Freedom fighter Tale no more
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, July 10 2013:
Freedom fighter R.Taleping alias Tale passed away last evening at his native Tamei, Tamenglong district, Manipur.
He was 99 .
The late freedom fighter left behind his aging wife, 10 children, 36 grandchildren, 42 great grand children and one great-great-grand child.
Born in 1914, R Taleping collaborated with Indian National Army (INA) and the Japanese to fight against the British during World War-II.
R Taleping also supported the 'Peoples Movement' against the British headed by Haipou Jadonnang and Rani Gaidinliu.
Fearing his potential, the British appointed him as a school teacher and sent him to a school so that the freedom fighter would not be able to find time to join the rebels.
R Taleping was sent to 'jails' by the British for his activities against the latter on several occasions.
As a punishment, Taleping was made to do manual work in the form of constructing roads for 15 days straight each time he was sent to 'jails'.
However, these did not dampen the spirit of the young man.
According to a booklet on his life, R Taleping joined the Congress party in 1964 and became the president of the party in 1967.But the booklet did not mention which unit he was given the charge as president.
He was a member of Manipur Rifle Association in 1967.In 1970, Taleping was selected as a member of the Tamenglong District Five Year Planning Committee as well as a member of the Tamenglong District Education Committee.
R Taleping also became the life member of the Indian Red Cross Society in 1981 .
On August 9, 2004, the then President of India Abdul Kalam invited R Taleping to a reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi for the 'Freedom Fighters' and was awarded him for his role in the crucial India's Independence Movement.
It can also be mentioned here that R Taleping had named the town Tamei.
Meanwhile, the Liangmai Naga Council (LNC) has expressed its shock over the demise of the late freedom fighter and shared the bereaved family members of the late leader.