All eyes on Manipur University : Acknowledging the ugly reality
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: October 11 2016 -
The focus is on Manipur University and not without reason.
The Sangai Express has already had its say on the decision of the Academic Council of the university to adopt the reservation norms of 2006 in admission and it is the ripple effect which will be felt in the coming days, irrespective of whether the 2006 reservation norms decision is rolled back or not.
If it is rolled back, then one may expect some other organisations, such as the Manipur University Students’ Union (MUSU), to raise a hue and cry and if it is not rolled back, then one can positively say that the Manipur University Tribal Students’ Union (MUTSU), the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) and others such as the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM), Kuki Students’ Organisation KSO too will hit back.
As things stand today, ATSUM has already given a deadline of four days to the MU authority to roll back its decision with the ultimatum that if it is not rolled back within the given deadline then there will be a total shutdown in all tribal areas, meaning the hill districts.
Certainly, the VC-in-charge of MU, Prof Th Jekendra must be feeling the heat from all directions and his position will be anything but cosy.
Yet another reflection of the deep divide between the hills and the valley and the question is whether Manipur can really afford to witness another collision along this line.
At the moment, it seems to be only student organisations which are in the midst of the stand off at MU but there is no guarantee that other organisations will not jump into the fray in the coming days.
It is here that the Centre may step in and see what may be done, for remember MU is today a Central varsity.
From the university campus to the streets and the National Highways-a distinct possibility that the stand off at MU may take this course.
Now with over 900 tribal students of MU deciding to leave the university, things can only take a turn for the worse and it will no longer be an issue concerning students but take on an uglier, bigger dimension.
Nobody wants this to become a reality, but obvious that again no one is ready to remove the blinkers from their eyes and see things in the correct perspective.
The Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has already had its say and there is the strong possibility that other student organisations too will air their thoughts and opinion on the matter and clearly things do not look good at all.
The immediate losers are the students but in the long run the real losers will be Manipur and her people.
This is a reality which cannot be simply brushed away.
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