Seminar relives pangs of parting Kabaw Valley
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 30 2011:
Kabaw Valley, now forms a part of Myanmar.
But Manipuris can never forgive those responsible for transfer of the fertile valley to Myanmar (then Burma), said post doctoral Fellowship of Manipur University Budha Kamei, on the first day of the two-day State level seminar on 'Kabaw Valley and How to bring peace in Manipur' .
The seminar organised by Dr Suresh Centre for Foreign Studies and Placement, Imphal in association with Cultural and Historical Research Trust, Manipur commenced from today at State Central Library Hall.
Presenting his seminar paper on 'Boundary of Kabaw Valley during the reign of various Manipuri kings', Budha Kamei reminded that India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gifted away Kabaw Valley to Burma in 1953 through an agreement that restored Burma's boundary captured during the reign of Maharaja Gambhir Singh.
Senior journalist Irengbam Arun, speaking on the topic 'Relevance of Kabaw Valley', expressed that it would be interesting and important to reassess on what ground or strength Pandit Nehru gifted Manipur's Kabaw valley to Burma.
Prof M Joykumar of Manipur University and Senior citizens for Society general secretary Prof L Sadananda were the moderators of the seminar, wherein N Indramani of Manipur State Archives presented paper on 'Approximate boundary of Kabaw Valley during the reigns of various kings', Human Rights Law Network director Rakesh Meihoubam on 'Legality of Kabaw Valley' and former Director of Manipur Health Services Dr Th Suresh 'Kabaw Valley: What can we do' .
An open discussion was also held after presentation of papers by the resource persons.