Imphal: Prof Amar Yumnam, who is at the centre of controversy over a Ph.D thesis – Socio-Economic Roots of Insurgency’, by one Brig. S K Sharma, said those civil society organisations which have been threatening his life and property, read the whole thesis rather than acting on a particular number.
Prof Amar appeared to refer to the 700 square miles, which the CSOs claimed that the author of the thesis tried to distort that the merger of Manipur to Dominion of India was only 700 square miles.
“In any case, I have nothing to do with the number 700 in whose reference my name is being dragged,” said a statement by Yumnam here on Wednesday.
The Professor said he was only a co-supervisor of the research done by the Scholar, Brig S K Sharma, at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) with a Leading Supervisor from the same university. In the University system, the co-supervisor is by no means the key deciding teacher and his role is very limited, if any, he contended.
“In recent days many groups have mentioned my name in connection with the thesis…In all these references there are invariably tones of unwanted consequences to my life and property if I don’t apologise socially within certain specified periods,” said Prof Amar.
“Today morning a group of about thirty or so under the banner of ML (Meitei Lipul) and with a contact number of 7005158667 in the name of Chinglemba Wahengbam came to my home and gave me a stern warning that my apologies should come out in the media not later than 21 July 2022,” Yumnam disclosed.
“On the issue where my name is being quoted, I would appeal that the whole thesis may kindly be read as a whole rather than acting on a particular number,” he continued.
Last month, one Youth for Peace and Progress (YPPM), a Manipur-based youth organisation demanded a public apology from Prof Amar Yunman of Manipur University for “distorting historical facts” about the ‘Great Kingdom’ of Manipur.
A Ph.D thesis entitled, “Socio-economic roots of insurgency in North East India”, which was guided by Prof Amar Yumnam of MU & Dr. Sadananda Sahoo of IGNOU has attempted to nullify all the efforts and sacrifices of our forefathers to build such a great kingdom. As against the all evident historical facts, the author tried to distort that the merger of Manipur to Dominion of India was only 700 square miles, and the Maharaja of Manipur had no Suzerainty over Tribal chiefs of hill areas in Manipur, said a statement by YPPM.
