Introduction

Bishnupriya (বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া ) is a small Hindu (হিন্দু) community, Anglo-Aryan language, which has a population in merely a million.

The language is known to its speakers as Imar Thar (ইমার ঠার), meaning "Language of my Mother." They call themselves and their language "Manipuri", and use the term "Bishnupriya" to distinguish them from other ethnic races of Manipur. The term "Bishnupriya" is most probably derived from "Bishnupur" along with the suffix "-iya", meaning "people of 'Bishnupur', the old capital of Manipur.^[8] Orthodox Bishnupriyas hold that the language was carried over to Manipur by some immigrants from Dvārakā and Hastinapura just after the Mahabharata war. It is further said that these immigrants were led by Babhruvahana, the son of Chitrangada and Arjuna, the third Pandava.

Bishnupriya - Its identity

Bishnupriya or Vishnupriya is a small community which is not popularly recognized in many aspects.  

Bishnuprides (defined as person belonging to Bishnupriya  community because we should have pride in it) who have reached their desired destination.  I came across many such people and many such not.  I have seen each Bishnupride carefully and noticed that least of them are interested in giving active participation in uplifting this small community.  We see nowhere when we compare with others.  We need to fight for our identity and that is possible only if we strive together and bring prosperity in it.

So there are many things to discuss and is a never ending process.  So I would like my counterparts to contribute for this cause and bring everything on the table so that we can analyse and give life to this cause.