Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 31 2010:
The Pioneer Health Club, Manipur has deeply condoled the demise of Ima Hinga Karangnamei, the Queen of Maram, who passed away on August 27, after a short illness.
Recalling some of her contributions to society, the Club in a statement said that though she was illiterate, she was instrumental in initiating certain remarkable social reforms in Maram society .
The traditional practise of 'M-Bong Katai' in which a pregnant woman undergoing complicated labour was taken out of the house and kept alone, lest the house would be defiled if she died inside the house, was done away with under the initiative of the late Queen.
The woman, if she died was also to be buried by hired hands and all her belongings thrown away.
The Queen was also responsible for giving consent to inter-marriage among the different Khels of Marams, said the statement and added that the Pioneer Health Club had felicitated her in 2009 on the International Day of Older Persons.