Month-long Irabot birth anniv observance begins
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 01 2022:
Irabot Celebration Committee and Manipur Loumee Lup jointly kicked-off the month-long observance of 126th birth anniversary of Jananeta Hijam Irabot along with the observance of All India Farmers' Demand Day at the auditorium of Rupmahal Theatre, BT Road here on Thursday.
The inaugural function was attended by CPI Manipur State Council secretary Leishangthem Thoiren, Loumee Lup president N Singhajit, CPI Manipur State Council Control Commission chairman L Iboyaima, ex-state secretary Laishram Sotinkumar and All Manipur Nupi Marup ex-president S Sorojini as presidium members.
In his speech, Leishangthem Thoiren recounted that the life of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot was inextricably linked with the month of September, considering he was born on September 1896; protested against the formation of Purvanchal Pradesh (Tripura, Cachar and Lushai Hills) on September 21, 1948 and finally breathed his last on September 26, 1951 in Burma (now Myanmar).
Thus, the Celebration Committee saw it fit to hold a month-long observance, he added.
Lamyanba Hijam Irabot is considered widely as the architect of modern Manipur.
A political leader with many faces, Irabot launched the journalism movement in Manipur and worked to promote its rich art and culture and literature wealth.
He sowed the seeds of democracy in Manipur and was a champion of women rights, seeing his strong support for the Nupi Lal movement and for the rights of farmers, labourers and the vulnerable sections.
He was clear-sighted about the future of Manipur, which now holds true and it is the responsibility of the present generation to follow his teachings, Thoiren asserted.
Meanwhile, during the observance of the All India Farmers' Demand Day, Manipur Loumee Lup urged the state government to fulfil its demands including publishing the same in the National Commission on Farmers Report; saving Loktak Lake and decommissioning of the Ithai Dam while compensating the fishermen affected by Loktak Project; fixing daily wage of workers at Rs 600 and increasing the working days of MGNREGS to 200 days; enhancing afforestation in hill and valley areas and taking up agro forestry and plantation; installation of more check dams, while repairing the defunct dams, RLI and irrigation canals/routes; withdrawal of Electricity Bill, 2022 and preventing privatisation; inform farmers of farming welfare projects and legalisation of MSP; effective operation of PDS, food security and job security works; awarding compensation to farmers who died while protesting against anti-farm laws and withdrawal of cases; dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Mishra whose son is accused of killing farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, UP; and lastly, awarding monthly pension of Rs 10000 to senior citizens above 60 years of age.
Mention may be made here that Manipur Loumee Lup submitted a memorandum containing the above demands to the President of India through the Governor of Manipur on Thursday.