BeyondHeadlines News Desk
Critical issues facing Manipur, ranging from the former kingdom’s struggle against both the British and Burma to survive, to contemporary issues of alienation and conflict, will come under the scanner at a National Seminar “Little Known Fighters against the Raj: Manipur’s Bir Tikendrajit” at Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday, March 12.
Organized by the Saifuddin Kitchlew Chair and the Centre for North East Studies at Jamia as part of a series on unknown or less known figures from the North-east, who fought against colonial rule but not necessarily in the Freedom Movement, and yet are major political figures there, the seminar will hear paper presentations from senior historians and scholars from Manipur and New Delhi.
The inaugural address will be delivered by Prof. Basudev Chatterjee, Chairman of the Indian Council for Historical Research, while the eminent historian from Manipur, Prof. Gangmumei Kamei, who is also a former cabinet minister in the state, will, in his valedictory, reflect on past challenges but also on contemporary issues. Vice Chancellor Mr Najeeb Jung will give opening remarks.
In the course of his talk, Prof. Kamie, drawing on his extensive experience, scholarship and understanding of issues, will look at the past but also analyze the current situation in Manipur following the recent elections and the issues of conflict and confrontation which have deeply divided and traumatized that state.
Papers are being presented on issues as diverse as the role of Bir Tikendrajit, who executed British officers in the court of the Manipuri king leading to British intervention and the ‘Kuki Rebellion’ by a range of scholars including Dr. Bimol Akoijam and Dr. Bhagat Oinam of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Dr. Vijaylakshmi Brara of Manipur University, Dr. Aphun Kamei of the Delhi School of Economics, Ms. Lian Vaipei of IP College and Ms. Sumitra Thondingjam of JMI.
The seminar is the third in a series: the previous ones are the ‘Role of Muslims in Assam in the Independence Movement’ (March 2010) and ‘Little known Fighters against the Raj: figures from Meghalaya’ (March 2011).
The day-long programme will begin at 10 am on March 12 with registration at the conference room of the India-Arab Cultural Centre at Jamia.
