Now, the Gangtes are not happy either.
The network of Gangte Welfare Association launched a protest against Manipur University’s high pitched negligence to pay veneration to Late Dr T.S Gangte as adjudicated. What is the reason behind this culmination?
- Joe Hmachhuana
"We want justice" "Manipur University; shame shame." The sentiments fueling rally by the Gangte Welfare Association may have been short lived within its desired area. But the wealthy approach by the rally troops revoked encyclopedia of protest anthems held in the capital. Adding on to the recent residency of the incident in Manipur which took an adverse affect on the Naga peace process, and the reaction which is now said to be settling down at the present.
On my way back from Khan market yesterday, I witnessed an act of animosity shaped in the form of youth flagging banners ‘Long name is not a crime’ and ‘punish the guilty officials’ at Teen Murti in the capital. I decided to halt at the event of finding 'Samuel',a Gangte friend of mine who works in Central Economic Intelligence Bureau and also a fore frontier of his community. Just the right person to help me manicure my curiosity.
I learned that the Gangtes were protesting against the Manipur University’s discrimination of tribal communities for neglecting Dr Thangkhomang Selpho Gangte(Dr T.S Gangte) memorial Gold Medal on its 30th foundation day.
Dr T.S Gangte (1932- 2007) was a well- known figure who had contributed great work through his fine instincts in the sphere of academic and scholastic world. With all respect to his contribution, Manipur University in its press note January 8. 2008 stated liberation of Gold Medal under the name of “Dr T.S. Gangte Memorial Gold Medal”. On summoning a patent question by the tribal students union to Manipur University on its failure, Manipur University gave a tricky reply by stating “It is because of the name Dr Thangkhomang Selpho Gangte( Dr T.S. Gangte) which is too long to be engraved in the medal.” While a gold medal named ’Kanhaomacha Sharma Gold Medal’ exists, the tribal student union has declared they have never come across such a silly excuse in its history.
This fact raised too many suspicions among the minds of tribal communities of the state. With broad alarming negligence of Manipur University to instigate the prospect of the Gold Medal as listed, the disappointed tribal students union asked the authority, ‘Is there any criterion to be a Manipur citizen? or should everyone change their names into Tombas and Thoibis so that the names can be spelled easily for the dominating section of the Manipur state?
Certainly, the protest could have gathered more attention other than just the passers and auto wallas that stopped by to catch a glimpse of the pronominal aid with their graceless questions, if it was not for the Delhi Police (thullas) who opposed the protest to continue to Manipur Bhavan.
Is this discrimination or a fair margin of disadvantage for having a long name? The Gangte community want answers and an intervention of a better law which can provide the real meaning of Justice… a virtue that would give them a sense of belonging and respect.
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