The controversial take over
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 24, 2013 -

The decision of the State Cabinet to take over the existing Sana Konung (Royal Palace) and its surrounding land areas for development and preservation as ‘landmark historical monument’ for all the world to see that Manipur was a princely nation ruled by successive kings and to convert the all boys’ school, Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School into an all girls’ school under the new name of Ramlal Paul Girls’ Higher Secondary School with immediate effect definitely calls for some serious discussion.

Though the State Government maintained that the decision to take over Sana Konung has been adopted not in disrespect of the people or the existing titular king and that of converting Ramlal Paul School, an all boys’ into an all girls’ school after taking into consideration of the demand for education of girl students, but the manner in which these two decisions have been taken rather hastily without giving an room for discussion or consultation with all stakeholders concerned is questionable.

Even if the intention behind these two decisions may be harmless and pure, the State Government seems to have overlooked the fact on how these decisions would actually affect the same people in whose interest it claimed to have taken them.

Such forcible imposition of Government decisions in the name of public interest while overlooking various other aspects would bring no good other inviting the wrath of the people, which is already palpable at the moment.

Of course, this is not the first that that the State Government has made the move to take over Sana Konung and its surrounding areas in the name of development.

In 2006, the State Government made it first move along with writing a letter to the titular king from the side of the Directorate of Arts and Culture.

However, the Government had to retract its stand following strong opposition from the side of Sana Konung Semgat Lup, a federation of several organizations.

At that time, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had given the assurance that the Government would not make any move in future without the consent of Sana Konung Semgat Lup.

So, did the Government consult anyone before coming up with the Cabinet decision this time, which was dropped like a boomshell to the people?

More than being a private property of the titular king himself, Sana Konung, howsoever dilapidated it may be now, is still the living symbol of an erstwhile sovereign nation, which has been preserving the cultural heritage of Manipur and its people all these years.

This is a fact which could never be negated, and therefore, the State Cabinet needs to respect the sentiment of the people as well before arriving at any decision on taking over Sana Konung on its own sweet whims and fancies.

With regard to conversion of an all boys’ school into an exclusive school for girls, does any of the Cabinet Ministers who have taken this decision, have any idea how it would affect the uprooted boys in relocating to another school?

And, why the school can’t be made co-educational instead of throwing away the boys elsewhere to accommodate the excess students from TG Higher Secondary School?

Reasoning like most of the teachers in Ramlal Paul School are lady teachers and so it would be more appropriate to convert it as an exclusive girls’ school sounds so stupidly sexist.