AS Arthur, a retired minister and long serving legislator of Manipur died early Saturday in New Delhi aged 99 after a long life in an illness. He leaves behind a legacy of public service over the decades to his three sons and four daughters.
In 1984, Arthur was elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly in Ukhrul constituency as an Independent. He also became a member of the Indian national congress and was a minister of Forest and Environment and also a minister of General administration under the earlier chief minister Rishang Keishing in 1995. Throughout the years he had gained a reputation as a dedicated leader who served the interest of his constituents and development of the state.
He also had a son Alfred Kanngam Arthur who is an incumbent Lok Sabha MP. The family members say that his last rites will be performed on Monday in his native village, Shangshak Phunghon, in Ukhrul district.
Pouring in were condolences by political leaders in the state. Chief minister N. Biren Singh was heartbroken and termed Arthur as a respected statesman whose input to the running of the government would not be forgotten. Speaker of the Assembly Thokchom Satyabrata Singh also honored him as a great person of the society who was committed to serving the people with integrity.
In another twist, Khatingla Keishing, the widow of the late Rishang Keishing also died in Imphal at the age of 96, another blow to the political community of Manipur.