Gen Thangal remembered
Source: The Sangai Express
Mayangkhang, August 13 2014 :
The Patriot's Day observation of General Thangal was held at General Thangal Ecological Park, Mayangkhang under the aegis of the District Administration Senapati and Thangal Union.
Deputy Commissioner Jacintha Lazarus, as Chief Guest, DK Thangboi, Addl.
Deputy Commissioner, Kpi and Rang Peter, CEO, ADC Senapati graced the occasion as presidium members.
In the presence of ADM, SP, Church leaders, tribe leaders, civil bodies, district level officers, village leaders and Thangal Tribe leaders, the great Manipur warrior was honored with laying of wreaths by dignitaries, gun salute by Senapati Police and devotional prayers were offered.
In the formal programme, famous and renowned ladies musical band 'Life Pages' and other local band entertained the crowd.
Amidst monsoon rains, people flock to pay homage to the great leaders General Thangal and Bir Tikendrajit who were hung to death by the Britishers in 1891on 13th August.
On the occasion, the Thangal Union made representation requesting for black topping of the said park, electrification, renovation, beautification, guest house, drinking water and installation of another Thangal warrior Charai Thangal.
Prayers from different religious groups and songs from different communities featured at the observation.
Notably, the Union expressed displeasure over the issue of including a distorted and contentious General Thangal history in the Class VI syllabus under Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BoSEM).
It then demanded the BoSEM to immediately review the lesson with correct facts and history.
Deputy Commissioner Jacintha, IAS in her speech called upon the people especially the younger generations to cultivate the conviction of defending our cause and motherland taking the inspiration from leaders like General Thangal.
The lady administrator stated that, we have lost many of our leaders because of our disunity and that, to defend our people and land, only unity and together will protect.
She also lauded and appreciated the Thangal Union and organizing committee for the said progrmme.
Here, the DC assured to pursue with the state Government at the earliest and fulfilling the request of the TU.
CEO Rang Peter, MCS on the occasion praised the leadership of General Thangal and Bir Tikendrajit who today are heroes to be inspired by young people.
He stated that, Thangal Tribe are blessed with such heroic figure of Thangal who was also a hero, administrator, planner and strategist to the people of Thangal and Manipur Maharaja Chandrakirti.
Additional DC Thangboi, MCS in his functional presidential speech, traced back historical facts about the present NH-2 which was planned and created by late General Thangal through Maharaja Chandrakirti in 1880 .
The officer recalled the sufferings of the Thangal in the hands of the Britishers and ultimate situation leading to the hanging of Thangal and Bir Tikendrajit in 1891 .