IMPHAL, August 27: The All Manipur Students`™ Union- one of the oldest student body in the State observed the 50th Hunger Marches Day popularly known as the `Chaklam Khongchat`™ today reminiscing the August 27, 1965 mass movement and protest against an artificial famine like situation in the State.
The day`™s observation began since early morning with hymns in the name of the four martyrs who lost their lives during the movement being offered at the memorial site at Pishum (Ching Macha).
Later during the formal observation, a large number of people including students offered floral tributes to the portraits of the four at their memorial site.
As part of the observation, a huge public meeting was also organised at the Multipurpose Hall of Manipur College, Imphal chaired by former president AMSU L Sharatchandra, with AMSU president S Subhaschandra, associate prof Economics, Manipur College L Gojendro and North East Students`™ Organisation general secretary S Prakash attending as president and guests of honour respectively.
Speaking on the sideline of the event, secretary general AMSU Manjit Sarangthem said the artificial famine like situations have been witnessed twice in the State- the first instance in 1939 before independence and the second in 1965 after independence.
He said the hunger marchers`™ day is observed to commemorate the incident of 1965 during which four persons lost their lives.
He continued, although we could have learnt from the past instances, we are yet to become selt-reliant and self-dependent.
The State still hasn`™t achieved status of being self-sufficient of food grains, he added.
Whenever, there are blockades on the two national highways which are acting as lifelines of the State, we face food constrains, he said.