Khuraijam Ongbi Bimola Devi
- First Lady Newsreader, All India Radio (AIR) Imphal -

By Thingnam Anjulika Samom *

Today with the influx of the mass media and technology in all its varied forms – the multi-paged, multi-editioned newspapers, the television and its many 24X7 news channels, the proliferation of networks and channels, the dish TV, the internet, and the mobile – the radio as an information disseminating and entertainment device has been relegated to the back seat in most parts of the world.

In Manipur too, the television and the internet is fast intruding into the nooks and corners of the state.

But it must be recalled and reiterated that in most parts of the state, while this phenomenon might mean multiplicity of choices in front of a section of people, a large chunk of the population continue to rely on the radio for information. This is true in many of the hill districts and remote parts of the state where the radio is the only accessible information source.

However even in the major townships where the television and the internet are available, people invariably tune in to the radio – especially for the news. For many of us, our memories of childhood is tinged with voices such as, "Akashvani Imphal, Bimola Devi na pao pajari" and "Akashvani Imphal, Lalgopal Singh na pao pajari." Today too both familiar and new voices say this line, connecting us across the miles.

Khuraijam Bimola Devi was one of the pioneers of the radio in Manipur. In fact she has the dual distinction of being the first regular and the first lady newsreader of All India Radio (AIR) in the state.

Bimola Devi was born on 1st October, 1934 at Moirang where her father, Dr. Thokchom Gorbadhon Singh – the first doctor of Manipur -- was posted as Medical Officer then. Her mother was Paonam ningol Pati Devi.

As her father was posted in many parts of the state, she didn’t spend much time at her father’s natal place in Moirangkhom. Instead she spent most of her childhood in the hills and remote areas of Manipur.

She did her lower primary schooling in Churachandpur, studying there till Class II, after which she shifted to Tamphasana Girls (TG) in Class III. She completed her high school from the school. After doing her Intermediate (IA) from Dhanamanjuri (DM) College, she then graduated from Guwahati Cotton College in Assam.

An average student, she was more interested in the arts and sports, participating and winning many prizes in college and inter-college events like Drama, Recitation and Dances.

She was also associated with Rupmahal Theatre in the heart of Imphal during her college days, acting in many plays. A memorable experience for her was her enactment of the protagonist Thoibi in GC Tongbra’s one act play, "Imphal Thoibi" when she was a student in DM College.

In September 1964, Bimola joined as the first regular newsreader of AIR Imphal. "There were many casual newsreaders then like RK Maipaksana and Khaidem Nabakumar.

Two of us joined as newsreaders in reply to an advertisement, but the other person – a man --left soon after. So ultimately when the regularization of the post came, I was the only person. And hence my claim as the first regular newsreader of AIR," she narrates.

"Work in the radio news unit is always hectic. We had no holidays. Even during bandhs and curfews, we had to reach the office in time – whether by cycle or on foot. There were times when I had to stay overnight in the office in times of flood. Above that, the technology then wasn’t so developed as now. We used to listen to the English news bulleting broadcast from Delhi and transcribe the whole thing, and then translate it into the local language. Then we would go to functions and audio-record it, later coming back to the station to make it into a news item," she adds.

Bimola Devi retired as newsreader in 1998 after putting in 34 years of work on air. However her contribution to the society still continues. After retirement she established a home for old age and destitute women with her pension money.

"Since my childhood I have always been touched by women’s sufferings, and the ill treatment meted to her by her own husband, family and kins. In a majority of the cases, she continues to endure the torture and the sufferings because she has no place to go. Even in her own paternal house she often finds no refuge. My home is for these women – a short stay home and a religious retreat where they can recover their self-esteem and their faith in God," she says.

A unique feature of this home is that there is no admission fee, and the inmates grow their own vegetables and paddy within its premises. They also get to supplement their income by doing additional work on the paddy fields and other avenues located nearby.

Bimola Devi who is presently recuperating from a series of operations due to kidney failure, believes firmly that a shift of emphasis from economic gains to human values in the education system will help alleviate the social problems existing in the state at present.

"By aping the West and aiming all education towards materialistic gains has meant losing values such as love of God, love of our parents and love of humankind," she reiterates.

Married in 1964 to noted lyricist and dramatist late Khuraijam Phulendro, she has three children – educationist Konika Khuraijam, government employee Vivek and eye specialist Noornika.

Bimola Devi has also served as the president of the Lioness Club, Manipur for many terms and won the Best Lioness President title too.

She is also a life member of the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW), the vice president of the Manipur Yoga Association, and the secretary of the Citizen’s Welfare Organization which runs the Bimola Devi Home for Old Age and Destitute Women at Changangei, Uchekon