Imphal, August 28: The 42nd foundation day of All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) was observed today at its head-office located within the campus of DM College here.

The 2nd president of AMSU and former Dean of Law Faculty, Gauhati University Prof Sanajaoba Naoriya and present president of AMSU Khamba Laishram were respectively chief guest and president of the function which was also attended by former AMSU president M Jibanlata and former vice president KC Hemabati as guests of honour.

The function commenced with unfurling of the flag of the student body by the chief guest and observing two minutes silence as mark of respect to all those student leaders who sacrificed their lives for the cause of welfare of the State and the student community.

The seed of AMSU was sown during the 1965 mass uprising against artificial scarcity of rice in the State.

On August 27, 1965, a large number of people including students marched toward the bungalow of the then Chief Commissioner Baleshwar Prasad to lodge their complaint and grievances.

To control the agitated mob, security personnel opened fire killing four student leaders while causing injuries to many others.

On the next day of the incident, various student leaders come together and after a joint meeting at the Keishampat Laisom Leirak residence of then student leader Leihaothabam Saratchandra Sharma AMSU was formally set up.

Consequently, another meeting of the student leaders held on the following day also endorsed formation of AMSU and elected a 36-member adhoc executive body.

Since then, AMSU has come a long way and becoming a reckoning force in taking up various issues of the State.

Starting from the Hunger Marchers, during its long history, AMSU has played a pivotal role in taking up foreigners' issue, establishment of Manipuri University, granting Statehood to Manipur and inclusion of Manipuri language in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution among others.

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