CIRCA for state level observance of Manipur National Day
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 18 2023:
Commemorating the first session of the State Assembly of pre-merger Manipur at the Durbar Hall on October 18, 1948, Coalition for Indigene's Right Campaign (CIRCA) Manipur and Tangleihada Manipur Kanba Lup, Oinam (TMKL) jointly observed Manipur National Day - 2023 at Oinam Ushak Khangdabi community hall in Bishnupur on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, CIRCA president Somorendro Thokchom confided that a memorandum will be submitted to the state government to press the demand for observance of Manipur National Day on October 18 every year as a state function.
Manipur was the first state to hold adult franchise to elect their representatives for running a democratic form of government and it was on June 11 and July 27 in 1948 that the first election for constituting a Manipur National Assembly was conducted, followed by the first session of the assembly on October 18 of the same year.
Retired IAS officer RK Nimai, who was also present at the commemorative event, said that though the Manipur State Constitution had some loopholes, yet it was remarkable in some areas.
The leaders of that time also had a strong sense of nationalism as well as love and desire to do something for their motherland.
Even before adult franchise was practiced in the USA, it was already implemented in Manipur in 1948 .
The function was also attended by Tangleihada Manipur Kanba Lup advisor advocate Irengbam Jugeshor, The Frontier Manipur chief editor Dhiren Shadokpam, WASDEV president Rk Tharaksana, IKAL president Wahengbam Luwangleima, HERICOUN president Longjam Ratan and CIRCA president Somorendro Thokchom as presidium members.