Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 11 2010:
Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has appealed to all the educational institutions in Manipur to observe 13 August (Patriots' Day) with a clear understanding of its true significance in the present context.
In this regard, the student body has also released a 14-paged booklet today highlighting six main points.
The points include present position of Manipur, invasion of British in Manipur, what the 1891 incident has taught the people, loss of independence of Manipur after the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri battle and lesson that could be learnt from this battle.
Talking to mediapersons at its office on the sidelines of releasing the booklet, DESAM president LC Santosh said that every educational institutions and localities in Manipur should understand the true significance of 13 August and observe the day accordingly.
He pointed out that its was on August 13, 1891 that Yubaraj Tikendrajit and General Thangal, the commander of Manipuri force, were hanged to death by the British after Manipur lost its independence in the Anglo-Manipur war.
Though the people as well as the Government have been organising commemorative function, there is the need to understand the true significance of 13 August in the present context by all.
At present, the people are suffering untold miseries from frequent imposition of economic blockades along the National Highways and harassment of the truck drivers.
So, why we are suffering today and why we continue to live in such abject condition should be analysed and discussion in the light of 13 August instead of observing the day superficially, Santosh said.
Pointing out that all the educational institutions in the State used to observe August 13 (Patriots' Day) some years earlier, Santosh lamented that such extensive observance has has come down over the last few years.