Manipur Students’ Association Aligarh concludes second lecture series with focus on identity, governance, and social issues

The Manipur Students’ Association Aligarh (MSAA) has successfully concluded the 2nd MSAA Lecture Series 2025, held from July 26 to 29, continuing its academic initiative launched in 2024. The four-day event featured five prominent speakers who shared insights on issues relevant to Manipur and broader social dynamics.
Organisers stated that the lecture series aimed to foster intellectual discourse and deepen understanding on matters often underrepresented in mainstream scholarship. The inaugural session featured Dr. Raheijuddin Sheikh, former Nodal Officer of D.M. Community College, Imphal, who spoke on his personal journey in establishing the Dhanamanjuri Community College and the DDU Centre for KAUSHAL. He reportedly highlighted the significance of skill-based education in tackling rising unemployment among educated youth in Manipur.
The second lecture was delivered by Dr. Abul Khair Choudhury, Assistant Professor at S.R. College, Assam. His talk focused on the cultural identity of Manipuri Muslims in Assam, where he traced their historical roots and underscored the continuity of cultural practices that define their distinct identity.
In the third lecture, Dr. Khullakpham Ruqaiya, Assistant Professor at Lilong Haoreibi College, Manipur, addressed democratic governance in Manipur. Her lecture, titled “Re-Appropriating the Obscured Track,” was described as a theoretically grounded analysis of state–society relations, calling for inclusive governance to address regional challenges.
Author and columnist Azad Komol presented the fourth lecture, discussing cultural practices related to childbirth among Manipuri Muslims. He reportedly urged for deeper study and preservation of cultural heritage, pointing out the gradual disappearance of certain long-standing traditions.
The final session was delivered by Dr. Yusuf Khan, Assistant Professor at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, who examined caste structures among Muslims, particularly in North India. He was said to have called for further contextual research into caste dynamics among Manipuri Muslims.
Each session included interactive question-and-answer segments that allowed participants to engage directly with the speakers. According to the organisers, the series seeks to contribute to academic literature, especially concerning marginalised groups. To ensure wider access, the manuscripts of all five lectures will be published in the next volume of MSAA’s magazine, Meld View.
MSAA has expressed gratitude to all speakers and participants for their contributions, stating that the series marks another step toward fostering critical academic engagement and community dialogue.