Father of Social Workers Th Iboyaima no more
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 28 2016:
Multi-faceted personality, Thounaojam Iboyaima fondly called the Father of Social Workers passed away in the wee hours of today at RIMS.
Set to complete 100 years on November 2 this year, Thounaojam Iboyaima was the chief advisor of All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and president of Irabot Foundation, Manipur.
According to family members, Iboyaima did not suffer from any major ailment but was admitted to RIMS on Wednesday as his sense of taste had dulled and the changing season affected him slightly.
Born on November 2, 1916 to late Thounaojam Chouyaima and late Thounaojam ongbi Rajkumari Sanajaobi, Iboyaima did his early schooling at Naorem Leikai LP School where he studied till Class II.
After this, he shifted to Ucha Primary School where he studied till Class IV and thereafter he dropped out of school due to health problems.
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Thereafter Iboyaima turned to carpentry to supplement his family's income.
This however did not snap his ties with academics as he was a founder member of Singjamei Girls' School and Singjamei Boys' School (later called Chongtham Iboyaima HS) and Manipur College.
In 1958, the late Iboyaima joined politics and was elected president of All India Socialist Party in 1962.He plunged into the Statehood demand movement and was jailed for seven months in 1960 and another two months in 1961 for launching a hunger strike.
He was again jailed for 2 months at Hazaribagh jail in Bihar for taking part in a hunger marchers' rally in 1965 .
Iboyaima retired from active politics in 1972 and became a social activist.
The last rites of Iboyaima .
Many voluntary organisations have deeply condoled the demise of Thounaojam Iboyaima. Condoling the passing away of the Father of Social Workers, the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation said that its members held a condolence meeting today and observed a 2 minute silence to pray for the departed soul.
The last rites of Iboyaima was performed at the crematorium of Singjamei Thongkhong.
Earlier, a large number of people, including members of different social organisations of which he was a member, his followers and neighbours paid folral tributes floral to the mortal remains at his residence at Singjamei Thongam Leikai.
AMUCO also shared the grief and pain of the bereaved family members.
Paying platitudes to the late man, AMUCO said that during his lifetime, Iboyaima dedicated himself to fostering communal harmony and towards this end travelled across the State interacting with different communities.
As president of Irabot Foundation, Manipur, he championed the cause of making Manipur a self reliant State.
The All Manipur Ethnical Socio-Cultural Organisation (AMESCO) has also deeply condoled the demise of Iboyaima and prayed for the departed soul.
The United Peoples' Front, the State uit of the BJP, Western All Clubs Association, former MLA of Heingang AC, N Biren, the North Imphal United Clubs and Meira Paibees Organisation (NIUCAMO), Youth Foundation for Fitness and Service (YOFFS), Manipur, Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) have also deeply condoled the demise of Iboyaima.