New Delhi, June 13: Gangte community under the aegis of Gangte Welfare Association, Youth Wing, Delhi held a public rally here at the Teen Murti on Saturday to register their unhappiness with the Manipur University officials’ for “deliberately
ignoring” the Dr. T.S.Gangte memorial Gold Medal Award.
“The rally has been organised in protest against the Manipur University’s discrimination of tribal communities for not awarding the Dr. T. S. Gangte Memorial Gold Medal on its 30th Foundation Day Cum Medal Presentation Ceremony held at its campus on 5 June 2010,” said Ms. Ellen Lunnieng, President, GWAYW Delhi. “We must fight for our rights. It’s pain to say that, we are still facing such discrimination in our home state,” she added.
It may be noted that Dr. T. S. Gangte Memorial Gold Medal was instituted in Manipur University in 2007. Dr. Priyadarshini M. Gangte, wife of (late) Dr. T. S. Gangte, donated Rs. 48, 600 for this award on 14 December 2007. The University accepted this proposal. Manipur University issued notice on 8 January, 2008 stating that Dr. T. S. Gangte Memorial Gold Medal will be awarded to the topper of the M.Sc. Anthropology Examination in Social and Cultural Anthropology with effect from January, 2008. But this award was out of sight at MU Foundation Day recently. This year, topper Ms. Laishram Sumati Devi, was supposed to wear this medal.
The negligence Keeping long name 'not a crime' say Gangte activists. Manipur University Tribal Students’ Union had stated, in its Press Note dated 5 June, 2010, that Manipur University authorities replied to explain the reason for not conferring this particular award for this year as: ‘It is because of the long name of Dr. Thangkhomang Sielphaw Gangte (Dr. T. S. Gangte)’. ‘Is there any criterion to be a Manipur citizen? Should everyone have to change all their names into Tombas and Thoibis so that names spell easily for the dominating section of the Manipur state?’ the Union asked the University.
“If Dr. Gangte’s full name is too long for Manipur University, why didn’t
"Keeping Long Name not a crime"
they opt for the shorter one – Dr. T. S. Gangte? OR, even the script can be engraved a bit smaller than usual. MU makes lame excuse, which holds no truth at all,” argues one of the protesters, Kamlianlal, an M. Phil student in Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The association submitted memorandum to HRD Minister Shri Kapil Sibal and Shri Shambu Singh IAS, Resident Commissioner of Manipur Bhawan, New Delhi yesterday respectively.
‘We have submitted our Memorandums to the government officials. The officials are supporting us and they also acknowledged our sentiments. They said that let us see and wait for a week or month, what action comes,” says S. Benjamin, Chairman, Gangte Welfare Association Delhi.
Various tribal students’ leaders in Delhi such as Joyful Tonsing, President, Siamsinpawlpi; Luntinsat, Secretary, Kuki Students’ Democratic Front; Khaibiaklian, President, Zou Sangnaupang Pawlpi; and Lalremlien Neitham, Vice President, Hmar Students’ Association also expressed their supports to the association (GWAYWD) and condemned the authorities of Manipur University at the highest term.
The GWAYW Delhi vehemently urged upon Manipur University to convene a ‘Special Medal Presentation Ceremony’ for awarding the Dr. T. S. Gangte Memorial Gold Medal immediately to the awardee in order to heal the wounded minds of the tribal communities of the State and to bring justice to various communities living in Manipur.
The association further demanded to set-up a High Level Inquiry Committee to look into the matter why was the Dr. T. S. Gangte Memorial Gold Medal not awarded and to take stern action against the concern authorities in accordance with the law.
In the wake of such disappointment, there has to be a stringent enforcement of the existing authorities to work honestly for the better tomorrow. What went wrong in Manipur University recently? The biggest hidden deceptive, that needs to be answered from the higher authority at this moment. Is Manipur University, a centre for Communal Discrimination or a Disharmony University? Justice for Dr. Gangte must be done without further delay. The tribals in Manipur deserve an equal share of the acclaim.
Brief history of Dr. Gangte
Dr. T. S. Gangte born in 1932 was the eldest among the eight siblings – three boys and five girls. He completed his Master degree in Sociology from Delhi School of Economics (DU) in 1963 and PhD from Calcutta University. He was the founding Principal of Churachandpur College, the first college established in the hill areas of Manipur. He served as the principal for 22 years. He became the Director of Higher Education (Govt. of Manipur) in 1986 and retired in February, 1996. Dr. Gangte also held two prestigious posts i.e. Chairman of – Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) and Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM).
As a Scholar and Social Scientist he has contributed several papers in the State, National and International Level Seminars and Conferences. ‘Nehru and the North East’ and ‘The Kukis of Manipur’ is the legacy of Dr. T. S. Gangte. He is one of the architects in reforming education in Manipur. He is also widely known for advocating peace and harmony in Manipur.
Dr. Gangte established Lalzalien Mangminthang Memorial Law College at Lamka Hill town in memory of his father, Lalzalien and his father’s grandson, Mangminthang on October 7, 1982. This is the only law college found in Churachandpur district. Around 110 students were enrolled in this college at present. His brother Paocha Gangte is an IPS and Lulun Gangte is one of the ZEO’s in Churachandpur. Dr. Gangte passed away on 29 July, 2007.
~ Mizoram Express
