IMPHAL, January 21: The official celebration of the 41st statehood day of Manipur was observed today at the conference hall of South Block of Imphal secretariat with chief minister Okram Ibobi as the chief guest.
The program was attended by top echelons of the civil and police services.
During his address, the chief minister, Okram Ibobi, stated that a long cherished dream of the Manipuris was achieved with the attainment of full statehood on this day 40 years ago.
Hence, he added, this day is one of the most significant dates in the annals of Manipur.
His speech encompassed the struggle of the Manipuris from the day the state lost its sovereignty to the British Union in 1891 till it became a full-fledged state.
We must work with full understanding of our goals and responsibilities, as each of us is responsible for determining our fate, he stated.
He emphasized the need to make a combined effort to bring about unity, prosperity and development in the state.
It may be recalled Manipur attained full-fledged state on this day in 1972.
Prior to this, it was a Union Territory.
Immediately after the controversial merger of Manipur into the Indian Union on October 15, 1949, the then constituency monarchy with an written constitution and an elected Assembly was unceremoniously dissolved and the state made put under a Dewan as a Part-C state.
Discontent eventually led to its upgradation to a Union Territory however the public discontent was not pacified for long.
Street protests continued and threatened to turn violent. It was then full statehood was granted to Manipur.