Dr. Aheibam Koireng: Remembering a prolific academician

Dr. Syed Ahmed *

Dr. Aheibam Koireng with his wife and daugther

Dr. Aheibam Koireng was a young and prolific academician of Manipur, who passed away at the age of just 45. He studied at Jamia Millia University, New Delhi, where I also completed my Masters. However, I did not get the chance to meet him while we were in Delhi. He possibly joined Jamia Millia after I left. I met him for the first time at a seminar organised by the Department of History, Manipur University, sometime in 2006.

We both presented papers at the seminar, which was chaired by eminent historian, Professor N. Joykumar, and few other faculty members of the department. After the seminar, we had a short conversation. He already knew me as I was his senior at Jamia Millia.

Since then, Koireng regularly contacted me asking me to submit papers to publish. He was then working for a research journal called Orient Vision, a quarterly journal, published by National Research Centre, Canchipur. The centre’s office lies just near the gate of Manipur University. My seminar paper, entitled Regional Formation of Islam in Manipur, was published in the journal (Vol. III, Issue 3, Jul-Aug-Sept. 2006).

Recently, I found the issue that Koireng had given me while going through my old documents. The copy brought back the memories of my first meeting with Koireng. Interestingly, the very issue of the journal carried the articles of some of the distinguished scholars, such as
Dr. Thingam Kishan’s article, entitled, Politics, Revolt and the Absurd: A study of Albert Camus (he was my senior in Jamia Millia Islamia),
Dr. Okram Kumar’s Kangla Pottery,
Professor Amar Yumnam’s Communalisation of Communities and the 11th Five Year Plan: Manipur’s Agony,
Dr. T.S. Gangte’s Reflections on the struggle for identity
and Koireng’s COFPAI – The Pathfinder.

I feel extremely proud to find my article among these eminent academicians. I continued to publish few other articles in this journal at the request of Koireng.

Since then, Koireng regular demanded research papers for book-chapters. He also asked me to present papers in seminars and conferences. I could recall the presentation of a paper in a seminar sponsored by SCERT, Manipur, at Kangla Hall, along with renowned academician, Chinglen Maisnam. The seminar was chaired by Professor Amar Yumnam. Koireng was one of the main organizers.

Koireng was extremely good in developing an academic network. He teamed up with my friend, Dr. Homen Thangjam, and Dr. Sukhdev Hanjabam. I still vividly remember the trio working in a small and dark room at Maharaj Bodhachandra College, Palace Compound. I went there twice or thrice to meet them. The three academicians produced several edited volumes. Some of my research papers were also published in these volumes as book-chapters.

Koireng was born on 17th August 1977 to Aheibam Birendra Singh and Aheibam (O) Mema Devi at Heirangoithong, Imphal. He cleared Matriculation Exam from Catholic School at Canchipur in 1994, XIIth from Manipur Public School in 1996, B.A. from D.M. College of Arts, Imphal in Sociology, and Masters in Sociology from Jamia Millia Islamia in 2002.

After returning from Delhi, Koireng enrolled for PhD at Manipur University. He was awarded doctorate degree for his thesis entitled, Kuki-Naga Conflict in Manipur (1990-2000) in 2007.

Koireng joined as Assistant Professor at the Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University in January 2009. However, the centre was closed in 2021. Thereafter, he was engaged as Project Officer in IQAC, Manipur University, till his demise on March 2022.

Koireng academic interest was on Manipur and NE studies. He worked on topics, such as ethnicity, inter-group and inter-community relations, conflict, peace building, and governance.

He was associated with numerous academic bodies, including MU Research Club (served as General Secreatry), editor of The Orient Vision, Manipur Historical Society (Life Member), NE India History Association (Life Member), Biodiversity Ecology and Environment, Network (founding member), Manipur.

Koireng was a prolific researcher, who during his short life produced several books on important themes. His contribution in academic is immense. Some of his popular published works include:

o Ethnicity and Inter-community Conflict: A Case of Manipur, (2008)
o Removing the Veil: Issue of North East Conflict (2011)
o Claims and Refutations: Compilation on Naga Political Movement (2015)
o 11th Manipur Assembly Elections 2017: Issues, Manifestos and Outcome (2019)
o Unsung Anglo-Manipur War Heroes at Kalapani, (2022)

Koireng’s edited works include:

o Problems of Ethnicity and Identity in Contemporary Manipur and Other Essays (2007)
o Miniature India in Motion: Movements in Recent Past and Present Manipur (2011)
o State of Democracy in Manipur and other Essays (2013)
o Self Determination Movement in Manipur (2015)
o Knowing Manipur from the Endogenous Perspective, Vol. 1 & II:
Oral Sources, Traditional practices and Belief, Traditional Administration and Justice (2015)
o Armed Violence and Nationalism: Reflections in Manipuri Literature, (2018)
o Peace Process in Northeast India (2017)
o Contemporary Research Trends and Culture, Society, Economy, and Polity of Manipur (2019)
o Hinduism in Manipur (2019)
o Rajarshi Bhagyachandra and the Bhakti Movement in Eastern Indian Literature, (2020)
o Colonial Legacy in North East India (2020)
o Media in Manipur Vol. I & II (2020)
o Manipur-Myanmar Connections: An Indic Perspective, (2020)
o INA and Manipur: An Unforgettable Battle for India’s Independence (2021)
o Vaisnavism in Manipur: Experiences on Life, Culture and Belief, Vol. I (2021)
o Vaisnavism in Manipur: Performing Arts, Vol. II (2021)
o Manipur-Myanmar Historical Connections (2022), etc.

Recently, I requested, Homen Thangjam to write few paras remembering his dear friend. He wrote few pages, which is now webcasted in e-pao.net . I have taken out few paras here:

"Some lives are too vast to be contained within the limits of time, and some friendships are too profound to fade into mere memories. Aheibam Koireng was one such soul – a towering intellect, a fiercely loyal friend, and a man whose presence filled every room he entered. He did not just live. He left an imprint, shaping the conversations, thoughts, and spirits of those fortunate to have known him...

Our bond was gradually forged through deep intellectual exchanges after I began teaching at MB College, Imphal, in 2010. My room at the college became our nocturnal retreat, where we wrote articles and books, edited several souvenirs, and immersed ourselves in discussions that flowed late into the night. In that shared space, our companionship became something far more significant – a union of minds and spirits bound by the pursuit of knowledge and understanding....

Beyond academia, our friendship extended into shared adventures. Often, we went out for outdoor picnics, joined by our family members – above all, Iche Anita and her family. We also ventured to remote areas in the Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, and Jiribam districts for heritage documentation as part of the INTACH Manipur Chapter. These journeys were not just about work. They were filled with laughter, debates, and the joy of discovering stories hidden in forgotten corners of our land.

Koireng was a man of formidable presence – towering at six feet, with a love for good food and a hearty drink. We could sit together, drinking like a fish, only to dissolve into tears, mourning the absence of the fathers who were never there for us. Our friendship was one of shared sorrows and quiet understanding, a bond that needed no words...

He was a man with a keen sense of humour, a joy to be around. He would often utter anecdotes with a mischievous grin, like his famous reply to shy girls who commented on his colossal physical size: “A heavy rock does not flatten a tortoise, whatever the circumstances are”. It was his way of laughing off remarks, turning awkwardness into amusement...

Beyond our camaraderie, he was an intellectual giant, a scholar of unwavering dedication. His writings on the Suspension of Operation (SoO) – a tripartite agreement between the Government of India, the Manipur Government, and Kuki militants – became some of the most cited works, especially after the violent turmoil that engulfed Manipur on 3 May 2023. He had an uncanny ability to unravel the complexities of conflict, and his insights shaped many critical discussions on Manipur’s contemporary political landscape. Best of all, he could immerse himself in reading, writing, or working on his computer for endless hours – a true testament to his academic dedication....

Koireng always stood up for puny friends like me, shielding us with his physicality, wisdom, and courage. His advice was laced with worldly wisdom, which made me question the essence of friendship in a world obsessed with material gains, fame, and power. He was too open, too generous – often at the mercy of those who exploited his kindness, only to abandon him when he needed them most. His giving nature was remarkable – whenever he visited other places, he always remembered to bring us a souvenir (ladle, jacket, tracksuit, or an exotic drink), including gifts for our children. It was his way of showing love, a small but significant gesture that spoke volumes about the kind of person he was...

I still remember our last meeting. By then, we had drifted apart – nearly two years had passed without our usual gatherings, shared meals, or deep conversations. After I joined IGNTU-RCM, the room at MB College was no longer accessible. Moreover, the strain of the public apology had taken its toll, creating a rift between us. Plus, my personal troubles only deepened the divide. I was in severe distress. This situation affected me and several friends, relatives, and others. As my circumstances grew heavier, I withdrew from public life and distanced myself from friends. In many ways, life has pulled us in different directions, each grappling with our own uncertainties. Personal struggles weighed heavily, and our once tightly-knit circle of four had begun to unravel. A quiet distance settled between us, a silence neither of us could find the words to break.

Our last meeting was the day after his surgery at RIMS. I learned about it from a friend (doctor) who was treating his retinal condition. The RIMS procedure had been to remove his gangrened left big toe, ravaged by diabetes...."

Koireng passed away on 5th March, 2022. He was suffering from acute diabetes. He is survived by his mother, wife Dr. Sushma Phurailatpam and daughter, Shivani.