WilliamsLin216 at 14:41, 30 December 2025

2025-12-30T14:41:27Z

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{{Short description|Indian academic and politician}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office1 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| term_start1 = 4 June 2024
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = [[Rajkumar Ranjan Singh]]
| constituency2 = [[Inner Manipur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Inner Manipur]]
| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| source = https://sansad.in/ls/members/biography/5788?from=members
}}
'''Angomcha Bimol Akoijam''' is Indian academic, filmmaker and politician, from [[Imphal]],[[Manipur]].<ref>
{{cite news |title=Manipur Congress selects candidates for two seats |newspaper=The Hindu |date=22 March 2024 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/manipur-congress-identifies-two-lok-sabha-candidates/article67981082}}
</ref> He is an associate professor at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]]'s School of Social Sciences,<ref name="JNU bio">
{{Cite web |title=Angomcha Bimol Akoijam {{!}} Welcome to Jawaharlal Nehru University |url=https://www.jnu.ac.in/content/bimol |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.jnu.ac.in}}
</ref>
and a [[public intellectual]].<ref name="NDTV bio"/> He was elected to the [[18th Lok Sabha]] from [[Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency|Inner Manipur constituency]] in Manipur in the [[2024 Indian general election]] as a member of the [[Indian National Congress ]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lakshman |first=Abhinay |date=2024-06-06 |title=Clear message that Manipur, its people cannot be taken for granted: JNU professor Bimol Akoijam after results |url=https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/clear-message-that-manipur-its-people-cannot-be-taken-for-granted-jnu-professor-bimol-akoijam-after-results/article68256510.ece |access-date=2024-06-06 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Bimol Akoijam belongs to the [[Meitei people|Meitei community]], of [[Manipur]].<ref name="Lalmin Kipgen">
{{Cite web |date=2023-06-16 |title=Disinformation as a Tool in Manipur Conflict - The Shillong Times |url=https://theshillongtimes.com/2023/06/16/disinformation-as-a-tool-in-manipur-conflict/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=theshillongtimes.com |language=en-US}}
</ref>
He was born {{circa|1967}}. He has received MA and PhD in [[psychology]].<ref name="NDTV bio"/> His specialisation is stated to be social and political psychology and cultural studies.<ref name="JNU bio"/>

== Academic career ==
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]].<ref name="NDTV bio"/>

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.<ref name="NDTV bio">
{{cite news |title=5 Points About Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Congress's Inner Manipur Candidate |newspaper=NDTV News |date=30 March 2024 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-5-points-about-akoijam-bimol-angomcha-congresss-inner-manipur-candidate-5292039 }}
</ref>

According to [[Scopus]] database, Bimol Akoijam has 1 publication and zero citation.<ref>https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57127326900 </ref> However, there are a few publications by Akoijam on the [[Google Scholar]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Scholar |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0,5&q=Angomcha+Bimol+Akoijam&btnG= |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=scholar.google.com}} </ref>
=== Public intellectual ===
According to [[NDTV|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.<ref name="NDTV bio"/>

During the [[2023–2025 Manipur violence|ethnic violence]] in the state of [[Manipur]] between the majority [[Meitei people|Meitei]] community of Manipur and the [[Kuki-Zo people|Kuki-Zo]] tribals, he was very vocal against the way the conflict was handled by the central and state governments.<ref name="DH Apr 2024">
{{Cite web |title=There is politics involved in the way Manipur situation was handled: Bimol Akoijam |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/manipur/there-is-politics-involved-in-the-way-manipur-situation-was-handled-bimol-akoijam-2967175 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}
</ref>

But he was often heard absolving the state government and chief minister, claiming that he was being held as a "scapegoat".<ref>
Javed Parvesh, [https://www.theweek.in/theweek/current/2024/04/20/inner-manipur-jnu-professor-and-congress-candidate-angomcha-bimol-akoijam-interview.html 'Biren Singh is a scapegoat': Akoijam], The Week, 28 April 2024.
</ref><ref>
Abhinay Lakshman, [https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/clear-message-that-manipur-its-people-cannot-be-taken-for-granted-jnu-professor-bimol-akoijam-after-results/article68256510.ece Clear message that Manipur, its people cannot be taken for granted: JNU professor Bimol Akoijam after results], The Hindu, 6 June 2024.
</ref>

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]].<ref name="ITNE Jun 2023">
{{Cite web |date=2023-06-30 |title=How Meira Paibis, Manipur’s women vigilante groups, have made Indian army ‘helpless’ |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/how-meira-paibis-manipurs-women-vigilante-groups-have-made-indian-army-helpless-606745-2023-06-30 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}
</ref>
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.<ref>
[https://thefrontiermanipur.com/national-media-reportage-of-manipur-conflict-violates-pci-norms-says-research-report/ National Media Reportage Of Manipur Conflict Violates PCI Norms, Says Research Report], The Frontier Manipur, 4 January 2024.
</ref>

== Political career ==
Akoijam entered politics after witnessing the [[2023–2025 Manipur violence|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.<ref name="NDTV bio" /><ref>
{{cite news |title=JNU Professor Akoijam Bimol, Alfred Kanngam Are Congress Candidates for Manipur's 2 Lok Sabha Seats |newspaper=NDTV News |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jnu-professor-akoijam-bimol-angomcha-alfred-kanngam-arthur-are-congress-candidates-for-manipurs-2-lok-sabha-seats-5290747}}
</ref>

He was elected as the candidate of the [[Indian National Congress]] from [[Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency|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.<ref>
{{cite news |title=Manipur: Congress-led 10-party alliance announced candidates for two Lok Sabha seats |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=22 March 2024 |last1=Singh |first1=Bikash |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/manipur-congress-led-10-party-alliance-announced-candidates-for-two-lok-sabha-seats/articleshow/108715867.cms }}
</ref> Akoijam Bimol won the Lok Sabha seat from [[Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency|Inner Manipur]] seat with a majority of 1,09,801 votes, breaking electoral records set in [[Manipur]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=ECI |first=Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur |date=5 Jun 2024 |title=Election Commission of India |url=https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/ConstituencywiseS141.htm }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Khumukcham |first=Rinku |date=2024-06-04 |title=Congress sweeps Manipur Lok Sabha Polls: Akoijam Bimol wins Inner Manipur with record margin, Alfred K Arthur takes Outer Manipur |url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/congress-sweeps-manipur-lok-sabha-polls-akoijam-bimol-wins-inner-manipur-with-record-margin-alfred-k-arthur-takes-outer-manipur/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=News from Manipur - Imphal Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH7Sk9KOD84 ‘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. [https://mapaal.org/ 'National' media and the Manipur Mayhem], Media and Policy Analysis and Advocacy Loisang, 2024.
*[https://www.eastmojo.com/opinion/2024/07/02/opinion-will-prof-akoijam-strengthen-the-idea-of-united-manipur-unlikely/ Opinion: Will Prof Akoijam strengthen the idea of united Manipur? Unlikely]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akoijam, Bimol}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Delhi University]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Jawaharlal Nehru University]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Manipur]]
[[Category:Indian psychologists]]
[[Category:Manipur academics]]
[[Category:Political psychologists]]
[[Category:Social psychologists]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:India MPs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates in 2024 Indian general election]]

Bimol Akoijam - Revision history

WilliamsLin216 at 14:41, 30 December 2025