116th Jananeta Irawat birth anniversary observed

Universal News Agency

Imphal, Sep 30: The 116^th birth anniversary of iconic state leader Hijam Irawat was observed widely in various part of Manipur on Sunday. The main observation was held at Imphal east’s Palace Compound with a colorful march past and paying of tribute to a life size portrait of Irawat.

Comrades in red uniforms taken out a rally with the life size portrait of state leader at the beginning of the observation from Irawat Bhawan to Palace Compound where hours long observation was started since September 21.

Altogether 40 marching contingents consisting of traditional groups, schools students and volunteers of civil society organizations participated in the event which was organized by Irawat Celebration Committee.

The man who led the down trodden people of Manipur in fighting against injustice and a leader of the farmers in Manipur who went underground in revolt against the British colonialism later popularly known as Jananeta Irawat and his birth anniversary is celebrated since years.

State CPI leaders P. Parijat Singh, N Mangi Singh and veteran leaders M Ibohal Singh led the people in paying tribute at the life size portrait of Jananeta Irawat with especial invites Retd. IAS, Helim Choudhuri, at present president of the Manipur State Minorities Commission, the well known History of Manipur, Prof. Gangmumei Kamei former minister and a tribal leader.

During the observation the organizing committee presented the Hijam Irawat Award to Padmashree Rantan Thiyam and Thiyam Meghachandra Journalist Awards to Pradip Phanjoubam, group editor, Imphal Free Press.

Jananeta Irawat was quite associated with communist movement, he was a Communist when he was jailed for leading the Women's War in December 1939 for three years and he again revolted against the injustices done to the prisoner, his movement was successful so the government did not want to keep in the state Central Jail and shifted to Selhet jail.

During which what happened was the freedom struggle of the country was at the momentum and many freedom fighter and communist leader were also jailed in the Selhet jail, He was released from the jail having known that he was a communist the then government and the king did not allowed him to enter into Manipur, so he was working with the masses in the Barak valley in Assam. The title Jananeta Irawat was given not by the Government but it was given by the people of Barak valley.

March past contingents of womenfolk and school going children’s saluted the life size portrait of Jananeta Irawat as a part of the function at Palace Compound .Colorful shows and other dance items focusing the cultivation of crops were also part of the anniversary observation.

State pioneer Irawat was born on Wednesday, the 30th September 1896 at Pishum Oinam Leikai in present Imphal west district. His father died while he was in the cradle and his mother also died while he was still very young. He was brought up by his paternal aunt.

While he was actively involved in the struggle for the masses in the transitory period of monarchy colonialism and later the merger with India, his poems were taken mostly as political slogans.

In the meantime, the birth anniversary of Layanba Irabot was also oberseved by the Hijam Irabot Memorial Charitable Trust (HIM) today at Piahumthong Oinam leikai.

During the celebration, Dr. KH Ratankumar received the March pass competition, with the presents of L Jayentakumar former minister & advisor HIM Trust, NG Nongyai former member Manipur Human Right Commission, Manipur, and Th. Meinya MP.