[Assam] A write-up by Udayan Mishra
Ram Sarangapani
assamrs at gmail.com
Tue Mar 3 20:29:26 PST 2009
C'da,
>I am sorry to see that a person of your caliber missed the REAL story
behind the article. But I guess I should not be surprised. >More often than
not, our political predilections ultimately do get the better of our of our
judgements in these matters.
I thought about that C'da, but ultimately felt the bigger, more important
story was the brutal killing of this young man. Why? because he dared to
stand up for his ideals, and if there was some political agenda or
reading-between-the-lines - it was lost on me..
Irrespective whether Prof. Misra spun this out of control or not, an
upright, young man lost his life, and that is the essence of the story..
>Mishra's essay was hardly about T K Singh. He used TK Singh's killing by
the Naga insurgents to make a point about his pet >political agenda
I suspect, no one else does that? :)
>To demonize, denounce and devalue those of our region who have been
fighting, and dying, along with countless others who had >little or nothing
to do with the movements, for freeing themselves from the shackles of a
dysfunctional, unchangeable, corrupt to >the core and a highly exploitative
colonial Indian rule.
Sure, and let's not forget threats & intimidation, beating up & killing any
who oppose. Must be democracy, (the very thing they keep promising the
unfortunate people), at it's best.
Coercion, intimidation, and killings cannot advance any cause, however lofty
or RIGHT their cause may be. And even if people oppose their views, they
will at least respect them.
We all know that there are many govt. babus, soldiers, & cops who commit
many crimes. And the system is so taxed, that it is dysfunctional in many
areas. And we are also well aware, that there may not be justice in many
cases in India. But we are also aware, that there are enough people in India
who are willing to write, expose, attrocities. The general public is often
made aware of such incidents, and nowadays we often see culprits brought to
book.
At it's very core, India does enjoy a strong democracy, and most people know
that, and would not not just give it all up.
--Ram
On Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 10:30 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
> Ram:
>
> I am sorry to see that a person of your caliber missed the REAL story
> behind the article. But I guess I should not be surprised. More often than
> not, our political predilections ultimately do get the better of our of our
> judgements in these matters.
>
>
> Mishra's essay was hardly about T K Singh. He used TK Singh's killing by
> the Naga insurgents to make a point about his pet political agenda: To
> demonize, denounce and devalue those of our region who have been fighting,
> and dying, along with countless others who had little or nothing to do with
> the movements, for freeing themselves from the shackles of a dysfunctional,
> unchangeable, corrupt to the core and a highly exploitative colonial Indian
> rule.
>
>
> How can I level such a charge ?
>
> I don't know Mishra from Adam. I too drink from the same water-hole you
> do. But I can get all one needs to know by reading what is actually
> written, without even going into what can be read between the lines. That's
> how. Allow me to point them out, following the sequence of Mishra's own
> litany of complaints, charges and judgements:
>
>
> >He decided to swim against the tide. Unlike most other government
> officials who
> >have been unquestioningly obeying the diktats of the different
> militant groups,
> > Kishan Singh stubbornly opposed the siphoning off of government
> funds into the
> > coffers of the militants. Kishan believed passionately that
> development funds must
> >go to the people.
>
>
> *** I don't doubt Singh's integrity or ideals here for a moment. But I
> doubt Mishra's. Why you ask? Well, do you think Mishra is aware of WHO is
> the bigger culprit here -- in siphoning off public monies for personal
> gains ? Is it insurgents or is it 'legitimate' govt. officials and
> bureaucrats and elected people's representatives? Mishra decided to go after
> the 'Bengena swr' , while the Haati swr was right in front of him. ( For
> those who are unfamiliar with Assamese colloquialisms, this is what it
> means: There is an Assamese proverb that goes, translated literally "
> Going after the brinjal thief, while the elephant rustler is walking right
> in front, unafraid). There is a difference of scale, of pervasiveness.
>
> So you would ask, why did Singh decide to make a crusade of refusing to
> submit to the diktats of the NSCN and paying for it with his life? It is
> probably more complicated than I could decipher. But from Xonjoi's tribute,
> one can imagine , that there is this ethnic conflict , between the Nagas (
> NSCN) who do not consider the Tangkhuls ( Singh's ethnicity? ) Naga enough.
> But again, this is essay had little to do with Singh, but everything to do
> with Mishra's opposition to the insurgencies, never mind what they are
> rooted in.
>
>
> >Obviously, the militant outfit was unhappy at Kishan Singh's
> resolve not to allow
> >development funds from being squandered by the militants and hence
> it decided to teach
> >the young idealist officer a lesson. One was immediately reminded
> of the manner in which
> > Sanjoy Ghose was abducted and killed by the ULFA because he
> demanded transparency
> >in the release of funds meant for rural development programmes at
> Majuli.
>
> *** One did not have to wait long for the ULFA to be tied in here too!
> But look at Mishra's pre-occupation here with 'militants --squandering
> development funds', meant for the hapless people! How very sympathetic, I
> could almost cry! But wait--- militants are the biggest squanderers of
> development funds? Am I hearing things? Is he for real?
>
>
> *** Mishra goes on and on about the Manipuri women's protests against
> insurgent atrocities. But to dwell on it alone would make his own agenda too
> obvious. So he throws in the atrocities by the state and solidifies his own
> fair-and-balanced outlook by a complaint about how no one is yet punished
> for the rape and murder of Manorama.
>
> Is Mishra that out of it, that he does not know that there would be no
> justice ? Is he unaware of the fact of ALL the killing and maiming of
> people, guilty or merely suspected to be so by the police, the paramilitary
> forces and the vaunted ranks of the professional Indian army? Is he unaware
> of the fact of some two bit general apologizing when caught red-handed, only
> to be repeated over and over again?
> For that matter are YOU unaware of that Ram?
>
> So what does his bleeding over the pages of the AT on these matters mean?
> Anything? Is it credible? If you think it is, I have some choice vacation
> property for sale to you in the Mojave desert Ram :-).
>
>
> >Dr Thingnam Kishan Singh was no ordinary government official. In
> many senses, he was a
> >symbol of the young and resurgent Manipur that is trying to come
> out of the clutches of
> >almost endless violence.
>
> *** I would read here that there are all these other young and brave
> Manipuris who are opposed to the insurgent violence, as symbolized by Singh.
>
> Question is if they are on their own or whether they are getting the
> support of the 'legitimate govt.' ? The circumstances of Singh's killing ,
> as reported by Mishra, indicates that they are not. So, is it something
> Mishra fabricated or is it just a wishful thought? He had an opportunity
> here to delve into it--because it is a crucial part of the story. Why did
> Mishra ignore it? I woulkd submit, it woulkds be one of the following two:
>
> A: He is yet another clueless analyst.
>
> B: Because it was not important enough. It was not why he wrote the
> article--to find the
> real causes and real solutions.
>
> I am not sure which is worse!
>
>
> The Joint Action Committee has accused the Deputy Commissioner and the
>> Superintendent of Police >of Ukhrul of having complicity in the crime. The
>> Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has already suspended both >of them for their
>> failure to ensure protection to Kishen and his colleagues. Only a thorough
>> and >impartial enquiry will reveal the truth of the matter.
>>
>
>
> *** Sure! An what does he think are the chances of such a thorough and
> impartial enquiry and justice
> served?
>
> Never mind! I know we should not ask embarrassing questions, right?
>
>
>
>
> It is rather strange that initially the murder of this leading intellectual
>> and Manipur Civil Service official >went virtually unreported in the
>> regional press and media of our state. That much for our sentiments on >the
>> seven sisters being bonded with a common thread!
>>
>
> **** This I find quite intriguing in light of the vague recollection I have
> of Mishra's urging the people of Assam to forsake the myth of the Seven
> Sisters. I need help here: Am I mistaken? Or is there a bit of unmitigated
> duplicity here?
>
>
> Quite often the regional media in Assam rightly accuses the national media
>> of blacking out this region >during moments of crisis. But, unfortunately,
>> when it came to reporting this particular incident involving >the abduction
>> and murder of a leading intellectual of neighbouring Manipur, the regional
>> press in >Assam failed to give the incident due weightage.
>>
>
> **** Why would they do something like that? Wouldn't you want to know? He
> left us all guessing. I would like to know WHY. Wouldn't you? Or is it that
> Mishra did not wish to insult the intelligence of AT's readers by stating
> something that must be obvious ? But what?
>
>
> Those who knew Dr Kishen Singh would vouchsafe for not only his unflinching
>> loyalty to the common >people but also his urge to build a new Northeast
>> where there would be more meaningful interaction >and exchange between the
>> different states and their people.
>>
>
> **** For a change, I can't take issue with this. I would like to believe he
> means well here -- hoping that what I remember vaguely is a matter of my own
> confusion.
>
>
>
>
> His death in the hands of some criminals who try to pass off as "freedom
>> fighters" but who are the real >enemies of the people, has created a void
>> which will be difficult to fill.
>>
>
> **** Heh-heh! The cat leaps out of the bag without much fanfare, doesn't
> it? Unfortunately his credibility here is at par of those of the Indian
> Army generals who say sorry for all those 'unfortunate' deaths of innocents
> in the hands of their 'professional' soldiers, when caught red-handed, only
> to repeat again and again!
>
> And for Mishra to not look into the cycle of violence , the whys of it, and
> how to put an end to it, exposes his game!
>
>
> c-da
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 7:24 PM -0600 3/2/09, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>
>> C'da,
>>
>> *** You may have a point here. At 1273 words, one could indeed say it all
>>>
>> and then some!
>>
>>> Question is what?
>>>
>>
>> We all went to the same water hole for the information: ie. the AT article
>> by Prof. Mishra. You seem to indicate that Dr. Singh's stance against the
>> dikat wasn't anything laudable. Don't know about what others, but I think
>> (from what I read) Dr. Singh was brave and stood up for what he believed -
>> and lost his life in the process.
>>
>> Whether, the rest of the world knows about Dr. Singh, or the fact that
>> some
>> insurgents wasted his life, Manaipuris in general, seem to acknowledge his
>> stand. And now they protest, if for nothing else, at least to show some
>> solidarity, some show of unity against the insurgents.
>>
>> *** You being the seasoned observer of Indian-politics and the hawk-eyed
>>>
>> guardian of Indian interests in assamnet, why don't you >tell us what you
>> see in Mishra's article that has been lauded not just by Uttam, but our
>> fellow netter and eminent journalist >Padmashri Mukhim aideu, as to the
>> point and relevance to the issues the writer agonizes about and hopefully
>> contributes >something to their resolution?
>>
>> I'm no astute observer if Indian politics nor do I carry water for India.
>> I
>> just make calls as I see them, and go with the gut :). But just a cursory
>> reading of the article tells me that that Manipuri insurgents fill their
>> coffers by threats to Govt. employees. Most give in - obviously because of
>> threats to their lives.
>>
>> Dr. Singh, the SDO, obviously didn't give a damn, and he got killed.
>>
>> The author has been fair - he also mentions the Manorama case, and writes
>> about the Manipuri spirit of not being dampened because there is no
>> outcome
>> (yet) in that case.
>>
>> **** I was hoping to see some solutions to the problem, at least a
>>>
>> discussion of.
>>
>> Why should the article discuss or try to find a solution? Specially a
>> "solution" that would be satisfactory only to some. This whole thing is so
>> damn crazy. What kind of "solution" would you have put forward?
>>
>> Sometimes, C'da, there are no solutions or resolutions, and ordinary folks
>> in Manipur as elsewhere are only able to protest meekly on behalf of every
>> Dr. Singh or a Manorama.
>>
>> --Ram
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 2, 2009 at 4:00 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Ram:
>>>
>>>
>>> At 9:07 PM -0600 3/1/09, Ram Sarangapani wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Uttam & C'da,
>>>>
>>>> Prof. Mishra says it all ..
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *** You may have a point here. At 1273 words, one could indeed say it
>>> all
>>> and then some!
>>>
>>> Question is what?
>>>
>>> *** You being the seasoned observer of Indian-politics and the
>>> hawk-eyed
>>> guardian of Indian interests in assamnet, why don't you tell us what you
>>> see
>>> in Mishra's article that has been lauded not just by Uttam, but our
>>> fellow
>>>
>> > netter and eminent journalist Padmashri Mukhim aideu, as to the point
>> and
>>
>>> relevance to the issues the writer agonizes about and hopefully
>>> contributes
>>> something to their resolution?
>>>
>>>
>>> And keep those hard words and phrases put of it, if you don't mind. We
>>> are
>>> not English majors here you know, much less St. Edmunds grads :-)?
>>>
>>> c-da
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "I take this opportunity to pay my tribute to a young man who, unlike
>>>> most
>>>> of us, dared to do what he considered to be right."
>>>>
>>>> If what Dr. Singh did wasn't courageous, the whole state of Manipur
>>>> would
>>>> not have been galvanized into mass protests against the insurgents.
>>>>
>>>> A lot of ink has been used to displaying one's own righteousness. But
>>>> who
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> challenged it?
>>>>
>>>> Cheap thrills is how I see the essay.
>>>>> Was anyone debating, doubting, gloating over, or otherwise condoning
>>>>> a
>>>>>
>>>>> most senseless crime?
>>>>
>>>> Even NSCN( IM) has >condemned the act, as the article says.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Yeah right!, and the article ALSO says:
>>>>
>>>> ***the NSCN(I-M) leadership has now been forced to distance itself from
>>>> this
>>>> heinous deed by at least publicly disapproving the crime.***
>>>>
>>>> The article must have touched a raw nerve somewhere.
>>>>
>>>> Such desensitisation pervades every sphere. But it never stopped anyone
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> from discussing "slumdog' and the >squalor.
>>>>
>>>> What can I say, Uttam ... for some desis here.. it was as if they had a
>>>> "a
>>>>
>>> >> tingling feeling crawl up their legs" - t'was, what one might call -
>> a
>>
>>> Chris
>>>> Mathews moment. They were gushing all over. :)
>>>>
>>>> --Ram
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 8:18 PM, uttam borthakur
>>>> <uttamborthakur at yahoo.co.in>wrote:
>>>>
>>>> As Ms Patricia Mukhim had pointed out, 'insouciance' may be the
>>>> problem.
>>>>
>>>>> Such desensitisation pervades every sphere. But it never stopped
>>>>> anyone
>>>>> from
>>>>> discussing "slumdog' and the squalor. Also, there are certain things
>>>>> that
>>>>> are really puzzling in human behaviour ( remember Yudhisthir
>>>>> approaching
>>>>> the
>>>>> water hole in Mahabharata), such as, the 'impatience' that all
>>>>> expected changes would come about in one's own life-time. There may be
>>>>> a
>>>>> lull before the storm, who knows?
>>>>>
>>>>> Why of the 'heedlessness' was not in the pale and ambit of Mr. Udayan
>>>>> Mishra's write-up, or was it? Also, it should be understood that The
>>>>> Assam
>>>>> Tribune restricts the length of an article to a given number of lines,
>>>>> words
>>>>> and columns. Just as we are discussing Mr. Mishra's article, views may
>>>>> crystalise and this may impel someone to act in a given direction.
>>>>>
>>>>> So, i should think that patience and perseverence would augur well for
>>>>> everyone of us, especially the adults.
>>>>>
>>>>> Uttam Kumar Borthakur
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ________________________________
>>>>> From: Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
>>>>> To: A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the
>>>>> world
>>>>> <
>>>>> assam at assamnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Sunday, 1 March, 2009 9:59:52 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Assam] A write-up by Udayan Mishra
>>>>>
>>>>> > >It is about the death of a young civil servant in Manipur. I
>>>>> thought
>>>>> assam netters would be interested. How efforts at good deeds are
>>>>> silenced by
>>>>> guns: state as well as militants. So, you may try the link below......
>>>>>
>>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> **** I was hoping to see some solutions to the problem, at least a
>>>>> discussion of.
>>>>>
>>>>> A lot of ink has been used to displaying one's own righteousness. But
>>>>> who
>>>>> challenged it?
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheap thrills is how I see the essay.
>>>>>
>>>>> Was anyone debating, doubting, gloating over, or otherwise condoning
>>>>> a
>>>>> most senseless crime? Even NSCN( IM) has condemned the act, as the
>>>>> article
>>>>> says.
>>>>>
>>>>> >
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The author leaves no doubt about his own balanced sense of justice by
>>>>> painstakingly pointing out the perpetrators -- the insurgents and the
>>>>> state.
>>>>> How more balanced can one get? He pays flowing tributes to the
>>>>> Manipuri
>>>>> women , their outrage and their fearless, ceaseless protests.
>>>>>
>>>>> Somewhere here must be lurking what their efforts have brought them.
>>>>>
>>>> >>>
>>
>>> But why can't I find it? Could it just be, therefore, that these are
>>>>> just
>>>>> as meaningless rites too? And why should it be meaningless, fruitless?
>>>>> Who
>>>>> should they be looking at for results? The good folks or the folks?
>>>>> Misra,
>>>>> incisively points out who the bad guys are. But where are the good
>>>>> guys?
>>>>> How
>>>>> does he see their role in these tragedies? Do they have any
>>>>> responsibility
>>>>> too? Could it be that he would not get into that, lest it dilutes his
>>>>> message?
>>>>>
>>>>> Standing out, by its absence, is any effort by the author to look at,
>>>>> if
>>>>> not suggest solutions, into what leads to these acts of violence and
>>>>> death
>>>>> and how to put an end to it. In that it is, at best, yet another lot
>>>>> of
>>>>> idle
>>>>> blather.
>>>>>
>>>>> cm
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> PS: If I am not mistaken, this writer authored an article a few years
>>>>> ago,
>>>>> in which he exhorted the people of Assam to forsake the fantasy of the
>>>>> Seven
>>>>> Sisters, that the Assamese had nothing in common with the Nagas, the
>>>>> Mizos,
>>>>> the Khasis and so forth and argued the point that the notion of the
>>>>> Seven
>>>>> Sisters is a myth. Has he found religion, or am I the one who is
>>>>> confused?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The tragedy of Manipur
>>>>> - Udayon Misra
>>>>> Dr Thingnam Kishan Singh, the young SDO of Kashom Khullen subdivision
>>>>> of
>>>>>
>>>> >>> Ukhrul district of Manipur, demonstrated a rare sense of integrity
>> and
>>
>>> courage as a civil service official. He decided to swim against the
>>>>> tide.
>>>>> Unlike most other government officials who have been unquestioningly
>>>>> obeying
>>>>> the diktats of the different militant groups, Kishan Singh stubbornly
>>>>> opposed the siphoning off of government funds into the coffers of the
>>>>> militants. Kishan believed passionately that development funds must go
>>>>> to
>>>>> the people. And, he paid with his life for his uprightness and
>>>>> idealism.
>>>>> On
>>>>> February 13, Dr Kishan Singh along with his driver, Aribam Rajen and a
>>>>> mandal, Yumnam Token Singh were abducted from front of the Deputy
>>>>> Commissioner's office at Ukhrul as they came out of a meeting. Four
>>>>> days
>>>>> later their bodies were discovered at Taphou Kuki village in Senapati
>>>>> district. They had been bludgeoned to death in a most brutal manner.
>>>>> The
>>>>> NSCN (I-M) was suspected of
>>>>> carrying out the abduction and murders and after initial denials the
>>>>> NSCN
>>>>> (I-M) admitted that three of its cadres were involved in the incident.
>>>>> Obviously, the militant outfit was unhappy at Kishan Singh's resolve
>>>>> not
>>>>> to
>>>>> allow development funds from being squandered by the militants and
>>>>> hence
>>>>> it
>>>>> decided to teach the young idealist officer a lesson. One was
>>>>> immediately
>>>>> reminded of the manner in which Sanjoy Ghose was abducted and killed
>>>>> by
>>>>> the
>>>>> ULFA because he demanded transparency in the release of funds meant
>>>>> for
>>>>> rural development programmes at Majuli.
>>>>>
>>>>> Had it not been the immediate public outcry following the discovery of
>>>>> the
>>>>> dead bodies of Kishan Singh and his colleagues, the incident would
>>>>> have
>>>>> perhaps been written off as yet another instance of militant killing
>>>>> in
>>>>> the
>>>>> state of Manipur. Manipur has been in the throes of violence for
>>>>> several
>>>>> decades now. But unlike many other states of the country where
>>>>> violence,
>>>>> both by the State and by insurgent outfits have come to be accepted
>>>>> with
>>>>> a
>>>>> stoic sense of resignation, in Manipur the people, especially its
>>>>> womenfolk,
>>>>> know how to protest every such killing. Women's organisations like the
>>>>> Meira
>>>>>
>>>>> > Paibi have been in the forefront of such protests and women dressed
>>>> in
>>>> white
>>>>
>>>> and silently protesting violence and the deaths of innocents is a
>>>>> common
>>>>> sight in Imphal and other towns of Manipur. Not that these protests
>>>>> have
>>>>> resulted in immediate results. Entire Manipur was galvanized over the
>>>>> rape
>>>>> and murder of Thanjam Manorama by security personnel some years ago.
>>>>>
>>>>> > Manipur's protest against that heinous deed was flashed throughout
>>>> the
>>>>
>>> >>
>>
>>> country and abroad. But the culprits are yet to be punished. But the
>>>>> people
>>>>> of Manipur have not allowed the callousness and collaboration of the
>>>>> authorities in these inhuman acts of violence to dampen their spirits.
>>>>> They
>>>>> know in their heart of hearts that they must keep on protesting
>>>>> against
>>>>> all
>>>>> such acts, whether committed by the State or by the militant groups.
>>>>> So,
>>>>> the
>>>>> Joint Action Committee set up to protest the deaths of Kishan Singh
>>>>> and
>>>>> his
>>>>> colleagues has worked out an elaborate plan of action which is bound
>>>>> to
>>>>> keep
>>>>> people's opinion focused on the need to secure justice and get the
>>>>> perpetrators of this terrible crime duly punished. Who was Kishan
>>>>> Singh
>>>>> over
>>>>> whose murder entire Manipur has been galvanized into protest? So much
>>>>> so,
>>>>> that all organisations irrespective of clan and tribe loyalties have
>>>>> come
>>>>> out in one voice in demanding that the criminals masquerading as
>>>>> militants
>>>>> be
>>>>> punished. The NSCN(I-M) which initially tried to disclaim
>>>>> responsibility,
>>>>> has now said that it has identified the killers who happen to be its
>>>>> cadres
>>>>> and that they are in its custody. With thousands of people
>>>>> demonstrating
>>>>> against the murder in the Tangkhul Naga dominated Ulkhrul district,
>>>>> the
>>>>> NSCN(I-M) leadership has now been forced to distance itself from this
>>>>>
>>>> >>> heinous deed by at least publicly disapproving the crime.
>>
>>>
>>>>> Dr Thingnam Kishan Singh was no ordinary government official. In many
>>>>> senses, he was a symbol of the young and resurgent Manipur that is
>>>>> trying to
>>>>> come out of the clutches of almost endless violence. He had founded
>>>>> the
>>>>> "Centre for Alternative Discourse" and was the editor Alternative
>>>>> Perspectives, a scholarly journal which has created for itself a place
>>>>> among
>>>>> the intellectual world of the country. Each issue of this highly
>>>>> perceptive
>>>>> journal would carry an incisive essay by Kishen Singh and the topics
>>>>> ranged
>>>>> from critiquing India's Look East policy to the economics of
>>>>> underdevelopment. Sad to say, in Assam today we have few social
>>>>> science
>>>>> journals which would be able to compete with the one edited by Kishen
>>>>> Singh,
>>>>> either in the range of its topics or in the depth of its analysis. A
>>>>> topper
>>>>> in English Literature both at the undergraduate and the post-graduate
>>>>> level
>>>>> from the Jamia Milli Islamia University, Kishan started his teaching
>>>>> career
>>>>> at Delhi's
>>>>> Shyamlal College. But his urge to serve his own state of Manipur made
>>>>> him
>>>>> give up that job and come and join the prestigious DM College at
>>>>> Imphal.
>>>>> From there he moved to the Manipur University as a Lecturer. Then he
>>>>> took
>>>>> the Manipur Civil Service examination and joined the administration.
>>>>> As
>>>>> the
>>>>> SDO of a backward district, Kishen was bent on making development
>>>>> funds
>>>>> reach the people instead of the militants. His devotion to duty and
>>>>> unswerving loyalty to his ideals created problems for those who worked
>>>>> with
>>>>> him. The Joint Action Committee has accused the Deputy Commissioner
>>>>> and
>>>>> the
>>>>> Superintendent of Police of Ukhrul of having complicity in the crime.
>>>>> The
>>>>> Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has already suspended both of them for
>>>>> their
>>>>> failure to ensure protection to Kishen and his colleagues. Only a
>>>>> thorough
>>>>> and impartial enquiry will reveal the truth of the matter.
>>>>>
>>>>> It is rather strange that initially the murder of this leading
>>>>> intellectual
>>>>> and Manipur Civil Service official went virtually unreported in the
>>>>> regional
>>>>> press and media of our state. That much for our sentiments on the
>>>>> seven
>>>>> sisters being bonded with a common thread! It was only after life in
>>>>> Imphal
>>>>> and other towns came to a virtual halt because of massive people's
>>>>> protests
>>>>> against the murders and curfew had to be imposed, that the regional
>>>>> media
>>>>>
>>>>> > gave some space to the incident. Quite often the regional media in
>>>> Assam
>>>>
>>>> rightly accuses the national media of blacking out this region during
>>>>>
>>>> >>> moments of crisis. But, unfortunately, when it came to reporting
>> this
>>
>>> particular incident involving the abduction and murder of a leading
>>>>> intellectual of neighbouring Manipur, the regional press in Assam
>>>>> failed
>>>>> to
>>>>>
>>>>> > give the incident due weightage. Those who knew Dr Kishen Singh
>>>> would
>>>>
>>>> vouchsafe for not only his unflinching loyalty to the common people but
>>>>> also
>>>>> his urge to
>>>>> build a new Northeast where there would be more meaningful interaction
>>>>> and
>>>>> exchange between the different states and their people. The research
>>>>> foundation which he had started, the journal he edited and the
>>>>> discussions
>>>>> he initiated bear testimony to all this. He was one of those few who
>>>>> could
>>>>> successfully get out of the groove of localised thinking and relate
>>>>> his
>>>>> vision to happenings not only in this region or country but also in
>>>>> the
>>>>> wider world. This is exactly what he stated in his editorial in one of
>>>>> the
>>>>> volumes of his journal. His death in the hands of some criminals who
>>>>> try
>>>>> to
>>>>> pass off as "freedom fighters" but who are the real enemies of the
>>>>> people,
>>>>> has created a void which will be difficult to fill. I take this
>>>>> opportunity
>>>>> to pay my tribute to a young man who, unlike most of us, dared to do
>>>>> what he
>>>>> considered to be right.
>>>>>
>>>> >>>
>>
>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> At 9:11 AM +0530 3/1/09, uttam borthakur wrote:
>>>>> > It is about the death of a young civil servant in Manipur. I thought
>>>>> assam netters would be interested. How efforts at good deeds are
>>>>> silenced by
>>>>> guns: state as well as militants. So, you may try the link below......
>>>>> >
>>>>> > http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=mar0109/edit2
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Uttam Kumar Borthakur
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now, on
>>>>> http://help.yahoo.com/l/in/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/tools/tools-08.html/
>>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>>> > assam mailing list
>>>>> > assam at assamnet.org
>>>>> > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> assam mailing list
>>>>> assam at assamnet.org
>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to
>>>>> http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> assam mailing list
>>>>> assam at assamnet.org
>>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>
>>>> assam mailing list
>>>> assam at assamnet.org
>>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> assam mailing list
>>> assam at assamnet.org
>>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>> assam mailing list
>> assam at assamnet.org
>> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> assam mailing list
> assam at assamnet.org
> http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
>
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