Hunger Marchers' Day observed
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 27 2014: As done in past, All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) observed the 49th Hunger Marchers' Day in remembrance of the students who sacrificed their lives while staging a hunger march protest against scarcity of food grain in the State on August 27, 1965 .

The observance commenced with hoisting flag of the students' body by its president Thiyam Naresh and former president of the union, Prof Irom Gambhir at the memorial site of the martyred students at Pishum Ching.

Dignitaries, students, leaders and members of various civil society organizations also paid floral tributes to the martyred students at their memorial.

After the offering of floral tributes, a public rally carrying the photos of the martyred students namely Waikhom Nilamani,; Oinam Nabakumar; Laishram Chaobal and Nongmeikakpam Pramodini was taken out from Pishum Ching to DM College campus.

Hunger Marchers' Day observed at Jiribam

Slogans such as 'Control price rise', 'Government must fix price of essential commodities', 'Long live Manipur', 'Long live AMSU', Repeal AFSPA from the State', 'Drive back non-locals from the State' etc were chanted during the rally which was also participated by large number of women folks as well.

The rally passed through Keishamthong, Keishamthong, Wahengbam Leikai Nagamapal and culminated at the multipurpose hall of DM College where a meeting was held.

Addressing the meeting, Y Nabachandra, president of United Committee Manipur (UCM), said that the historic event of hunger march led to the birth of ASMU which has been playing a pivotal role on various social issues.

He further said that people should always remember the sacrifices made by the martyred students and added the students' union has been also protesting atrocities including human rights violation committed by security forces under the cover of AFSPA.

Maintaining that many unwarranted incidents which could hamper peace and tranquility are witnessing in the State every now and then, he called upon the younger generation especially students to be aware of all the prevailing threats and take active participation in important issues concerning the State as voices of the students cannot go unheard.

Speaking as Chief Guest of the public, Prof Gambhir observed that it is necessary to understand collectively how the massive hunger march against skyrocketing price of rice had taken place on August 27, 1965, thus paving way for formation of AMSU.

Earlier, delivering key note address, Laishram Regan, general secretary of AMSU, recalled that AMSU was established on the following day of the hunger march protest i.e.on August 28 and said that people of the State were made to experience unbearably high price of rice in the month of August of the year due to export of large quantity of rice produced in the State to outside by influential businessmen.

He said that many poor students had to stay hungry following the scarcity and high price of rice at that time and it ultimately led to the hunger march protest of the students.

The meeting was also attended by Th Naresh, president of AMSU as President; Sinam Prakash, former president of the union; Tongbram (o) Premita, former finance secretary of the union and Ng Brajakumar, principal of DM College of Commerce as Guests of Honor.

A souvenir was also released to mark the occasion.