Late Shri Ngangom Tompok Singh (Ex MP) : As a leader and politician
- Part 2 -

Prof Ngangom Gopal Datta Singh *

Shri Tompok Singh with Swami Sivananda at Rishikesh, Himalayas. :: Pix - TSE

Such persons are known as "Tatvadarshi" or "Those who have realized the truth". The soul is indestructible, it always remains. To calm down the mind and maintain equilibrium at times of pleasure and pain is called the "Yoga". To be skillful in work and action is a kind of "Yoga". To work with a pure soul without caring about one's interest and benefit is called "Yajna". Such a work or "Yajna" purifies the mind.

To do good work, to spend time in search of truth, to serve humanity with one's own strength and intelligence without caring to benefit from it and to cast aside desire and greed and to remain focused on the Thought of God …………… those who are engaged in these matters are the real "Sadhus" or "Sannyasins". One does not become a "Sannyasin" or a "Sadhu" by just wearing the saffron robes".

In order to preach and propagate the Hindu religion and philosophy and also the teaching of Lord Krishna, Shri Singh founded the Manipur Gita Mandal in coordination with a number of divine lumanaries of Manipur. He became the founder secretary of the organization. Again, inspired by the teachings, idea and philosophy of Swami Sivananda Saraswati, he became a pioneer in founding the Divine Life Society of Manipur. He became its founder secretary. Due to his relentless efforts, these two organizations became very popular in Manipur with huge followings.

Shri Singh was a man who loved and derived a lot of pleasure and solace in praying and singing songs in praise of God. During the Rathyatra festival which is celebrated for seven days in Manipur, he used to collect a band of musicians around him and go from temple to temple and sing "Dashavatara" with a big "Tanpura" in his hand. He was also an accomplished Bhajan singer.

The author vividly remembers during his childhood that Shri Singh would take him along during these musical tours. Shri Singh would also pray to God on a daily basis for about half an hour after taking bath and just before lunch. At night he would pray again to God before taking dinner. Shri Singh also used to recite silently a Sanskrit hymn before putting a morsel of rice into his mouth with his own hands while taking lunch and dinner.

Shri Singh was a person who revered the Gita and believed in its sanctity. He used to derive a lot of pleasure and solace in reciting the slokas of the sacred book and in discussing the intricate meaning and implications of the different slokas. During the "Chaturmas" or four months beginning from about the time of "Harishayan" upto "Hariuthan", a period considered inauspicious and evil by the pandits for the appearance of a variety of poisonous insects and living beings, Shri Singh used to spend this period in penance and with enormous restrictions in food habits.

He was a pure vegetarian and would take "dal" only foregoing all types of vegetables during this period. Every Hindu is supposed to do penance and pray to God during this period in order to ward off evils. Shri Singh, as he was a devout Hindu, did the same and hosted a meeting of devotees in his outhouse (Sanggoi) during which the slokas of the Gita were recited and explained threadbare.

During these sessions which lasted the whole of "Chaturmas" (four months), Shri A. Shivadutta Sharma, a profound Sanskrit Scholar was the main speaker. It was a kind of informal meeting of like-minded persons who put questions to the main speaker to clarify their doubts. There were also mutual discussions about the holy scriptures of Hinduism during these sessions among the 25/30 persons assembled there. The sessions were always preceded and followed by the recitation of hymns, prayers and singing of Bhajans and Kirtans. "Prasadam" was also distributed at the end of each session.

Shri Singh's love and reverence for the Holy Gita is demonstrated by another episode in his life, taking place sometime in 1958, which is mentioned by Swami Pavitrananda, a Manipuri Sannyasin based in Rishikesh. The place was O.K. Book Store, Paona Road, known as Jimson Road as that time. In this store, Shri Ng. Tompok Singh, Shri Sivadutta Sharma, Telem Jogendrajit Singh, Shri Khundrakpam Ador Singh and Shri Sagolsem Indramani Singh used to meet regularly and discuss the intricacies of the Srimadbhagavat Gita.

Sometimes, they were joined by Shri Telem Abir Singh during the discussion. At that time, Swami Pavitrananda was a boy of 15/16 years. The above mentioned scholars told Swami Pavitrananda to join them everyday and learn from them the Gita. Swami Pavitrananda therefore used to frequent O.K. Store regularly. It was during these meetings that the plan for the establishment of a Manipur Gita Mandal was formed.

Shri Singh was a talented writer and orator. He used to write and deliver lectures extensively on religion and spiritual matters, Gandhian thought and philosophy as well as on Bhoodom and Sarvodaya movement. In all he gave thirty talks on All-India Radio, Guwahati and later on from all-India Radio, Imphal in Imphal on auspicious and religious occasions like the Holi, Doljatra, Buddha Purnima, Rathjatra, Durga Puja etc. When Pandit Nehru suddenly died on 27 May, 1964, he gave a radio talk on All India Radio, Imphal and he could not hold back his tears on the occasion and his crying voice could be heard in the radio broadcast.

Some of the topics on which he spoke on All-India Radio, Guwahati and All-India Radio, Imphal between 1962 and 1972 were:

1. "Gostha" gi wari-watai

2. Ising Marikna Achouba Samudra Oi

3. Buddha Purnima

4. Buddhang Saranang gachhami, Dhamam Saranang gachhami, Sanghang Saranang gachhami.

5. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Nonggakhibada

6. We will not give or take bribe in any form.

7. Servodaya Amasung Loumi

8. Bhoodan gi Maramda

9. Shri Chaitanyadev—Nimai gi Siksha

10. Yumban-Keiban gi chang Ngakpada

11. Sarvodaya Numit

12. Prarthana gi Matik-Mayai

13. Nung gi Ningtamba Amasung 'Pan gi Sengdokpa Thouram

14. Sevamay Jiban Haibasi Nollukpa Punsi Mashakni

15. Maharashtra gi Nongsha (Death Anniversity of Tilak)

16. Shanti gi Doot (Mahatma Gandhi)

17. Swaraj gi Shaktam

18. Anushasan gi Pambeina Achumba Khangba

19. "Satyagraha" – Karino Amasung Karmna Shijinnei

20. Draupadi gi Swayambar

21. Guiding Lights : Bhagawan Buddha, Message of Universal Love and Peace

22. Fearlessness in Man (Based on life and teaching of Gandhiji)

23. Righteousness is the greatest religion

24. In memory of "My Religion" of Gandhiji

25. Mashana Mahelle Khanba Papni

26. Gandhitva

27. Gandhi Amasung Gita

28. Gandhiji's Solution of Poverty in India

29. Punnaba gi Fampak : Atoppa gi Dharma da Hullandaba

30. Houjikki Manipur

It is clear from the topics on which he spoke in the radio that Shri Singh was immensely learned and well-versed in Hindu religion and philosophy as well as on Gandhian Thought and philosophy. At heart, he was a saint who outwardly donned the cloths of a leader, social worker, politician and organiser. He was a multi-faced personality with immense skill and talent who dedicated his whole life to the service of the people of Manipur, India and the world at large.

concluded ....