Imphal, December 14 2009: The outlawed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has deeply condoled the untimely demise of Prof Naorem Sanajaoba.

A statement issued by the outfit's department of publicity chief GM Changjou eulogised Sanajaoba as a social activist, human right defender, a journalist, a scholar, think tank and a patriot, all rolled into.

He was an exceptional teacher, a rare son of the soil who persistently added knowledge and courage to the people of Manipur allegedly reeling under an alien rule.

His untimely demise is an irreparable loss to the people of Manipur.

Prof Sanajaoba was a front-runner in many national issues.

Besides producing several volumes of books about human rights, Prof Sanajaoba was one prominent leader who came up with facts and scientific ideas during periods of socio-political crisis in Manipur.

He was also one erudite teacher who painstakingly explained the rights entitled to not only the people of Manipur but also all Manipuris settling outside the State, particularly in Bangladesh.

Besides publishing several articles in local and international journals, Prof Sanajaoba participated in numerous seminars, workshops and conferences held in international level.

Prof Sanajaoba was also the editor of the journals--Matamgi Khongthang and Cultural Flow.

He once said, "What we yearn for is, the people of Manipur get all the rights due to them and the people of Manipur can take part in the efforts to maintain world peace", the outfit quoted.

Prof Sanajaoba was also fully committed to safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur.

In his words, 'the territorial boundary of Manipur was drawn by our forefathers with their own blood and sweat and this cannot be altered under any circumstances'.

He had a firm belief that Manipur belongs to all the 36 ethnic groups and is not an exclusive domain of some larger groups.

He often espoused that sovereignty can be achieved only by the struggle of the people of Manipur.

"It is not something that the enemies would offer to us on a platter", the outfit recalled about the late Professor's ideology.

In his insightful studies, Prof Sanajaoba repeatedly pointed out that conflicts witnessed in different parts of the contemporary world were largely results of confiscation of the sovereignty of weaker nations and forfeiture of the rights of their people by stronger nations.

Though he was a historian, Prof Sanajaoba's subjects were not kings or heads of states.

His areas of studies were people and the ways and means to protect themselves within the international laws from exploitation and oppression.

He strongly believed that peace and security can be a possibility in the region only when the people are given right to self determination.

By virtue of the central role he took in the food scarcity movement of 1965, Prof Sanajaoba was elected the first president of AMSU.

He was also imprisoned for his leading role in connection with the movement.

The RPF also conveyed solidarity to the pain and grief being endured by the bereaved family, friends and relatives.

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