IMPHAL, August 31: The 83rd death anniversary of Haipou Jadonang was held at his birthplace Puilaunh (Kambiron) village on August 29.
Besides the villagers offering floral tribute at his final resting place located atop Kambiron hill, there were not many dignitaries or elected representatives to pay homage to the freedom fighter.
The memorial function was held by the Haipou Jadonang Memorial Trust which is mostly comprised of Kambiron villagers at the community hall where a bust of Jadonang is erected.
ADC member of Nungba, G Aphang and chairman of Kambiron village attended the function as the chief guest and guest of honour respectively.
A brief history of Haipou Jadonang was related to the gathering by Pounamgai Kamei, former chairman of the Trust.
According to Pounamgai, his mother was a follower of the freedom fighter.
Puilaunh village (a village guided by the deity) was one of the oldest Zeliangrong villages and was located atop the hill, later the villagers shifted altogether to the foothills during the end part of 1993.
The village at present has nearly 147 households with the main inhabitants being from the clans of Kamei, Gangmei and Dangmei.
Jadonang was born in the village in 1905 as the third son of Thudai Malangmei and Chunlungliu Dangmei.
Pounamgai Kamei said Jadonang’s father died early and he was mainly brought up by an ailing mother.
In his teens , Jadonang was a spirited youth and a devout worshipper of Khanglinlung, he said.
According to the villagers and functional chairman of the observation, RK Athuan, the observation is held since 2006 and the funds are mostly donated from the villagers. There have been no steps from the side of the Government to help in organising the function till date.
He voiced that the final resting site of the freedom fighter to be declared a historical site.
The main program of the function was the parade contest, the villagers took out the parade which was taught by Jadonang himself. It involves different postures and a march past in traditional wear.
