Pankaj Sinha
Dimapur
Manik Babu, People of Dimapur called him. People of Dimapur loved him. He was Bangali, but renowned, social and administrative citizens of Nagaland feel Manik Babu’s sociable educational work was for us, Manik Babu was real citizen of Nagaland. Really, the behavioral social activities of Manik Babu were connected with the heart of Dimapur, also People of Nagaland. Manik Babu received very prestigious Certificate for Governor’s Gold Medal by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on 15th August 2005 at kohima. He was also awarded Karmyogi award by Lions Club International and Bharat Ratna award by Bharat Sewashrm Sangh.
Manik Chandra Bhattacharjee is the full name of Manik Babu. He was born in 1934 in undivided Bharat at Habibganj of present Bangla Desh. His father was freedom fighter renowned lawyer. His father came to Dimapur in 1939 and finally settled in Dimapur with family after 2nd world war. That time Dimapur was in dark. Dimapur was just like one undevelop village. No any better education institutions were available in Dimapur. He admitted Railway High school of Lumding and completed matriculation exam. His mind & heart was fully connected with sociable educational nature from beginning. He wanted to develop the better education for students in Dimapur. Those days no any educational facilities were running in Dimapur. He was keen lover of education. He had deeply talked with renowned persons of Dimapur. It was cause; he was associated with a number of educational institutions. He was the founder member and later secretary of Dimapur Railway High School, member of Dimapur Government College, founder of Public College of Commerce, and founder secretary of Pranab Vidyapith Higher Secondary school & Pranabanand Women’s college of Dimapur and connected with many educational institutions of Dimapur and other places.
Manik Babu had felt in those time, citizens of Dimapur are unable to get information about any incident, social, educational, political and business activities. His socialistic mind & heart made him first journalist of Nagaland. He was contributed & correspondent of news items to various papers outside from Nagaland like Hindustan Times, Assam Tribune and Anandbazar Patrika. He was also published first local English weekly URA MAIL. He was also columnist of Ura Mail. Late Chalie Kevichusa was the editor of Ura Mail. He was also one poet.
He was also moved himself as politician to serve the societies of Nagaland. He was founder member of Democratic Party of Nagaland. He contested assembly election from Dimapur I in 1989 with U.D.F. Ticket. He was two tenures member and vice-chairman of Dimapur Town Committee. He was the state member of Petroleum product, member of Telephone Advisory Committee, founder & trustee board member of Dimapur Sri Ramkrishna Society, founder vice-chairman of urban C0-operative Bank, ex-Director of Nagaland Co-operative Bank & MARCOFED etc.
He had also one great cultural personality. He was a great Nationalist. He was felt proud on Hindu culture. He was connected with many cultural organizations. He was always guided that religion learns how to worship Almighty God. He was also lover with Sanatan,Christian, Hindu, Sikh etc. religions. He was always wanted to develop the societies of Nagaland.
Manik Babu or Manik Da was endowed with many-many rare qualities. He was a great social worker, a great talented organizer, an educationist, dedicated politician, a poet, a journalist and what not. He alive his life for humanity and the people of Nagaland. His life was dedicated for Nagaland.
Manik Babu breathed his last on 13th February 2008 at 9 pm. Those time Honorable Governor of Nagaland K. Sankaranarayanan and former chief minister K. L. Chishi condolence him. They told Manik Babu was great social & educational activist for the development of Nagaland. He is one motivator for our youth.
I was present in the programme of Pranabanand Women’s College on 1st November 2016. The daughter of Manik Babu met there. She told my father visited Pranabanand Women’s College at 1:30 pm and sit with students on 13th February and also visited Pranab Vidyapith Higher Secondary School at 2:30 pm before 6-7 hrs.his death. It is great distinction of great soul.
I heard, Manik Bhattacharjee Foundation, Dimapur: Nagaland is going to organize Manik Bhattacharjee Giving Award Ceremony on 7th November 2016. It would be great pay homage to Late Manik Babu.
