As many as six students’ bodies on Wednesday demanded a clarification from professors Amar Yumnam and Sadananda Sahoo in connection with the controversy surrounding a “flawed” thesis published by a retired brigadier on Manipur’s history.
The student bodies issued a joint statement on Wednesday stating that the thesis by brigadier Sushil Kumar under the title “Socio-Economic Roots of Insurgency in North East India” has misled the history of Manipur.
The student bodies are Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS), All Manipur Students Union (AMSU), Democratic Students of Alliance Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students Association (KSA), Manipuri Students’ Federation (MSF) and Students Union of Kangleipak (SUK).
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The statement claimed that the thesis was prepared under the guidance of prof Amar Yumnam and Sadananda Sahoo.
Not only does the book mention division of Manipur into two parts during the signing of the instrument of accession there is also an unfounded claim that the total area of Manipur that was merged into India - being only 700 square miles, and tribal chiefs not being subjects of the king of Manipur.
The student bodies said the mistake made by Sadananda Sahoo is understandable for being a non-native. However, it is unacceptable in the case of Amar Yumnam who is a native of the state.
As such, the student bodies hold Amar Yumnam responsible for the confusion created by misinterpretation of the history of Manipur.
