Freedom fighter Para Dhumba remembered
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 25 2022:
Memorial observance of Anglo-Manipuri War 1891 freedom fighter Ashangbam Phurahongba, who was better known as Para Dhumba alias Ashangba Kut was organised by Apunba Ashangbam at Awang Leikintnabi on Friday.
State Archaeology superintendent Shashikant Sharma, Imphal West ZP up-adhakshya Bobby and several CSO leaders attended the observance.
Speaking on the occasion, Apunba Ashangbam convener Ashangbam Jagajit recalled that many people were killed in the battlefields of Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 and many were hanged to death after being captured at the end of the war.
At the same time, 23 freedom fighters were exiled to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Out of them, seven returned to Manipur and Ashangbam Phurahongba was one of them.
Though their names remained obscured in the history, they have resurfaced today due to the efforts of many, he added.
In his address, United Chongthas president Chorigtham Tomba expressed gratitude to the Government of India for giving due respect to the freedom fighters of Manipur by renaming Mount Harriet into Mount Manipur recently.
He then drew attention of the authority concerned to the need for construction of a guest house there so that annual memorial observance could be held there.
Shashikant Sharma stressed the need for conducting further research on the unsung heroes of Manipur so that the future generation could have proper knowledge of the state's history.