CCSK recalls first sitting of Manipur Assembly
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 19 2020:
The Committee of Civil Societies Kangleipak (CCSK) recalled the installation of a democratic form of Government in Manipur for the first time in a programme held yesterday at Iboyaima Sumang Lila Sanglen to commemorate the date on which the first sitting of State Assembly of Manipur was conducted in 1948 .
The 5th commemorative programme organised by CCSK was conducted with strict adherence to COVID-19 SOPs and was attended by the Chairman of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, Khaidem Mani; CCSK's president, Jeetendra Ningomba; CCSK's advisor Joy Chingakham and Assistant Professor (Indira Gandhi Tribal University, Regional Campus Manipur), Dr Homen Thangjam as the presidium members and resource persons, said a statement of CCSK.
The programme commemorated the administrative history of Manipur which became one of the earliest Nations in the Indian subcontinent to have a Constitution by July 26, 1947 .
Passage of Manipur Constitution Act 1947 with due approval by the then king, Bodhachandra and the State Council sowed the seed for a democratic form of Government in Manipur with the king as the Constitutional head, it said.
Under the Act, Manipur Legislative Assembly with 53 members were elected through universal adult franchise and a member nominated by the king came into being and were assigned the task of law making and governance, it said.
A 14 member Manipur State Franchise Committee was formed under the Constitution and election was conducted from June 29 to 30 in 1948, it said.
In all, 52 members were elected for the first time as the member from the Mao Constituency could not be elected due to boycott and the first session of the Assembly was convened on Oct 18, 1948 at Manipur State Durbar Hall and Manipur State Council was subsequently dissolved, it said.
CCSK also recalled commencement of the session with private secretary of Maharaj Bodhachandra reading out the inaugural speech in both English and Manipuri languages, it said.
The fate of the sovereign State administered by elected members took a new turn on October 15, 1949 with the signing of Merger Agreement, it said while adding that since then Manipur became a part of India.
All should be proud of having such a remarkable history, it said.
The members present also stressed on the importance of fighting the issues collectively and the need for restoration of bonding between hill and valley people.
Dr Homen Thangjam also highlighted the outlook of Manipur from 1891 to 1949 and the Constitution which greatly reflected the nature of the State, co-existence and bonding between the hills and the valley people, it said.
The Chairperson of Manipur Human Right Commission also delved into the importance of transforming the political system to solve the existing issues related to human rights violation and governance during the programme, it said.
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