IMPHAL, December 13: `Prof Sanajaoba was my `resource person`™, I consulted with him on so many subjects, especially in certain areas which I am not thoroughly conversant. He would always oblige to share any knowledge or information without any hesitation`, said former Justice (retd) RK Manisana.
The retired chief justice of Gauhati High Court, RK Manisana was speaking as the chief guest during the observation of the 5th death anniversary of Prof. Naorem Sanajaoba, organised by the Ojha Sanajaoba Memorial Trust, OSMT at Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai, Imphal today.
Manisana continued that Prof Sanajaoba truly deserves to be addressed as `Ojha`™, in its best sense of the term. He said titles like `Professor`™ or `Dr`™ are given to people in teaching profession who possess standard academic degrees, but the word `Ojha`™ has a loftier connotation from all the titles.
He requested the members of the OSMT, to open a library in the name of the Prof Sanajoaba.
Propagation of knowledge and wisdom was his love, opening a library in his name will be useful to scholars, he said.
Witoubou Newmai, founder editor of the Newmai News Network, NNN who is also currently the editor of the Eastern Mirror, speaking as the guest of honour of the observation, recollected his fond memories of Prof. Sanajaoba.
He said Prof Sanjaoba was a `conscience keeper`™ of a standard rarely found. The present society badly needs conscience keepers, and with the passing away of Prof Sanajaoba, not only the Manipuri society but the States of the whole Northeast have lost an eminent personality, he added.
Witoubou at the same time maintained that Prof Sanjaoba will live on forever through his writings and thoughts that he had warmly shared with so many people ranging from activist to scholars. `I consider myself as his pupil and for me, he is still alive`, he said.
He recalled his early days of setting up Newmai News Network, saying that the first computer of NNN was donated to him by Prof Sanajaoba.
He was someone who was deeply concerned about the future of `threatened`™ ethnic peoples cutting across community and political boundaries, Witoubou said.
Prof K Ibo of Manipur University, delivering his presidential address said that Prof Sanajaoba was like an institution with wide range of accumulated knowledge. `I was fortunate to have worked with him and in the process, I learned a lot from him`, he said.
The observation was also addressed by Dr Thathang Vaiphei of MU, as one of the guests of honour. Also among the speakers were Dr Mani of AMUCO, H Sanajaoba of NRC, RK Leipaklotpi of Poirei Leimarol and Phulindro Konsam of COHR etc.