Newmai News Network
Imphal | July 10
Naga students in Manipur today destroyed a large number of text books prescribed by Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) in the four districts of Ukhrul, Chandel, Senapati and Tamenglong, intensifying their campaign for adopting text books prescribed by Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) in private schools in the Naga-dominated districts.
Students’ organizations like Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong, Ukhrul, Naga Students Union Chandel and Senapati District Students Union and Zeliangrong Students Union, Tamenglong under the supervision of the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) burnt thousands of Class VIII to X text books simultaneously in the four district headquarters. Manipur chief minister, O. Ibobi Singh directed the district police and officials not to allow the burning of the books as announced by the Naga student organization in advance.
However, barring Tamenglong everything went on as per plan. Students in thousands came out of their homes carrying Manipur board prescribed text books at the Tangkhul Nagalong Ground at Ukhrul district headquarters and threw the books into a bonfire. Public leaders and representatives of Naga Students Federation and All Naga Students Association were present at the Ukhrul programme. A Naga student leader informed in Ukhrul that books were burnt simultaneously in the other three districts. Police, however, claimed that they foiled the attempt by students in Tamenglong district. About 3000 thousand students took part in the Ukhrul programme.
Even as the books were being burnt the students present shouted slogans welcoming introduction of text books prescribed by Nagaland board while giving a farewell to the Manipur board books. “Welcome to Nagaland syllabus and bye bye to Manipur syllabus,” a witness said over the phone from Ukhrul.
ANSAM has been carrying on a campaign in the district headquarters to replace Manipur books with those of Nagaland Board’s. The student body has been demanding affiliation of private schools in the Naga areas to the Nagaland Board. Ibobi Singh government is opposing to the idea of Manipur schools getting affiliation to the Nagaland board. The chief minister recently warned schools found teaching text books from other states’ Board. However, the threat by the chief minister failed to deter the Naga students. ANSAM announced that it was prepared for the worst.
Students taking part in Chandel programme reportedly charged that Meiteis are trying to impose their culture on the Nagas through school text books. While the Meiteis are trying to impose their script on the Nagas the Manipur text books are dominated by Meitei culture and history, they charged. The programmes were held without any major incident.
Meanwhile, contrary to earlier reports, the Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur (ZSUM) this evening claimed that it had burnt the Manipur Board text books in Tamenglong Bazaar this afternoon. Talking over the phone to Newmai News Network, ZSUM Education Secretary, G.H Newme said that text books prescribed by BSEM were burnt right after Chief Minister O.Ibobi left Tamenglong Headquarter.
Manipur CM came by chopper for the inauguration of Tamenglong Higher Secondary School’s new building today. He was accompanied by Power Minister Francis Ngajokpa, state unit Congress president Gaikhangam and MLA Mangaibou. “In support of All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) directive of teaching Nagaland board text books in all the private schools in the four hill districts of Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Chandel and Senapati, we are endorsing and implementing with action”, said GH Newme, Education Secretary of ZSUM while adding that several text books of BSEM were burnt to ashes this afternoon. Further, he disclosed that one of ZSUM co-ordinator volunteer was interrogated by Assam Rifles but released at 4 pm unharmed.
