Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, June 11 2010:
As a mark of protest against the alleged 'discriminatory attitude of the Manipur University (MU) and to seek justice for Dr.TS Gangte and the tribals of Manipur', the Gangte Welfare Association-Youth Wing (GWA-YW), Delhi will be holding a peaceful rally at the New Delhi on June 12, according to the Gante Welfare Association-Youth Wing (GWA-YW).
Informing this to NNN today, GWA-YA, Delhi president Ellen Lunnieng and its secretary William disclosed that on Saturday a rally will start from 3 pm onwards in New Delhi.
"Nothing short of constituting a high level inquiry committee instead punish the guilty official(s) as per the law of the land", it demanded adding, "Convening a special ceremony for presentation of Dr TS Gangte Memorial Gold Medal immediately will heal the wounds in the minds of the tribal communities of the state" .
The GWA-YW was surprised to note that the Dr TS Gangte Memorial Gold Medal in Social & Cultural Anthropology instituted vide Manipur University notification No. MU/3-53/81/ACA (Pt)/1079 dated January 8, 2008 was not given away at the 30th Foundation Day Cum Medal Presentation Ceremony which was held on June 5 recently at the Centenary Hall of the Manipur University Campus, Canchipur, Imphal, the Gangte body said.
The Gangte body further contended that Dr TS Gangte was not only a well-known figure in Manipur, but across the seven seas in the realm of academic and scholastic world.
He toiled and worked tirelessly for academic excellence in the State across the hills and valley in his capacity as Director (University), Government of Manipur.
It is an undeniable fact that Dr TS Gangte was also appointed the founding Chairman of Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur due to his tireless contribution towards educational upliftment in the State of Manipur, especially in the southern district of the state, it said.
"Manipur University, in its press note released on June 7 to say that 'Dr TS Gangte Memorial Gold Medal' is too long to be engraved in the medal is ridiculous and unconvincing", said the Gangte body while ridiculing, "But the Manipur University made to exist the Kanhaimacha Sharma Gold Medal".
"More disturbing is the fact that, in their own admission, the Manipur University claims that the medals and cash awards which were distributed on June 5, 2010 were those which were to be distributed for awards till 2008", the Gangte Welfare Association said.
The Dr TS Gangte Gold Medal was instituted to be given from 2008 to the toppers in M.Sc Anthropology examination in Social and Cultural Anthropology, it added.
"One can only infer communal discrimination for not giving away the said medal on June 5, 2010," the Gangte body alleged.