Reminiscising how ATSUM was born : In my version
Part II

Yangsorang Rongreisek *

Stalwarts in the new Team (75-77): Though good natured Edmund Chiphang from proper Ukhrul, who has made Imphal his home, was the President of ATSUM for a short stint from April, 1975 to June, 1975, he was always influential and honourable with the manner setting everyone at ease in the meetings. In spite of his deep interest to contribute his service for the cause of the union, all of a sudden he stepped down from the Presidentship in the 1st week of June, 1975 as he had joined the AIR, Imphal as News Reader.

Mr.L.Ricky Guite, now Principal of Churachandpur College also tendered his resignation as the General Secretary of the union. In a hurried meeting convened in that very month at Adimjati Complex, Imphal, Mr. Joseph Lalrothang, the existing Zonal Education Officer, Ccpur and I took over as the General Secretary and the President with Dr.Aishek Khular, Dr.Liensang Hmar, now CMO, Ccpur, Mr.P.John Bosco, now retired Head Master of High School, Mr.L.Lienpu Kom, Social Worker, Advocate Khupchinpaw Guite and Late Mr. Athouba F.Gangmei, EE of PWD, Govt of Manipur as the Finance Secretary, Treasurer, Literary&Education Secy., Social&Cultural Secy. and Auditor General respectively of ATSUM.

In my confession, the writing may look like profiling favourites in the echelon of the apex tribal students' body. But that is exactly what isn't. Only those, who came into close contact with me for consolidating the students' body in the initial stage, are fondly remembered for a history. No sooner than we took over the charges, the team confronted many difficulties—ranging from shortage of fund to many a problem. We went ahead and we did it.

The Task ahead: In the first ever Tribal Youth Festival Meet held on October 6, 1975 at the GM Hall, Imphal with the participation of a large contingent from Churachandpur District, a supportable base of the ATSUM in the 1970s, the then Hon'ble Chief Minister of Manipur Shri R.K.Dorendro Singh was the chief guest of the meet. The then Hon'ble Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee of Legislative Assembly of Manipur, Shri K.S.Benjamin Banee was the Guest of Honour. Pabung late Shonkhothang Ashon, the then Hon'ble MLA from Saikul A/C and Shri Salam Jayantakumar Singh, the then Hon'ble MLA from Thanga A/C were also present as Special Invitees of the meet. Prof.Gangmumei Kamei, Head of Department of History, the then JNU Centre of Post Graduate Studies, Canchipur and Late Dr.T.S.Gangte, the former Director of Education (U), Manipur spoke in the meet of a captive audience.

The Hon'ble Chairman, HAC of Legislative Assembly of Manipur was our guiding spirit. Thus, the meet opened an unprecedented opportunity for uniting tribal students belonging to different 29 recognisedTribes of Manipur in 1975. In my welcome address, I implored the CM of Manipur to look into various grievances faced by the Hill students at Imphal. He wanted me to see him in his office after the meet was over. Twenty days later, I met the CM in his old Secretariat Conference Hall.

When none of my colleagues turned up for a face-to-face talk with the Hon'ble CM on October 25, 1975, my distant nephew Mr.Rengsokhel Zeite, now Fishery Officer accompanied me to see him. Mr.A.J.Tayeng, IAS was the Secretary to the Hon'ble CM of Manipur who was expecting a strong and well prepared delegation of the union for a session with the Executive Head of the state. When he saw two of us only, he was surprisingly disappointed.

Construction of Tribal Boys' Hostel: Listening to me patiently, the good CM assured me that the demands listed in my Memorandum would be considered favourably. The immediate need was for reconstruction of Tribal Boys' Hostel which had been dismantled to construct a new building of the GP Women's College at Old Lambulane, Imphal. Late Shri Yumnam Yaima Singh, the then Hon'ble Minister of Education of Manipur who was also present in the meeting agreed to start reconstruction of the said hostel on a war footing basis provided a spacious plot of land was available in and around Imphal City.

Six months later in April, 1976, Shri B.D.Behring (Ex-MP) brought an intimation from the Minister wanting us to accompany him in the tour programme to relocate the site for construction of the hostel in Lamphelpat area. Dr.Aishek Khular who was the Finance Secy of the union, Shri B.D.Behring and I joined the tour programme. At first, I thought we were taken for a joy ride only. It wasn't. In a few months, construction of the hostel building to the east of Khuman Lampak in Imphal East was completed in time. So, for the next one decade from 1977 onward, what development had taken place in the ATSUM is for the present leadership to rediscover.

ATSUM emerging as a party: The opposite of a conservative mindset as for me is that students leaders who are comforting themselves in expensive cars, zooming and zipping in the name of social work for the students' community is of a recent trend. In my checking, most of the present students leaders are drifting in the river of merriment and luxury copied from the life styles of the highly advanced people from outside the state. More disappointedly, however, I have witnessed the emergence of a political party style of functioning in the ATSUM that is quite different from the past trend of working collectively and in unity.

For a new awakening: I want to say it very much that Tribal Students in the present generation should not want people to clamour for the petty gains for one's own class or community and disregard the interests of smaller tribal communities in Manipur. They should offer all of themselves to the common need because there is no better service to oneself than this. If such could be our sentiments or hearts, Manipur Hills would be a land of happiness.

Today, when the land is writhing amidst the conflicts, they must not get carried away by fanatical passions but rather channelize their energy into constructive avenues which would lead towards harmony realizing that Manipur is a tiny state which can't be broken into pieces. Brotherhood among communities is an imperative need, as is of today.

And everyone is individually and equally responsible to strengthen the sentiment of togetherness. By brotherhood, we will progress and live happily in the state. I want to add this also that our spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical nature can be elevated above the realm of savagery. Only then, Manipuri Society can become fraternal instead of barbarous crime which arises out of a blissful ignorance.

The realization: I devoted too much of my precious times, away from the college classes for ATSUM when my predecessors were in the limelight for a year or so only. In the case of me, I was the Founder Finance Secretary in 1973, the Vice-President in 1975 and the President from 1975 to 1977 during National Emergency in the country. When the alarm bell rang in my ears, what I realized was yelling in the Imphal streets and roaring in the mountains amounts to shooting in the dark for a great fun. Whatever it was, I have the highest satisfaction of knowing that the 40th Foundation Day of the Union has been observed at Imphal.

Let Manipur be peaceful everywhere, every moment. Let it be a finer Land on Earth. Let Manipur progress with a smile for a happy New Year, 2014!