By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: The 40th Foundation Day of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Centre, the predecessor of Manipur University, was jointly organized by Local Surrounding People of Manipur University (LSPMU), Pangal (Manipuri Muslim) Political Forum, Manipur (PPFM) and Manipur University in memory of late Md. Alimuddin, the former Chief Minister of Manipur, on November 19, 2012.
The celebration, held at Manipur Institute of Management Studies (MIMS) Hall of Manipur University, Canchipur, was attended by Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University Prof. H. Nandakumar Sarma, leader of Manipur People’s Party (MPP) and Ex-Minister O. Joy Singh, Ex-Minister and General Secretary Dr. M. Nara Singh, Ex-Minister and Advisor of PPFM Md. Alauddin, Ex-MP and President of All India Trinamool Congress Kim Gangte, Chief Advisor of PPFM A.R. Khan, IAS Retd., Dean of Students’ Welfare of Manipur University Prof. Th. Ratankumar Singh, Retd. Chief Engineer and President of PPFM A.R. Shah, Advisor of LSPMU A.K. Abhiram.
Photograph showing Md. Alimuddin laying the foundation stone
Delivering the key-note address, Social worker A. K. Aviram said that there is need for preserving the foundation stone of the university laid by Alimuddin. He narrated some of the interesting incidents that occurred on the day of the foundation of the university and also showed his rare photograph laying the foundation stone of the university.
Md. Alauddin, his eldest son of, gave a brief biography of his father.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest of the function Prof. Nandakumar said that Alimuddin was a visionary of this State who realized the importance of higher education for the progress and development of this State. He informed the gathering on the progress the Manipur University has made since it came into existence.
He said, “With the conviction to give the light of higher education to the people of Manipur Md. Alimuddin laid the foundation stone of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Centre at Canchipur on November 19, 1972. On June 5, 1980 it became Manipur University. It was converted into a Central University on Oct. 13, 2005. Till the 80s there was stagnation in the development of this university due to shortage of fund. The university then had limited departments and shortage of both teaching and non-teaching staff. Now we have adequate fund. More departments are coming up. In-take of students has increased. New constructions are made.”
The Manipur University campus, spread over an area of 287 acres, lies at the historic place Canchipur. Canchipur was the site of the old palace of Manipur, called Langthabal Konung (or palace). The palace was established by the ruler of Manipur, Maharaja Ghambhir Singh in 1827 A.D. soon after the libration of Manipur from Burmese occupation. Gambhir Singh also took his last breath at Canchipur. It is also the birth place of the renowned poet Dr. Lamabam Kamal. As of now, the university has 76 affiliated colleges and one constituent college.
Speakers at the function also recalled the rich contributions made by Md. Alimuddin during his short stint as Chief Minister of Manipur in the field of education, health, agriculture and in other sectors.
Ex-MP Kim Gangte, in her speech, described Alimuddin as the “unifying force” for all the communities living in Manipur. She also expressed the urgent need for empowering the women of this State in general and Muslim women in particular by educating them. Prominent communist leader Dr. M. Nara recalled his short encounter with him when the later became the Chief Minister. He said that Alimuddin was a far-sighted, simple and astute political leader of this State.
A.R. Khan hailed him as one of the great political figures and visionaries of Manipur. He highlighted some of the prominent works done by him during his tenure as Chief Minister in the field of education and agriculture. He, on behalf of the PPFM, made few proposals to the authorities of Manipur University, which included renovation of the area where the foundation stone laid by Alimuddin lies and naming the library, or a building, or a hall after him in his honour.
Giving the Presidential address, O. Joy hailed him as a leader not only for a particular community, or for Manipur only, but a leader of the entire North-East India. Citing numerous incidents of his personal encounter with him, he said, “I admired his courage as a political leader. Being the Chief Minister of a small state of North-East India he had the courage to stand against the dominating attitude of the leaders at the centre. He was a lion. He was an exemplary among the Chief Ministers of India. Today’s generation need to know more about Md. Alimuddin and his political philosophy. As a mark of respect for this great man we need to erect memorial statues all over the state.”
Citing some of his contributions O. Joy said, “If Md. Alimuddin had not been born, Manipur University would not be at its present place. After its establishment, some of the leaders tried to shift the university to another place, but Md. Alimuddin, who understood the suitability of its location insisted it should remained at Canchipur only…It is because of this man that we are able to pay homage to Bir Tikendrajit and Thangal General and other heroes of Manipur who laid down their lives in protecting the sovereignty of the then independent kingdom of Manipur against the British soldiers. It was at his initiative in the early 70s that facilitated construction of the memorial at B.T. Park. It was Md. Alimuddin who declared Aug. 13 as ‘Patriots’ Day’…It was again this man who brought V.V. Giri, the then President of India, at Kheba ching and made to pay respect to those heroes of Manipur who laid their lives at Khongjom war. V.V. Giri laid the foundation of the Khongjom War Memorial at Kheba ching in 1972.”
Paying floral tribute to the foundation stone
“Manipur public, especially women vendors of Khwairamband Bazar cried and agitated when Md. Alimuddin’s government was toppled. Such a thing hardly happens. However it is sad that there is no one to narrate and no one to listen to the accomplishments of this great leader. He remains an unsung hero,” he concluded. O. Joy regarded him as his political mentor. He was one of the closest associate of Md. Alimuddin.
Md. Alimuddin: The architect of modern Manipur
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 passed away on February 3, 1983 at the age of 63.
Alimuddin was elected from the Lilong assembly constituency for the first time in the Manipur state legislative assembly elections held in 1948. It was the first election held before Manipur was merged to the Indian union. He became a member of the council of ministers formed in Nov. 1948, taking charge of Jail and Medical departments. After Manipur was formally merged with the Indian Union on October 15, 1949 as a Part-C state, and came under the administration of Chief Commissioner with an Advisory Council, he became a member of this 14-member Council.
Alimuddin was also elected in the subsequent assembly/electoral college/council elections held in 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1974. He served as Deputy Speaker from December 1965 to Jan. 1967.
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.
In the election held just after Manipur got statehood in 1972, an MPP-led government was formed with Alimuddin as the Chief Minister on March 23, 1972. However, dissensions cropped up in the government, a no-confidence motion was moved by the opposition. Assembly was finally dissolved on March 28, 1973.
Mid-term election was held in early 1974. Including him seven Muslim candidates won the election, the highest so far, namely Md. Alimuddin (Lilong), Md. Abdul Wahid (Khetrigao), Md. Jalaluddin (Keirao), Md. Ashraf Ali (Andro), Md. Abdul Latif (Mayang Imphal) and Md. Chaoba (Wangkhem) elected on MPP tickets, and Md. Habibur Rahman (Wabagai) on INC ticket.
Another MPP-led government was formed with Alimuddin as the Chief Minister on March 4, 1974. It too was short-lived. Dissention and defection of ruling MLAs led Md. Alimuddin to resign on July 8, 1974. He later became Speaker, from December 1974 to September 1975, under the government of R.K. Dorendro. Then he was the Finance Minister, from June 1977 to November 1979, in the Yangmaso Shaiza’s ministry.
During his short stint as Chief Minister of Manipur he laid the foundation of a modern Manipur. 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 September 26, 1972. This premier medical institute came under the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on April 1, 2007.
Manipur Public Service Commission was also inaugurated in October 23, 1972 by him along with the then Governor of Manipur B.K. Nehru. Board of Secondary Education Manipur, the foremost regulatory body of schools in the state, was also instituted during the tenure of Md. Alimuddin in 1972.
Realizing the importance of education as the backbone for the development of the Muslim community 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.