By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: The 44th foundation day of oldest regional party of Manipur, Manipur People’s Party (MPP), was observed on 26th Dec. 2011 at Bhaigyachandra Open Air Theater (BOAT), at Palace Compound in Imphal. MPP President Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA O. Joy, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Manipur unit President and leader of the Opposition in the Manipur Legislative Assembly Radhabinod Koijam, National General Secretary Janata Dal United Arun Kumar Srivastava, former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. L. Chandramani, former Union Minister Th. Chaoba, and other leaders of MPP attended the function. The celebration was attended by more than 2000 people.
The speakers at the function spoke on the achievements of MPP under the leadership of Md. Alimuddin, who became Chief Minister just after Manipur was granted statehood in 1972, his political acumens and far-sightedness. Senior party leader Okram Joy said MPP had formed government over 3 times in the state. He said that the present Board of Secondary Education Manipur, Manipur University, Regional Institute of Medical Science, Government Polytechnic, Spinning Mill, Manipur Public Service Commission, Law Commission, introduction of Double Cropping and announcement of state holiday on 23rd April (Khongjom Day) were a few among the achievements of MPP. The party has completed its 44 years. MPP, established in 1968, is one of the oldest political parties in the country. Preserving the territorial integrity and boundary of Manipur are the main objectives of the party, he added.
The speakers at the function criticized the present Congress-led SPF government in the state for corruption, governance and administrative failures. They also called upon the people to defeat the Congress party, if they want to bring peace and development in the state. Announcement of the formation of a pre-poll alliance of MPP, NCP and JD (U) with the main objective to defeat the Congress party in the forthcoming 10th State Legislative Assembly election, scheduled for Jan. 28, 2012, was also made at the function.
Md. Alimuddin
Md. Alimuddin was elected from the Lilong assembly constituency for the first time in the Manipur state legislative assembly elections held in 1948, at a very tender age of 28. It was a historic election for Manipur in two ways – one, it was the first election held in Manipur on the basis of adult franchise; and two, it was held before Manipur was merged to the Indian Union. In this historic election 3 other Muslims, Md. Sulaiman Mia, Md. Amjad Ali and Md. Abdul Kadir Khan, were also elected. Md. Alimuddin became a member of the council of ministers formed in Nov. 1948, holding the portfolios of Jail and Medical departments.
Manipur was formally merged with the Indian Union on Oct. 15, 1949 as a Part-C state, and came under the administration of Chief Commissioner with an Advisory Council. Md. Alimuddin was a member of the 14-member Advisory Council.
A banner of MPP having the photo of Md. Alimuddin
Md. Alimuddin was also elected in the subsequent assembly/council elections held in 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1974. He was one of the prominent leaders who led the state-wide agitation demanding statehood of Manipur. He was the chief architect of MPP, which was formed in the course of the agitation in Dec. 1968. Some of the most prominent and promising political leaders of the state, namely Dr. L. Chandramani Singh, Yumnam Yaima, I. Tompok Singh, Md. Chaoba, Md. Ashraf Ali, Md. Jalaluddin, gathered under his leadership to form the party.
In 1972 Manipur got statehood. Assembly elections were held. In all, 261 candidates contested the 60 Assembly seats. MPP won 15 out of 42 seats it contested. In all, 5 Muslim candidates – Md. Alimuddin (Lilong, Md. Jalaluddin (Keirao), Md. Chaoba (Athokpam) on MPP tickets, Md. Habibur Rahman (Khekman) on INC ticket and Md. Abdul Latif (Mayang Imphal) as an independent – won the elections. MPP-led United Legislative Party (ULP) formed the government with Md. Alimuddin as the Chief Minister of Manipur on Mar. 23, 1972. However, dissensions cropped up in the government, a no-confidence motion was moved by the opposition, and assembly was dissolved in Mar. 28, 1973.
Mid-term election was held in early 1974. 21 candidates returned on MPP ticket, out of which 6 were Muslims. The Muslims were Md. Alimuddin (Lilong), Md. Abdul Wahid (Khetrigao), Md. Jalaluddin (Keirao), Md. Ashraf Ali (Andro), Md. Abdul Latif (Mayang Imphal) elected on MPP tickets, and Md. Habibur Rahman (Wabagai) on INC ticket. MPP-led ULP again formed the government with Md Alimuddin as the Chief Minister on 4th Mar. 1974. It too was short-lived. Dissention and defection of ruling MLAs led Md. Alimuddin to resign in July 8, 1974. He later became Speaker of the state assembly from Dec. 1974 to Sept. 1975.
During his short stint as Chief Minister of Manipur he accomplished many things. Most of the premier institutes of the state were established during his tenure. The Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS), which was then known as Manipur Medical College, at Lamphel, was inaugurated by Md. Alimuddin on Sept. 26, 1972. The institute was established as a joint venture of the North Eastern states headed by the Government of Manipur. This premier medical institute came under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India in Apr. 1, 2007.
Manipur Public Service Commission was also inaugurated in Oct. 23, 1972 by Md. Alimuddin along with the then Governor of Manipur B.K. Nehru.
The foundation stone of Manipur University, which was initially opened as a branch of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi was also laid by Md. Alimuddin on Nov. 19, 1972. Manipur University became an independent full-fledged university on Jun. 5, 1980 and it was converted to the status of a Central University on Oct. 13, 2005.
Speaking at the 34th anniversary of laying the foundation stone of Manipur University on Nov. 19, 2006, senior MPP leader O. Joy suggested installation of a statue of Md. Alimuddin in the campus of the University. He said, “The University was established in 1972 as a branch of JNU, New Delhi at the initiative of then ULF government led by Md. Alimuddin in 1972. After its establishment, the then Education Minister along with other people tried to shift the University to another place, but Alimuddin, who understood the suitability of its location insisted it should remained at Canchipur only. So it would be a fitting tribute to such a noble personality to install his statue either inside the University campus or at a suitable site elsewhere.” Many of the leaders of the state have also been mulling the need to erect a memorial of Md. Alimuddin inside the University campus.
Board of Secondary Education Manipur, the foremost regulatory body of schools in the state, was also instituted during the tenure of Md. Alimuddin (1972). It was Md. Alimuddin who declared Aug. 13 as “Patriots’ Day.” The day is observed to pay homage to those brave Manipuris who laid down their lives in protecting the sovereignty of the then independent kingdom of Manipur against the British soldiers. O. Joy, in a speech on Patriots’ Day (2010), credited Md. Alimuddin for the present day generation to remember heroics of the forefathers and pay homage to them. Joy informed that it was due to Md. Alimuddin’s initiatives in the early 70s that facilitated construction of the present-day B.T. Park as well as the Khongjom War memorial complex at Khongjom in Thoubal district.
Realizing the importance of education as the backbone for the development of a community Md. Alimuddin established and developed educational infrastructures in the Muslim inhabited areas. He accorded government recognition to many schools located in Muslim dominated areas. He was one of the founding members of Lilong Haoreibi College – established in 1976 – the only college located in the Muslim dominated areas.
Md. Alimuddin was born in 1920 at Lilong Haoreibi Turel Ahanbi to Haji Md. Saheruddin. He had his early education from Maharaj Churachand Higher Secondary School. He married Manira Begum in 1942. Md. Alimuddin passed away on Feb. 3, 1983 at the age of 63. His son, Md. Allauddin, and son-in-law, Dr. Maneruddin Sheikh, also contested elections. Md. Allauddin was elected twice in the assembly elections from the Lilong assembly constitution, in 1985 and 2000. Dr. Maneruddin Sheikh was elected from the same constituency in the 2002 assembly elections, and became the Speaker of the state assembly.
Foundation stone of Jawaharlal Nehru University Centre (present Manipur University)which was laid by Md. Alimuddin
Leaders on Md. Alimuddin
Speaking at the function of 27th death anniversary of Md. Alimuddin organized at Lilong Haoreibi College on Feb. 3, 2009, MPP leader, Dr. L. Chandramani described Md. Alimuddin as the only political leader of Manipur who ruled the state astutely along with farsightedness and the question of integrity of Manipur in mind. He said, “Md. Alimuddin was a farsighted leader who made remarkable contributions during his tenure as the Chief Minister. In fact, there has been no one like him in the political history of Manipur.”
O. Joy also, at the same function, hailed Md. Alimuddin as the architect, who laid the foundation of modern Manipur. He also acknowledged Md. Alimuddin as a true leader of the party who not only advocated self-reliance and dignity but sacrificed his life to the cause of the people. MPP is a brainchild of Md. Alimuddin, he added. O. Joy also said that the Manipur public especially women potfambis (vendors) of Khwairamband Bazar, women’s market in Imphal, shed tears when Md. Alimuddin’s government was toppled by the Congress.