Rishang's brief biography
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 14 2012: Rishang Keishing was in Bungpa Khunou village of Kamjong sub-division, Ukhrul district on October 25, 1919.After passing Class IX exam, Rishang became a teacher at Bungpa Lower Primary School when he was just 16 years old.

He studied further and cleared matric exam from Jorhat Christian High School in 1944-45 .

He completed his Graduate course in 1949 under Calcutta University.

He was elected to the first Lok Sabha on Indian Socialist Party ticket from Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency in 1952.He was re-elected to the third Lok Sabha on the same party ticket in 1962.Rishang Keishing joined Indian National Congress in 1964 under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru when border skirmishes broke out between India and China because of the latter's attempt to take over parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

He was a member of the Territorial Council from 1967 to 1972.Rishang was elected MPCC president in 1978 .

Since Manipur attained statehood in 1972, Rishang was elected seven times consecutively from Phungyar AC till 2002 .

He was sworn in as Cabinet Minister for the first time on December 16, 1976 .

In 1977, became opposition leader in the State Assembly.

Next year on November 27, Rishang took the oath of office and secrecy as Chief Minister of Manipur.

He took the same oath three times later.

He took pivotal roles in restoring peace in the aftermath of the 1990's Naga-Kuki clash, 1992-93's Meitei-Pangal clash and Kuki-Paite clash of 1997 .

Rishang was sent to jail under the Preventive Detention Act in 1954 for protesting against the abolition of Manipur Legislative Assembly in 1949 and subsequent merger of Manipur into the Indian Union.

He was again sent to Nowgong Special Jail on May 30, 1960 for his roles in the sustained agitation for granting statehood to Manipur.

He was again arrested in 1978 during the Janata Government.

Rishang Keishing was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2002.He is now the oldest MP in Rajya Sabha.

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