The Manipur government banned a book on state history written by a former CRPF officer.

Guwahati: The Manipur government has banned a book written by a retired CRPF officer for allegedly containing misleading information.

A book titled The Complexity Called Manipur: Roots, Perceptions and Reality by the late Brigadier Sushil Kumar Sharma was banned on Monday saying it was “highly misleading and defamatory,” The Indian Express reported. ”
The book was based on a PhD thesis by a retired CRPF officer who claimed that the princely state of Manipur comprised only 700 square miles of the valley at the time of its annexation to India, meaning that The hilly areas are inhabited by Naga, Kuki and others.

“The history related to the Manipur merger agreement is a very sensitive and emotional subject for the local people of the state. This information is also tantamount to violating peace and public tranquility and maintaining harmony among the various communities living in the state. which may affect national security and national integrity.
He explained that the information contained in the book published by Viva Books was against the gazette published by the Ministry of States (now Ministry of Home Affairs) in 1950 titled “White Paper on Indian States”.

The order further stated that at the time of merger under the agreement of October 15, 1949, Manipur had an area of ​​8,620 square miles and a total population of 5,12,000.
The book has sparked a controversy in the past few months with civic bodies demanding its ban and an apology from the author and his research guides, including a retired professor from Manipur University.

Further circulation of the book, which contains “misleading, factually incorrect information and defamatory statements”, will create misunderstanding and tension between communities living in the valley and hill areas, leading to violence, the order said.
The order said that the book should be forfeited to the state government.

In September 15, the BJP-led Manipur government issued an order making prior approval mandatory for all books on the history, culture, tradition and geography of the state.

All manuscripts on four topics related to the state will be examined by a 15-member committee comprising university vice-chancellors and college teachers, serving and retired, the government said in the order.