OJHA (Prof.) NAOREM SANAJAOBA – A Visionary Leader ‘From Nomad to Institution’

By – Sougrakpam Bhubol
Ojha (Prof.) Naorem Sanajaoba is known as social ideologue by his academic works sturdily fenced by two clippings under the same titles as “Kadomda Hayeng gi Manipur”, the first in 1967 AD) and the last in 2009 AD. “From Log Cabin to White House” defines Abraham Lincoln whose ever lasting niche to human civilization is his successful proposition of the essence of ‘Abolition of Slavery System’; and, in the similar way, Ojha (Prof.) Naorem Sanajaoaba (1045 – 2009 AD) is defined by “From Nomad to Institution” which is exemplified by his early childhood to grown up life as an itinerant and, his magnanimous works in the later period that all have finally shaped himself as an institute or school, and for which, People lovingly and respectfully called him “Ojha” for he became the most influential and active campaigner against colonialism of all forms, Fascism, Nazism, Racism, virulent Caste-ism, and the negative facets of human civilization silhouetting as post colonial remnants in the North East region particularly in Manipur. Ojha was a path finder for resolving several critical issues and challenges of his time and he could systematically plug the loopholes of the people and the intellectuals who were simply contented with refurbishing ideas generated by outsiders. Ojha’s unusual academic works have become the sources of filling up the vacuum to abating conflicts of ideas and sub-identity politics in the North East in general and Manipur in particular.
Ojha solely believed in the mutual growth and co-existence of all sub-nationalities (39 ethnic communities constituting ‘a people’ of Manipur) that has been sustaining since early historical period. Lamyanba Irabot (1896-1951 AD) had powerfully influenced people’s movement against colonialism represented by womenfolk, which is yearly observed as the 2nd Nupi Lan of 1939, and in the similar way, Ojha Sanajaoaba was able influence, with his astounding academic works and censorious outlooks, in different social and political dimensions and more prominently in the promulgation of the rights of the oppressed nations and peoples, and international humanitarian laws, and for his authoritative works, he may be termed as the iconoclast(iconic thinker) of the 21st century Manipuri history. Having surpassed the most tragic and miserable childhood life, Ojha Sanajaoba came out as promising youth as students’ leader with a founding thought of Manipuri nationalism reflected in an insightful article named “Kadomda Hayeng gi Manipur”(AMSU journal, 27th August, 1967) and, after trimming off all satanic waves impacted upon educational life, he became the Professor, Head, and Dean in the School of Law, Gauhati University, which was soon followed by his career as a classic author of precious books, and ended his life while continued writing series of articles under the same title (Kadomda Hayeng gi Manipur) in 2009 (in the Ichemma journal). During the tenure between 1967 to 2009, Ojha Sanajaoaba exhaustively contributed a lot of academic work and intellectual drudgery to defending Manipuri civilization as a representation of South-East Asia’s early civilization.
The selective works of Ojha Sanajaoba include, (1). Industrial Tribunal-Working, Procedure and Judicial Trends, 1985, (2). Basic Issues on Centre-State Relations(ed.), 1986, (3). Socio Legal Problems and Developing Society, 1986, (4). Law and Society, Strategy for policy Choice, 2001, (5). Manipur Past and Present, Vol-I(ed.), 1988, (6).Manipur Past and Present, Vol-II(ed.), 1991, (7).Manipur Past and Present, Vol-III(ed.), 1995, (8). Manipur Past and Present, Vol-IV(ed.), 2005, (9). Manipur Treaties and Document(1110-1971AD)-Vol-1,1993 (10). Human Rights-Principles, Practices and Abuses, 1994, (11). Right of Oppressed Nations( and People),1995, (12). A Manual of International Humanitarian Laws (ed.) foreword by Vincent Nicod, the then Chief Delegate of the ICRC, 2004, (13). Meeoibagi Hak Kunmathoisuba Chahicha, 1999 , (14). Manipur: A British Anthology, Vol-I & Vol-II, 2003, (15). Current Legal Essays (Humanitarian and Federal Issues),2007,and (16). Manipur Puwari Kunmathoisuba Chahicha,3rd Edition, 2009,etc.
Ojha’s widely acclaimed articles include, (i). The Creative Judiciary, 1985, (ii). Gambheersing-the Prince who routed Burmese, 1990, (iii). High Tides Meitei History in South East Asian Convass, 1988, (iv). Ideological Framework of Hijam Irabot’s Radical Manipuri Nationalism, 1992, (v). Ethnic and National Contradictions, 1992, (vi). The Rights and Status of Indigenous Peoples, 1993, (vi). GATT Final Act, 1994, (vii). Human Economic Rights (20 series), 1994, (viii). British Manipur Encounter, 1993, (ix). Human Rights Enforcement in North East (I) & (II), 1993, (x). Manipur, 1891(Beginning of End of British Empire), 1990, (xi). Supreme Court-Manipur Speaker Tussle, 1993, (xi). Human Rights Commission, 1992, (xii). Bir Tikendrajit and Anglo-Manipuri Wars, 1992, (xiii). Why Manipur resisted the British Invasion?, 1992, (xiv). Prestroika Dismantles the Old Orders, 1991, (xv). Commonwealth Independent State, 1992, (xvi). Right to Self-Determination, 1991, (xvii). The New World Order, 1991, (xviii). Palestine State, Arab Israel Peace Process, 1992, (xix). Rise and Fall Federations, 1987, (xx). Committee of Twentyfour, 1994, (xxi). Manipur’s Self-Determination, 1993, (xxi) Manipur from one crossroad to another, 1993,(xxii). True Revolution of Meitei Society, 1992, (xxiii). Confrontation between the Media and the Government,, 1980, (xxiv). Problem paper on taking over Manipur in 1949, 1994,(xxv). Students’ Power-the third Arm, 1971, (xxvi). Amnesty International, 1994, (xxvii). The Problem of Illegal Massive Aliens in North East India, 1983, (xxviii). Political Violence, 1993, (xxviii). On Annexation of Manipur, 1993, (xxix). Nehru on Decolonization, 1989, (xxx) NLM other Terrorism, 1995, and many others in different but essential fields such as Human Rights, International Humanitarian Laws, Law and Society, Political Historiography, Legal Philosophy and Jurisprudence and National Liberation Movements, etc.
The unmatched works show that Ojha(Prof.) Naorem Sanajaoba was indeed a successful campaigner for bright futurology of the North East region in general and a lead ethnographer of Manipuri society comprising of 39 ethnic communities as sub-nationalities, of which he was struggling, with his razor-sharped intellect, for moving together by all towards active orientation for sustaining the land’s aged old social values as a distinct political entity. Ojha Sanajaoba was a pioneering professor who could proffer proficient philosophy for profound social paradigm shifts as the lone iconoclast of the 21st century Manipuri history. Following the school of thought of Ojha Sanajaoba shall be sole way for regaining an active Manipuri society in generations to come. Ojha Sanajaoba left us physically a moment’s later after he heard release of his classic book “Manipur Puwari Kunmathoisuba Chahicha” published by the National Research Centre (NRC) Manipur on the 13th December, 2009 at the historic venue, the Nupi Lan Memorial Complex. It is time for every one particularly the youths to have a copy of this definitive book to know the truth about both Ojha and the present Manipuri society. May the School of Thought of Lamjingpuren Ojha Naorem Sanajaoba flourish and streamline the mindset of Manipuris for ushering in the rightful futurity for this Cinderalla land called Manipur!
(The writer is the Managing Trustee of Ojha Sanajaoba Memorial Trust)