Bimol Akoijam
Bimol Akoijam | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 5 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Rajkumar Ranjan Singh |
| Constituency | Inner Manipur |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Indian National Congress |
| Source: [1] | |
Angomcha Bimol Akoijam is Indian academic, filmmaker and politician, from Imphal,Manipur.[1] He is an associate professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University's School of Social Sciences,[2] and a public intellectual.[3] He was elected to the 18th Lok Sabha from Inner Manipur constituency in Manipur in the 2024 Indian general election as a member of the Indian National Congress [4]
Early life
[edit | edit source]Bimol Akoijam belongs to the Meitei community, of Manipur.[5] He was born c. 1967. He has received MA and PhD in psychology.[3] His specialisation is stated to be social and political psychology and cultural studies.[2]
Academic career
[edit | edit source]Akoijam taught at Delhi University and the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS). As of 2024, he was an associate professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University.[3]
Akoijam is said to be a keen explorer of cinema, and served as a jury member in film festivals. He made a documentary Lang-Goi Challabee (Paradise Under Siege) in 2004, and the feature film Karigee Kirunee Nungsiradee (Why Be Afraid, If You Love) in 2014.[3]
According to Scopus database, Bimol Akoijam has 1 publication and zero citation.[6] However, there are a few publications by Akoijam on the Google Scholar.[7]
Public intellectual
[edit | edit source]According to NDTV News, Akoijam has long been involved in public issues and democratic movements. He is often seen in the media speaking about issues related to rights and governance.[3]
During the ethnic violence in the state of Manipur between the majority Meitei community of Manipur and the Kuki-Zo tribals, he was very vocal against the way the conflict was handled by the central and state governments.[8]
But he was often heard absolving the state government and chief minister, claiming that he was being held as a "scapegoat".[9][10]
He has held the Indian Army and Assam Rifles accountable, saying that they were seen as being hand-in-glove with the "Kuki militant groups", and that they need to win back the trust of the Meitei people.[11] He has also blamed the national media of India, saying they were biased against the Meitei community, and led a research study that claimed to document such bias.[12]
Political career
[edit | edit source]Akoijam entered politics after witnessing the ethnic violence in the state of Manipur. He had become well known in Manipur for being one of the few academics to raise concerns about ethnic tensions and issues of rights and governance since the conflict began.[3][13]
He was elected as the candidate of the Indian National Congress from Inner Manipur in the 2024 Indian general election. He also had the joint approval and backing of the ten parties in the INC-led alliance in Manipur.[14] Akoijam Bimol won the Lok Sabha seat from Inner Manipur seat with a majority of 1,09,801 votes, breaking electoral records set in Manipur.[15][16]
References
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- ^ https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57127326900
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- ^ Javed Parvesh, 'Biren Singh is a scapegoat': Akoijam, The Week, 28 April 2024.
- ^ Abhinay Lakshman, Clear message that Manipur, its people cannot be taken for granted: JNU professor Bimol Akoijam after results, The Hindu, 6 June 2024.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ National Media Reportage Of Manipur Conflict Violates PCI Norms, Says Research Report, The Frontier Manipur, 4 January 2024.
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External links
[edit | edit source]- ‘Modi Epitomises the Fault-Line Between North East And Rest of India; His Deliberate Silence Hurts’, The Wire (via YouTube), 9 June 2023.
- Bimol Akoijam et al. 'National' media and the Manipur Mayhem, Media and Policy Analysis and Advocacy Loisang, 2024.
- Opinion: Will Prof Akoijam strengthen the idea of united Manipur? Unlikely
- Living people
- Academic staff of Delhi University
- Academic staff of Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Indian National Congress politicians from Manipur
- Indian psychologists
- Manipur academics
- Political psychologists
- Social psychologists
- India MPs 2024–2029
- Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates in 2024 Indian general election