A Brief Life Sketch of Late Dr. N. Lairen Singh (1893 - 1978)
- Part 3 -

M Nilamani *

Dr. N. Lairen Singh

The strong, powerful forces and impact of the first Manipuri monthly journal "Yakairol" edited by Dr. N. Lairen Singh reached its zenith - even it reached the hands of His Excellency, the Viceroy of India.

Acknowledgement D.O. letter sent by Assistant Private Secretary to the Viceroy of India vide D.O. No. 424 dated 14-1-31 is reproduced below for information to the readers of this article.

Contents of D.O. No. 424 dt. 14-01-31

"Dear Sir, I am desired"to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter dated the 1h January, 1931 and copy of the journal "Yakairol" for the month of January - forwarded herewith".

The activities and popularities of Dr. N. Lairen Singh became known beyond Manipur.

In the year 193 5 "Assam Ahom Conference" was held on 21 st and 22nd April at Dibrugarh. Dr. N. Laien Singh was invited for his participation in the said conference. He organised "Manipur Oriental Dance Party" comprising of prominent youths of Manipur and presented the Dance performance in Dibrugarh". His Excellency Sir Michael Keen, the Governor of Assam was the Chief Guest. Dr. N. Lairen Singh got the opportunity to speak out his. opinion in the conference. Stress on the aspects of the origin of Assam, Manipur and Agartala (Takhel) were given in his speech - emphasising the origin of these three communities as the descendants of one Group of Community.

In Manipur the community is known as the Meeteis. Assam might have forgotten that they were called and addressed as "Tekhao" by the Meetei community and Agartala (Tripura) as "Takhel". People of Agartala also might have forgotten this name but we "Meeteis" do not forget their names. Within the pronouncement of the word "Meetei" - "Tai or Tei", for the word of "Tekhao" ­ "Te" and as for "Takhel" "Ta" is by product of "Tai" originated from the "Tai Group of people".

Because of this fact (from time immemorial) we have the system of inter­marriage within these three communities. We belong to the same origin of "Tai" Group.

On the above ground, Dr. N. Lairen Singh urged the gathering not to severe relationship and affection of each of us. His speech was higWy appreciated by the people who were present in the conference. Many important topics of "Thailand" and "Tibet" were discussed along with T. HudsoQ's "The Meitheis". After the conference was over, the title "Tarun Neta" was conferred on Dr. N. Lairen Singh and precious "Abhidan~ was also presented to Dr. Lair~n Singh by the famous and well known Sandikei family of Jorhat and thereafter having a gap of few months - people of Jorhat and Golaghat conferred the title of "Jannayak" on Dr. N. Lairen Singh.

About the life of Dr. N. Lairen Singh and his reformative measures taken up in Manipur and his outstanding contributions were published in Dr. Dinanath Sharma's Assamese Magazine "Aawahan" printed and published from Calcutta.

For many months articles on the life and contributions of Dr. N. Lairen Singh were also published in daily newspaper "Batary" of Jorhat - being edited, printed and circulated by Nilmani Phukon B.A.

Unprecedented adventure of Dr. N. Lairen Singh to Assam gave him the opportunity to meet Editor of "Bahi" Magazine - published from Tezpur and Editor of "Times of Assam" Dibrugarh - and received many valuable advice from these Editors. He also got the information that the first newspaper of Assam was "Arunodoy".

The influence and popularity of "Yakairol" being flourished it stood as a strong force as against the administration of the Government - whenever any issue or matter were formulated neglecting the interest of the common people, the people of Manipur had started giving their opinion against wrong doings of the Government of Manipur.

At this, bureaucrats who were in the Government service and had close connection with the matter of governance of the State, started abusing the journal "Yakairol" with false allegations pointing their fingers to the Editor of the Journal.

Their allegations are as follows :­
The name of the journal "Y akairol" is improper name - it only speaks - unfounded, irrelevant and unconnected criticism - as such the name should be "Wakairol" instead of "Yaikairol". What is the use of publishing such unfounded and unnecessary and irrelevant criticism"? "From such wrong propaganda made against the "Yakairol" we see the word "Wakairol" in the notes of "A glimpse of Assam History" of late Upendra Barua of Assam instead of "Yakairol"

Bureaucrats of Manipur were deadly against Dr. N. Lairen Singh because of his spirit and public minded nature inherent in his blood. Without any fear in his mind he published the articles against the Government. False propaganda and allegations levelled against Dr. N. Lairen Singh by the Bureaucrats of Manipur were an intentional attempt to suppress and spoil "Yakairol" which was the only journal in Manipur through which evils connected with poor governance of the state could be exposed to the public.

When there was strong movement in the form of protest and social revolution in the valley of Manipur as against execution of manual works for performing the duties of "Porter" assigned particularly to the people of hills under Manipur Rule, Dr. N. Lairen Singh met and interacted with the Political Agent of those time - C. Jimson I.C.S. "Do not take it otherwise - People of valley bear heavy burden and the responsibilities to pay sufficient Land Revenues to the Government whereas the hill people pays only Rs. 2/- as hill house tax but full liberty was given to the hill people to use the land of Manipur.

Hill people, under their monetary position, would not be able to pay sufficient amount of Land Revenues. Hill people used to come down to the valley even for earning Rs. 2/- and that too by doing manual works. Instead of imposing and forcing them to pay Revenue in terms of money, people of hills were given to do manual works - treating such nature of work, would relieve them from burden of paying money as Revenue. This system is more advantageous to the hill people. Hardly within 2/4 years they got one time opportunity to earn by executing the works of "Porter". When their financial positions are sound enough ­ everything would be OK," said the Political Agent of Manipur.

With this advice the matter was settled and accordingly Dr. N. Lairen Singh urged the Political Agent with an appeal to look into financial position of the hill people and to sort out ways and means to improve their position.

In this way, Dr. N. Lairen Singh served the people of Manipur but those people who opposed him and his "Yakairol" collected copies of this journal circulated in Manipur and set ablaze due to jealousy and emnity - even the copies of "Yakairol" were torn into as many pieces as they could and pressed the same with their feet.

It would be wrong presumption if the people think that the journal "Yakairol" did not serve the people of Manipur. People living in Eastern Bengal and Assam who were having the same thought and ideology with that of Dr. Lairen Singh liked and appreciated him so much and gave their comment that "Visit of Manipur" without meeting Dr. Lairen bears no significant meaning at all.

In India Mahatma Gandhi took up his venture to liberate India from the hands of British people and to put it in the hands of people of India, while in Manipur (an independent country before the Britishers landed in and conquered this Kingdom) Dr. N. Lairen Singh, under his leadership, whole heartedly endeavoured and attempted to put the Government of Manipur into the hands of its people from the hands of Maharajah of Manipur. People of Assam and Bengal had given the name "Manipur Gandhi" to Dr. Lairen Singh. Dr. N. Lairen Singh wanted to introduce Life Insurance Scheme in Manipur.

With this aim in mind he established the "Manipur Insurance Company" having its office at Nutun Bazar. After functioning the Insurance Company smoothly, some people of Manipur moved to Political Agent of Manipur for closure of the Insurance Company. They raised objection against the introduction of Life Insurance Company asserting that there would be no staff to check the account of the Insurance. Thus the Insurance Company was closed and the money deposited were refunded back to the Policy holders.

Dr. Lairen Singh was the President of the 1st General Body Meeting of Manipur Motor Association (MMA). He also rendered his services in setting up Tamphasana Girls' High School. At the time of establishing Raja Dumbra School, Dr. Lairen Singh, being the President of School Committee worked very hard and continued his services till after the school got its affiliation.

Looking into the activities of Dr. N. Lairen Singh - joining into the field of politics when he was grown up youth and his attempt to give education to the people of Manipur on a large scale, His Highness the Maharajah of Manipur Sir Churachand Singh invited Dr. N. Lairen Singh and asked him as to why you attempted and continued to work for the people's education. In response to this question Dr. N. Lairen Singh said "In the golden land of Shreejut there is no well educated people from amongst the people of this Golden Land of Your Highness".

"To have one B.A. in each and every family of Manipur without exception of villages and remote places would suit the present trend of this land" replied - Dr. N. Lairen Singh.

Dr. N. Lairen Singh had always lived with a dream to set up a college in Manipur. College Governing Body was formed along with many (Bhadralok) gentlemen. With the Maharajah of that time - President of Durbar Mr. Harvey as President of the Governing Body "Manipur College" was set up in Manipur.

To be continued....