Evolution of an "Institution" called Yangmaso Shaiza

Mrs. Soso Shaiza *

Yangmaso Shaiza : Chief Ministers of Manipur

1.0 Mr. Chairman Sir, dignitaries on the dais and off the dais, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. At the outset, as a beloved daughter-in-law of Lt. yangmaso Shaiza and on behalf of my family express our deep gratitude to the President M.J. Malemnganba, Sukham Premjit- Convenor of the Seminar and all the dignitaries of "The United All Communities Social Uplifters, Kangleipak' (UNACSU) Imphal, for remembering Yangmaso Shaiza and having organised the Seminar on Yangmaso Shaiza in a befitting manner.

I am also deeply honoured to say a few words about him in this august gathering. As a beloved daughter-in-law of Yangmaso Shaiza I know first hand the man and his character. He treated me as his own daughter and his kindness, generosity, optimistic, constructive attitudes and clean heart. I have not seen in another human being. Outwardly he was short temper, intolerant of laziness, dishonesty but at heart he was one of the most sensitive and kind-hearted person.

2.0 In the backdrop of so much ethnic strife, ethinc dishonesty and ethnic clash in Manipur and absence of a leader acceptable to all the communities in Manipur, we sadly and deeply missed the state's man like leadership of Yangmaso Shaiza in Manipur. Today, we have many tribe level, community level, district level or constituency level leaders but no leader for Manipur state.

Yangmaso Shaiza was one of the few leaders in Manipur who was deeply admired, respected and loved by all the communities and tribes of Manipur and rightly so. Communalism, tribalism, parochialism was alien to him. Courage and conviction, good nature and compassion for the less fortunate were his DNA. He was simple, down to earth; he was not cunning or shrewd but wise and lartge hearted. His wisdom and large heartedness made him stand apart from all other so calledleaders and politicians.

3.0 . Yangmaso Shaiza, the first Chief Minister of Manipur from the Hills was born on Sunday 15th July 1923 in an educated family in Ukhrul. He was the first of many illustrious sons of 'Babu' Shangyang Shaiza, a tall and handsome man probably the first Revenue Officer (Circle Officer) of Ukhrul during Pre-Independent India and Mrs. Ninchungla (the eldest daughter of Raihao, the chief of Hunphun/ Ukhrul).

In early 1920s under the leadership of Babu Shangyang Shaiza, the first Tangkhul Education Union was formed. Under his leadership a land was bought for school site at Ukhrul and a playground, probably the first football ground in the hill areas was constructed without the help of any heavy machinery. Thousands of people both men and women gladly came to help using simple tools, spades and other implements.

The Tangkhul Education Union raised fund by selling soybeans, millet and other local products to the valley people at Gwantabi around 20 Kms. east of Imphal. With these money, boys hostel was built in Imphal and many boys who had passed class V (five) were sent to Imphal for further studies. Scholarships were awarded to most of the students. Babu Shangyang was generous to a fault and his hospitality was legenday. By God's grace he was a rich man and he generously provided board and lodgings to many people. Yangmaso Shaiza inherited many of the qualities of his father.

3.1 Yangmaso Shaiza did his early schoolings in Ukhrul, Imphal, matriculated from shillong and graduation in Scottish College Kolkatta. There his classmates were Shri. Rishang Keishing and Shri. Wungmareo Shaiza (W. Shaiza) from Manipur. All three of them graduated in 1946 probably the 2nd batch of graduates among the Tangkhuls (the first being Maj. Bob Khathing, graduated in 1929 from Cotton College, Guwahati).

4.0 Achievements :

Shri Y. Shaiza was a great athlete and a keen footballer. As Chief Minister of Manipur (from 1977) he used to organise football matches were he himself played.

4.1 During the World War II, the British sought out his service as an interpreter After graduation he returned home and was selected as Extra Assistant Commissioner/Circle Officer in 1946. he married Hangmila Shaiza in 1949, who was later the first elected woman MLA of Manipur. On 15th October 1949, when Manipur was merged to India, yangmaso Shaiza opposed it and lead in the movement of the independence of Manipur under Manipur Nationalist Union in the early 1950s, after given his resignation from EAC (CO). To subdue the movement Yangmaso Shaiza along with Shri S. Indramani, Shri W. Buddha and Shri R.K. Maipaksana were arrested by the police and thrown behind bar on April 5th 1953.

4.2 Thereafter he and his wife Hangmila Shaiza took up the noble profession of bringing enlightment to the people by teaching at a village Khamasom. It can be also taken as self political asylum. The government having recognised the acumen, sincerity of purpose and the emulative qualities of his head and heart re-appointed him as BDO/ SDO and was posted at Tengnoupal, Thanlon, Churachandpur, Tipaimukh, Imphal, Tadubi, Tamenglong and Ukhrul and in many responsible positions.

People of all these places fondly remembered him as an upright, earless, man of actions and an outstanding officer. Wherever he was posted, he toured the Block/Area extensively by foot or by jeep accompanied by his wife and children. His priorities were constructions of roads, water channels, school building etc. Whenever, he came across good works done by the villagers, he would asked his subordinates officers to prepare estimates, work orders, on the spot and disbursed money in front of all the villagers to avoid misused by the subordinate officers and the village chiefs. People of Churachandpur still called them "Yangmaso Style".

4.3 In 1971, on the request of the people, Yangmaso Shaiza left the Civil Service and whole heartedly plunged into his calling The Upliftment of society by joining the Election of 5th Lok Sabha as an Independent candidate but was defeated. When Manipur was granted full statehood in 1972 he contested from Ukhrul/44-AC and comfortably won as MLA and became the Finance Minister under the leadership of Md Alimmudin as Chief Minister. In the year 1974, Yangmaso Shaza won again from Manipur Hills Union (MHU) which was founded by him He was the first Chief Minister of Manipur from the hills, but it was short lived from 10th July 1974 - 5th December 1974.

When India was declared Emergency under Article 352 on 26th June 1975 - 21st March 1977, Yangmaso strongly opposed to the excesses meted out in Manipur too on :
Forced Sterilisation
Destruction of low-income housing at many places of Imphal town.
Detention of people by the police without charges or notification to the families etc.

He was arrested and put behind bars for portesting against the governemnt for ushering Democracy to a 'grinding halt' Many of his followers and well wishers joined him in jail by forcing the police to arrest them too. Such was the love my father-in-law had received from the people of Manipur. He was held under Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).

After he was released from jail, he was elected as MP from Congress party with thumping majority in 1977, but returned the same year as Chief Minister under Janata Party from 29th June 1977 - 14th November 1979. he filed a case against Ex-Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi and summoned at Imphal Court for the various excesses committed during the Emergency.

4.4 Some of his Achievements during his Chief Ministership 1977 - 79.
(1) conversion of 107 Private Schools and Colleges to Government.
(2) Full Autonomy to the Districts Council.
(3) Upgradation of District Administration and decentralisation of power to the Districts.
(4) Seperate Engineering Cells for hills and valley.
(5) ICDS was first started at Ukhrul.
(6) Development of Connectivity, supply of water and electrification even to the remotest part of Manipur.
(7) Meiteilon and English were made Official languages of Manipur.
(8) he started many Visionary projects such as Mini Secretariat in Hill Districts, Multipurpose auditorium, schools, colleges, hospitals etc.

Perhaps his biggest contribution was peace and harmony in Manipur. Ethnic strife was unheard of in Manipur under his leadership. His tenure as Chief Ministership was only around 2 1/2 years but he had done many remarkable and magnanimous jobs for Manipur.

5.0 His Vision :

Yangmaso Shaiza was a dynamic' and a far-sighted leader. All his policies were visionary and cosmopolitan. As Chief Minister he was convinced that the only way to maintain peace & harmony in the state was to reach out benefits to the remotest parts of the state and to bring development to both the hills and valley and to all tribes and communities. His vision was accommodation and acceptance of all tribes and communities in Manipur. His vision was accommodation and acceptance of all tribes and communities in Manipur. His vision was a ranbow concept of recognition and acceptance of the unique culture and character of all tribes and communities. For his all human beings are brogther and sisters for we are all the children of God, so he loved and respected Meiteis, Kukis, Mizos, Hmar, Paites, Anals, Pangal, Tangkhul, Mao, Rongmei, Rengmei etc. equally.

6.0 His Inborn Nature :

Yangmaso Shaiza was a stout built and an athletic man with a deep and baritone voice, he was short tempered but fair; he was intolerant of dishonesty, tribalism, communalism and red-tapism. Like his father he was generous to a fault and his hospitality was legendary. he was an early riser and cleanliness was one of his most admirable nature, he was a God fearing person with a staunch knowledge of the Bible. His prayers for the family were brief but very genuine as it comes out from the bottom of his heart. He was a man of few words but was a man of action. He had a good memory of all the people's names whom he met. He treated everyone equally both his supporters as well as his opponents in politics.

He used to bring home leapers, beggars and mentally deranged people from the streets and personally took care of them. Once 7 - 8 Konyak Naga farmers visited him and he hosted them for over six months to rehabitate them to stop from their habit of taking opium but rather to expertise for their innate talents for woodcarft.

Another incident was a brilliant student from a poor family from remote border area came to him for help in getting into MBBS. Yangmaso Shaiza simply asked him to sit in his jeep and drrove himself upto the Medical Directorate and get the boy admitted in MBBS. Such was the character of Yangmaso Shaiza. He took his brothers and sister children as his own children, he inspired us to be truthful, always stand up for justice and to be positive, constructive and never to utter a word against other people, he encouraged us to do atleast one good deed a day for other people who are more unfortunate then us.

I believe that his children, grand children, nieces and nephews are following his instructions wherever they may be till today,

7.0 Conclusion :

The cosmopolitan nature and large heartedness, courage and conviction of Yangmaso Shaiza and his vision and policies of accommodating and respecting the identities and culture of different tribes and communities was not acceptable to some sections of the militants. He was brutally assassinated on 30th January 1984 in front of his family in Nagaram, Imphal Shri Yangmaso Shaiza paid with his Life for his Ideals, he left behind his wife, five sons and one daughter with twenty grand children and three great grandsons.

The best tribute to Yangmaso Shaiza is to realise his vision and dream of bringing equal development to both hill and valley, a peaceful and prospeerous Manipur where each and every tribes, communities, hill and valley live together in harmony and make his rainbow concept a reality.

( ** This is a speech made on The book release, 'Yangmaso Shaiza And His Manipur' on October 12 2014 by the United All Communities Social Uplifters Kangleipak (UNACSU), in its Third Foundation Day at Amity Hall, Adimjati Siksha Ashram, Imphal )