NK Sanajaoba lecture delves into contemporary issues
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 30 2019: The 83rd birth anniversary of NK Sanajaoba was observed at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound today together with a memorial lecture.

Delivering the memorial lecture, Prof MC Arun of Manipur University lamented that the ideology of Pan Manipur League propounded by NK Sanajaoba (who is also known as a pioneer revolutionary) was lost with time and now various communities residing in the State are competing with one another in an extremely selfish manner over petty issues.

MC Arun continued that when Manipur was given Statehood, politicians of the State rejoiced but NK Sanajaoba realised that the State Assembly still did not have complete power as the statehood was granted under Article 371 C of the Indian Constitution.

NK Sanajaoba lecture delves into contemporary issues

Whenever one searches for a solution to the contemporary problems/issues of the State, they usually find two historical phases of being anti-Garibaniwaj and anti-colonial.

In the anti-Garibaniwaj stream, it is reasoned that most of the problems originated from the large scale Hinduisation of Manipuri people initiated by king Garibaniwaj.

On the other hand, as per the anti-colonial stream, present day problems and issues have their roots in the different phases of coloni- sation faced by the State, including the Seven Years Devastation and it is also reasoned that Manipur cannot get rid of these problems and determine its own future until and unless there is strong anti-colonial movement, he explained.

MC Arun further continued that the editorials and articles written by Sanajaoba, when he was the Editor of Lamyanba (a newspaper started by Pan Manipuri Youth League) was not the Manipur he wished but all those elements he despised.

Sanajaoba wanted to show that there was no problem inside the administrative system but that the system itself was the problem, he added.

Arun continued that when Chanu Rose was raped by BSF personnel in Ngaprum Khullen of Ukhrul, Sanajaoba and Lamyanba paper viewed the event from a political dimension.

He remarked that Sanajaoba tried to use journalism as a weapon with a strong and far reaching political vision to bring about a new Manipur.

It will not be right to view Sanajaoba as only a journalist.

It is necessary to discuss and analyse all the undercurrents and underlying meanings of his writings and words, he said adding that it is high time for the people to consider how Sanajaoba might have spoken about the CAA and Naga issue if he had been alive today.

As a part of the observation, the gathering paid floral tributes to the portrait of NK Sanajaoba.

A discussion on his life was also organised with Sanajaoba Memorial Trust Chairman and research scholar Lokendra Arambam as moderator.

Manipur College Assistant Professor Lairenjam Gojendra, Manipur University Associate Professor Laimayum Bishwanath Sharma and many others were present as well.