 1974, 6 (six) stalls were also constructed in front of the Masjid to prevent misuse by the public as urinals and garbage dumping. In 1975, the Masjid verandah was reconstructed with donations from well wishers and loans from some businessmen/tenants of the masjid shops, it added.
Further, the committee asserted in the year 1975, a proper bye laws was framed and the masjid committee got registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 vide Registration No. 1639 of 1975. In 1994, the Masjid got registered in the Wakf Board, Manipur also under the Wakf Act, 1954 as a wakf institution vide Registration No.52 of 1994, it added.
In 1905, Sadar Bazar and Maxewell Bazar were established at the southern side and northern Side of Khwairamband Bazar by Maxwell, the Political Agent. When the Masjid was established in 1896 during the tenure of Maxwell, the then Political Agent, the present location was known as Sadar Bazar and hence, the Masjid was named as “Sadar Bazar Jame Masjid ”, it said.
After British Rule was over and after the Independence, the Sadar Bazar was renamed as Paona Bazar and Thangal Bazar in 1957 after the famous freedom fighter Thangal General and Commander of Manipur forces Paona Brajabashi, it said.