Hijam Irabot and Ngangom Tompok Singh : A comparative study

Prof Ngangom Gopal Datta Singh *

Lamyanba Hijam Irabot one day seminar on 21st September and death anniversary on 26th september 2013 at Pishum, Imphal

If Hijam Irabot was Mao of Manipur, then Ng. Tompok Singh was Deng of Manipur. Hijam Irabot, the idealistic visionary of Manipur was also a communist revolutionary in the mould of Lenin, Mao and Ho-Chi-Minh. His life, ideas and ideals, lit up the eastern horizon of India, particularly Manipur. When, by coincidence and twist of human destiny, communist revolutionaries and communist ideas and ideals were propelling large parts of the world, Hijam Irabot appeared in Manipur to impart a boost to the movement against feudalism and monarchy.

Like most of the communist revolutionaries who wanted to break the old shackles, Hijam Irabot also wanted a break with the past and thus became an anti-establishment personality. If willing and desirous, then Irabot could have become an influential and wealthy nobleman by virtue of his marrying into the royal family and occupying a high office in the royal durbar of Manipur.

But something pricked his conscience and tormented his soul. He decided to say goodbye to a life of ease, comfort and influence and become a communist revolutionary to look after and care for the farmers and the downtrodden masses of Manipur. Hence, it is very easy to grasp that Irabot's life was one of extreme sacrifice, dedication and devotion. His vision and thinking encompassed not only Manipur but also the North-East India, Bangladesh and parts of Burma (now Myanmar). Manipur, indeed the whole of North-East India, has reasons to be extremely proud of a son of the soil who set such a glorious example of sacrifice and dedication.

Irabot was a multi-faceted personality. His interests ranged from shumang leela to theatre, uplift of the women to farmers, from poems to revolutionary ideas and ideals. He himself was a renowned actor. He travelled widely in North-East India, Burma (now Myanmar) and Bangladesh during his relentless efforts to arouse and awaken the masses of the region. It is somewhat surprising that being a communist revolutionary he stood for elections conducted by the British authorities, the ruthless colonialists of the Age.

It is possible that he believed in the parliamentary system of government. This again shows that he was not a bigoted and extreme revolutionary who believed in violence, bloodshed and killing to usher in the dictatorship of the proletariat like most of the communist revolutionaries in the world during his lifetime. He was never involved in violence and killing and had a prejudice-free mind. But his feeling and concern for the poor farmers and the downtrodden people were unparalleled and praiseworthy. He was indeed a great soul.

Ng. Tompok Singh (ex MP) was a junior contemporary of Hijam Irabot. While Irabot was inspired and driven by the ideas and ideals of communist revolution, Ng. Tompok Singh was inspired and driven by the ideas, ideals and philosophy of Hinduism, its compassion, universalism, asceticism. Tompok Singh was well-versed in many scriptures of world religions like Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, particularly Hinduism.

He translated into Manipuri the English version of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita written by Swami Sivananda Saraswati, the renowned Hindu saint based in Rishikesh. He also gave thirty radio talks in AIR Guwahati and Imphal on topics like Gandhian philosophy, Sarvodaya, Holi, Buddh Purnima etc. He was often invited to speak on religious occasions by organisations like the ISKCON, Manipur Gita Mandal and the Divine Life Society, Manipur.

Besides being a brilliant student, Tompok Singh was also an erudite scholar of Sanskrit. He was a tall, handsome man with an athletic build who excelled in all kinds of sports and games like sprinting, high jump, long jump, swimming, football, hockey, volleyball and badminton. He won numerous awards for his proficiency in sports and games. He was a dedicated and sacrificing social worker, organiser, leader and politician. Like Irabot, Tompok Singh was also an extremely talented multifaceted personality.

While Irabot was an anti-establishment personality, Ng. Tompok was a pro-establishment personality. Unlike Irabot, Tompok Singh did not revolt against the monarchy. The latter was a pragmatic and constructive statesman and social worker who left behind many concrete legacies in the form of institutions like the Manipur Co-operative Society, Khadi and Village Industries Board, Manipur Gita Mandal, The Divine Life Society, Manipur, the Lilashingkhongnangkhong High School, Khunthokhanbi Primary School, North Imphal Sporting Association (NISA) and United Volunteers' Association etc which are still thriving and functioning.

Ng. Tompok Singh believed and realised from the core of his heart that ideas, ideals , principles, philosophies and theories would remain only dreams unless backed up by concrete action and activities. Hence he was determined to work through and with the system of the time and became a pro-establishment man unlike Hijam Irabot. In his endeavour he was extremely successful. He was once a founding president of Manipur Co-operative Society and an honorary secretary of the Manipur Khadi and Village Industries Board. He was also a founding member of the Divine Life Society, Manipur and later on became its president. He also founded the Manipur Gita Mandal.

He also worked as president of the North Imphal Sporting Association and United Volunteers' Association and as secretary of the Lilashingkhongnangkhong High School. Ng. Tompok Singh was an incorruptible and clean man who led a simple and spartan life. Inspired by the Hindu Philosophy of non-violence, he left eating meat and fish and became a vegetarian since his boyhood.

In spite of being a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha twice, once in 1953 and second time in 1978, and holding many high offices in Manipur and India, he never earned anything for himself and never took money or favour in return for his services. He continued to live in a kacha house of his ancestors.

His life was a glorious example of sacrifice, dedication and devotion like that of Hijam Irabot. Tompok Singh possessed a great soul which clamoured for the welfare and development of his people and Manipur.