Comic book burnt for tweaking history of Manipur
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 12 2022:
Joint Students' Coordinating Committee (JSCC) on Friday burnt a copy of Amar Chitra Katha's latest edition of comic book, 'Tribal Leaders of Freedom Struggle', protesting against the portraying of a war hero of Manipur as a tribal freedom fighter of India's freedom struggle.
They are against the Amar Chitra Katha publishing house for relating a freedom fighter of Manipur with India's Independence movement, the Committee stated.
In the comic book, Paona Brajabashi, who led the then Manipur kingdom's last battle of independence against the British has been included among the tribal leaders of India's freedom struggle, the Committee said.
Condemning the "wrong portrayal" of the war hero of the then kingdom of Manipur, activists of JSCC (an apex body of four student bodies, namely AMSU, MSF, KSA and SUK) staged a protest at the head office campus of KSA at Khoyathong here on Friday.
While burning the copy of the comic book, the Committee also declared a ban on selling of the comic book and other books published by Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd.
The comic book, which is now embroiled in controversy, was published by Amar Chitra Katha in connection with the 75th year of India's Independence.
JSCC expressed strong resentment over the "wrong portrayal" of the war hero of Manipur, while asserting that Manipur was ruled by kings independently before the British invasion.
Addressing a press meet held at the Committee's headquarters on Friday, JSCC convener S Bidyananda said that Paona Brajabashi was a war hero of Manipur who laid down his life in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 and his patriotic act is not related with the freedom movement of India.
"The freedom struggle of Manipur and that of India are two separate historical events," he contended, while stating that this is simply an attempt to distort history and disrespecting the sacrifices made by the war heroes of Manipur.
The JSCC convener then sought an apology from the publishing house of the comic book and the writer, to the people of Manipur; while announcing that the ban on sale of comic book and other books published by Amar Chitra Katha will continue until a positive response is received from the publishing house.
He further asked all book stores across the state not to sell the books published by Amar Chitra Katha.
(With inputs from Newmai News Network) .