Dimapur, July 17 (MExN): Frontal Naga organizations the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights, United Naga Council, Naga Women Union Manipur and the All Naga Students Association Manipur, justified what was termed as the ‘resolute’ stand of the Nagas for affiliation to the NBSE. It also warned Manipur media for not maintaining “balance” as well as reasserted demand for affilation to the NBSE.
It out-rightly rejected the allegations that the demand for introducing NBSE syllabus in the 4 Naga Hill districts was planned by the NSCN (IM). “It is a blatant lie. The Naga people hereby clarify that the private schools are affiliating to NBSE of their own free will and not under the barrel of a gun. Mr. O Ibobi’s allegation that schools are being forced to affiliate to NBSE through the barrel of a gun is a shameless lie” it stated.
“The recent burning of Manipuri/BSEM text books in the Naga Districts was inevitable. The Naga students are doing what they ought to do. The private schools in the 4 (four) Naga districts have introduced the NBSE syllabus and the Naga people are determined. Is there any loss for the BSEM/Meiteis?” questioned a statement signed by KS Paul Leo, UNC President, Grace Shatsang, NWUM President, Phamhring Sengul, NPMHR Convener (South) and Paulhring Langhu, ANSAM President.
The organizations also gave the reasons why syllabus replacement is being demanded. According to the statement the reasons are: ‘that the BSEM curriculum through their prescribed text books imposes the dominant (Meitei) culture and traditions upon the minorities (Naga & other hill people); that the Educational curriculum of the BSEM even contains chapters which attempts to distort Naga History; that State Legislative Ordinance of 2005 deliberately ignores the rights of the minorities by imposing the Meitei Mayek (Meitei language) upon Nagas and other minorities; that the Bengali script is imposed in the schools from Class I to VIII through coercion and persuasion; that the order by the Governor of Manipur dated January 7, 2004 which bar private schools in the state from seeking affiliation to CBSE or ICSE is an imposition of the Meiteis’ will upon Naga students in particular and the hill students in general depriving the minorities of their rights to free and fair education’. It added that the peoples’ movement for identity, dignity, justice, freedom and peace can never be smothered by any force.
Further asserting that while Nagas respect the views of any section of the society, they will never tolerate “the bias and chauvinism of the dominant Meiteis” the organization warned The Sangai Express, a Manipur daily, of biasness.
“The Sangai editorial dated 4th July, 2006 sudden outburst of concern for the students in the 4 Naga districts is nothing but shedding crocodile tears, whereas its stand against the Naga Integration is clear. The Sangai Express editorial is advised to maintain a balanced reporting otherwise this can have serious implication” warned the statement.
It questioned why the Sangai editorial, AISF, United Committee Manipur (UCM) and others and the State Government of Manipur “is panicked when the Private Schools of the 4 Naga districts opted for prescribed text books of NBSE.” “What makes them think that the students might loss their academic career by seeking affiliation to NBSE? Do they mean to say that only BSEM is capable of imparting good education? Do they also think that getting affiliated to NBSE means playing with the future of the Naga students? Why are the dominant Meiteis and Mr. Nandakumar Sarma, Secretary BSEM reacting so much when the Nagas are pursuing to evolve a common education pattern?” it questioned adding that the Nagas opposed the “imposed education system especially the BSEM because the Naga people desire to have a common future with a common educational administration.”
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