Sagolsem Brajabidhu: "I got 40 maunds of paddy as prize of marathon race organized by Manipur Man Building Institute"

Seram Neken *

Elders of the state had pursued various games in the absence of equipment, stadia and coaches. Yet they did not lag behind their counterparts across the country. They loved sports like anything. 'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player S. Brajabidhu from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

Born in 1933, Sagolsem Brajabidhu is the last son of Sagolsem Angangjao and Sanasam Ningol Chamubi Devi of Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai Imphal. In an interview, the 80 year old veteran athlete said that his first schooling was at the school number 42 located at Singjamei Makha Naorem Leikai. "Oja Oangabam Gopal, father of first Olympian P. Nilakomol was the head pandit of the LP School, where I began to play various games", he narrated.

Later, he was admitted to Churachand School. Brajabidhu recalled that in 1947 he was in class III, his roll number being 47 and he belonged to Section D. From the very beginning, he had keen interest in 100 meter and 200 meter race. Thereafter, he decided to pursue long run and started daily practice upto Canchipur (erstwhile Palace of Maharaj Gambhirsing). He indebted his success in athletics to one of his beloved brother Angom Ibohal who took care of him during his practice.

By 1947, he joined in long run competitions at the Assam Rifles and Manipur Rifles complexes. For the first time, he participated in the one mile race at Manipur Olympic Games in 1947 along with Mr. Manipur Irom Lekhendra, Anganghal from Malom, Ibotombi from Chingamakha, Birchand from Wangkhei, Subol from Elangbam Leikai etc.

Brajabidhu recollected, "Marathon race (26 miles) was usually set off from either Pallel or Moirang Lamkhai. My strong contenders in the race were Ibotombi from Malom and Laishram Birachand".

Interestingly, as Thabal Chongba served as a good exercise for them, they were well known for leading the Thabal Chongba for three consecutive rounds. Road transportation was not so good by those days, as blacktopping on narrow passes began only after Second World War. They ran on the black topped roads with simple PT shoes as a practice. During the long run, he used to chew sweets. Three sweets were quite enough for the run from Pallel to Imphal.

In 1954, Brajabidhu participated in the 15 mile long race at Manipur State Games representing Yaishkul Athletics Club. He could finish in fourth position while Ibotombi from Chingamakha, Subol from Elangbam Leikai and Laishram Birachand were in the first, second and third positions respectively. In the 26 mile marathon held in 1959, he got second position, winner being Anganghal from Malom.

As he recounted, he took part in the Marathon race organised by Manipur Man Building Institute. It usually set off from Pallel by 9 in the morning and the runners reached the destination by 2 afternoon. The competition was organized in the month of February. He narrated, "As the prizes for the Marathon were paddy and cows along with certificates, I happened to get 40 maunds of paddy as prize on one occasion".

In 1959, he joined Manipur Police as constable and retired as Assistant Sub-Inspector in February 1997. His appointment in police service was because of the sports career he held. Among the 500 candidates, Brajabidhu was called out first by the selectors as he had a robust physique with 45 inches chest.

After appointment, he was posted at various places Tipaimukh, Jiri, Ukhrul, Moreh etc. While posting at Jiribam, he used to run upto Silchar frequently. However, his sporting career gradually declined due frequent postings at remote hill areas of the state.

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