IMPHAL, March 18: The (L) Dr Ningombam Ibobi Singh Memorial Trust and Department of Political Science, DM College of Arts observed the first memorial lecture and the 14th death anniversary of (L) Dr Ningombam Ibobi Singh at the auditorium of the DM College of Arts today.
Prof N Joykumar Singh, Department of History Manipur University presented the memorial lecture on the topic “Political development in Manipur, 1950 to 1972″. The Trust also announced a cash award to the best student in Political Science every year in the memory of (L) Dr Ningombam Ibobi Singh, the first PhD holder in Political Science in Manipur on the occasion.
Speaking at the occasion, Moirangthem Okendro, Minister Education, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution said that many former students of (L) Ibobi Singh are presently working in the state administration.
The observance of memorial lecture and death anniversary shows the responsibility of wise sons for a father. “The support and cooperation of the people is needed to bring good education system in the state. We have been trying to the make the state independent in terms of education,” he said.
Manipur Government is inviting scores of distinguished private universities from outside to open their branches here as the Government aims to enhance higher education in the state, the Minister said. Okendro said the state Government alone cannot work on improvement of quality education in the state, seeking the people’s cooperation in such effort. He said the state Government is making efforts to improve higher education in Manipur and toward that end, it is inviting many private universities from other states of the country to set up their branches here. He also said a deemed University will be set up soon in the complex of DM College of Science, Imphal as it is the need of the hour for post graduate students.
“Nowadays the people in the state are in the habit of raising their demands through undemocratic means and such protest often turns out to be fruitless,” the Minister further added.
He suggested that the NGOs should air their voice only through democratic ways as there had been many instances in the past when demands of the people were fulfilled through such means.
The occasion was presided over by Dr Adhikarimayum Nungshitombi Devi, Principal DM College of Arts, and attended by Thounaojam Iboyaima Singh as Special Guest.