Imphal, August 13, 2009: Patriots' day observance was held with great enthusiasm at a solemn function at the community hall of Thangal Ecological Park situated at Mayangkhang in Senapati district today.

The observance function was held under the joint aegis of district administration of Senapati district, Thangal Union and Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM).

Deputy Commissioner, Senapati district, Ms Nidhi Kesarwani, advisor of ICHAM and former veteran journalist K Madhumangol and ADC, Kangpokpi Rupachandra were chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively at the function.

SP, Senapati district Nishit Ujwal, chairman of Institute of Cooperative Management (ICM), Borkeshor, President of ICHAM, N Rajendro (Boy), Director of SCERT, Y (O) Devala, editors, leaders of social organisations, chiefs of villages, district level officers, etc.

sat on the dais.

A huge number of people from all over Senapati district and elsewhere filled the spacious community hall to the brim.

DC, Ms Nishi Kesarwani led the people in offering wreaths and flowers to the bust of Thangal General erected at the Thangal Ecological Park.

A contingent of Senapati district police offered gun salute and performed reverse of arms in honour of Thangal General.

Addressing the large gathering on the occasion, DC Kesarwani said, the Patriots' Day observance will inspire the people to emulate the courage and sacrifice of those brave heroes who had laid down their lives for Manipur.

It was for the love of their motherland that the heroes like Thangal General, Bir Tikendrajit, etc.

had willingly sacrificed lives.

Today's generations must not forget this, she said.

Former veteran journalist K Madhumangol said, though the north fort has been a place inseparably linked with the history of Manipur, it remained beyond the people's knowledge for a long time.

But today since NIUCAMO, Thangal Union and ICHAM had brought forth this place before the eyes of all the people in Manipur, today it has become a place recognised by the government.

This will bring closer ties between the peoples of the hills and the plains.

President of ICHAM, N Rajendro (Boy), in his welcome address, said that though our forefathers knew that they would not be able to match the strength of the British colonialists, they still fought with the British and sacrificed their lives.

He further said that it is necessary to track the history of the martyrs and erect a statue in every district.

The bickerings that prevail among the communities due to lack of study of the history of Manipur, will be gone if we study our own history and know each other.

It is time the elected representatives of the people traced the historical prospectives and take up necessary steps accordingly, the president of ICHAM opined.

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