IMPHAL, September 21: The Simon Commission had tried to mute the identity of Manipur back in 1948, but after the British left India on August 15, 1947 a Purbanchal Pradesh came into existence.
This was stated by ex-minister and present member of CPI, Manipur State Council, N Mangi Singh at Irawat Memorial Hall at Lamlai Challou today afternoon.
He said the Purbanchal consisted of Khashi Garo hills, Cachar, Lushai Hills, Arunachal Pradesh, Karbi-Anglong inclusive of Manipur. Then Hijam Irawat came to the forefront to guard the identity of the state of Manipur with a revolutionary zeal. The first action was organizing of the Krishi Sabha on September 21, 1948 at Manipur Dramatic Union hall , Yaiskul but permission to hold the meeting was not given approval by the then Chief Minister, Maharaj Kumar Priyobratta.
Elaborating further on the incident, he said despite the ban, people thronged the meeting. Kanhaimacha led the crowd from Lamlai, Saijang, Telhou Chana. They were halted at Pungdongbam by officer-in-charge, Naranbabu and his police team. A scuffle followed among the police and the crowd and shots were fired, unfortunately Naranbabu was injured by a bullet and succumbed.
Post the incident, a reward of Rs 10,000 was announced on the capture of Hijam Irawat and he later took to hiding. Irawat then launched an agrarian struggle and revolted for the welfare of the public and to guard the territorial integrity of the State, N Mangi said.
The program which is a part of the month long observation of the 117th birth anniversary of Hijam Irawat observed by the Irawat Celebration Committee was held under the banner 56th Manipur Kanba Numit.
The observation commenced with a procession from Yorbung LP School and stopped at Pungdongbam to pay tribute to the lives lost at ‘Pungdongbam Ghatna’; later the procession proceeded towards Irawat park located at Challou.
The gathering paid floral tributes at the statue of Irawat and arrived at Irawat Memorial Hall.
The presidium members of the function were veteran communist leader, Moirangthem Ibohal, B Sharma, secretary Dr M Nara Singh, ICC secretary L Sotinkumar, zilla parishad of Tellou-Chana, Ratan, pradhan of Tellou-Chana-Seijang L Dinesh, members of AITUC, AISF, AIYF, Lamlai local council and ex-minister Ph Parijat.
Speaking at the occasion, ICC secretary, L Sotinkumar stated that the observance is held to remember the incident which occurred on 21 September,1948. He said that it has been 65 years since the incident occurred but it deserved to be remembered because of the sacrifice of the public and the effort of Hijam Irawat.
Meanwhile, the 65th Manipur Kanba Numit was also observed at Rupmahal Theatre, BT Road organized by Manipur Loumee Marup affiliated to the All India Kisan Sabha.
During the function, Thounaojam Sarat, secretary of the Manipur Loumee Marup said that the farmers of the entire State of Manipur have become victim of the modern farming technologies which minimizes the activities of the farmers in the field. He also mentioned that the farmers could not get developed by mere distribution of seed and bank loans until and unless the various fertilizers are available in subsidized rate in time.
Yumnam Ratan, treasurer of the Manipur Loumee Marup also expressed on the issue of the Food Security Act which guaranteed to avail PDS superfine rice at Rs 3 per kg while the cost of the local rice commonly known as ‘Meitei Cheng’ is Rs 26 per kg.
Ratan also mentioned on the present selling superfine PDS rice by the government at Rs 10 per kg while the national Food Security Bill now enforcing at some other States of the country has guaranteed to avail it at Rs 3 per kg.