On my assumption of the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Manipur University, I extend my heartiest greetings and grateful thanks to Her Excellency, the President of India and Visitor, Manipur University, the members of the Court, the Executive Council, the Academic Council, the Finance Committee, all the members of the faculty staff and students of the university, in particular, and the society in general.

Manipur University is located at the site of an important and unique historical place in Manipur-Canchipur, Langthabal-former Capital of Manipur. Manipur University is a part of this uniqueness and shall contribute uniquely to the higher education of the people of the State in particular, and the Northeastern Region, in general.

The Centre for Postgraduate Studies of Jawaharlal Nehru University, established in 1972 at Imphal, became a full fledged State University in 1980. Manipur University was converted into a Central University in 2005. Since its inception, the university has witnessed a tremendous growth and development. Today, it is one of the well-known centres of higher education in the Northeast India potentially providing skilled human capital in sports, culture, performing and fine arts, social sciences, humanities, and in almost all branches of science, engineering and technology and medical sciences.

The university is fully aware that it has a key-role to play in providing quality education to the people. As a knowledge generating organisation, we have more differentiated roles to play. The core effort of the university has been to raise student achievement and improve opportunities to demonstrate competence and guarantee the right to education. With the changing economic scenario, the university has to diversify its activities and set up such departments that would cater to gainful employment for our youth. The university has introduced one-year PG Diploma Courses in Advanced Materials and Geo-Informatic Systems in the departments of Physics and Earth Sciences, respectively. The Department of Biochemistry is recognised as the State Biotechnology Hub by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The Departments of Manipuri, Chemistry, Economics, and Physics are receiving grants under the Special Assistance Programme of the UGC. The Department of Life Sciences has been recognised by the University Grants Commission as a Centre of Advanced Studies in Life Sciences.

The university has established area study centres like, Myanmar Studies, Manipur Studies, Women’s Studies, Human Rights and Duties Education, Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Educational Multimedia Research. The university would soon establish Centre of Southeast Asian Studies. The university is also exploring the possibilities of joint ventures for ICT Courses with Electronics Corporation of India and C-DAC, Pune.

As a corporate body comprising many sections with their distinctions, duties, interests, the university is well aware of fostering brotherhood, tolerance, and enlightened relationship among various communities of the university. I am glad that the university community is committed to the values of civitatis filia or civic friendship, is marching forward as a team with loyalty, devotion and sincerity — both in adverse and favourable situations to realise its goals and objectives.

I take this opportunity to seek your assistance in strengthening my hands towards making this university a centre of excellence in higher education.