Imabem of BJP passed away

Free Thinker *

For nearly forty years you must be witnessing a lady who comes to almost all the BJP functions, meetings, rallies, gatherings, rituals and so on. She does not wait for an invitation or a call from anyone for any function or gathering of the Parivar; except for the exclusive ones she is always there.

Naturally she feels that it is her duty to be present in all Party & Parivar activities as far as possible. Everyone in the organization knows her as Ima Thourari or Imabem (Satyabhama) , the simple spouse of martyred Madhumangol Sharma , one of the leading founders of BJP, Manipur, a close compatriot of Vajpai ji & Advaniji.

Imabem Satyabhama held a number of party and parivar posts including the Vice President of BJP, Manipur. She was a member of the National Executive. She was also the Chairperson of Manipur State Women Development Commission when she passed away a few days ago.

The unflinching loyalty of the family of (L) Madhumangol ji and (L) Satyabhama ji towards the Sangh Parivar is well known. Their long association with BJP, RSS, VHP and other sister organizations of the Parivar is no secret.

Whether BJP is in power or not they are always with the Party & Parivar. They stand by the Party & Parivar in any situation and under any circumstances. That is the respectable beauty of this family. The national Party & Sangh leaders are quite aware of the family.

I have high regard for the family for their ideological clarity and firm commitment to what they believe and stand for. For the last 23/24 years I am in touch with the family. I know all the sons and only daughter of Satyabhama ji and Madhumangol ji.

I could not meet Pabung Madhumanol ji but I heard from my father that he was a very disciplined member of Jana Sangh, RSS and founder of BJP in Manipur. Despite ideological differences with Madhumangol Sharma my father respected him.

My father told me in clear terms that he respects leaders like Madhumangol Sharma and Communist Bira - because they stood firm with their ideologies and Party( both killed by extremists).

Imabem Satyabhama never missed a single function in my family. Our ties became stronger and stronger. Her sons and daughter have become part of my social circle. Her eldest son had become one of my closest friends. When we first met he was the correspondent of Ankhong Dekhi of Nalini Singh, a very popular program of those days some 23 years back.

Imabem Satyabhama was very fond of elisa ( hilsa fish) . Whenever she dines with us we ensure that elisa is there. She would insist that she will come and prepare the fish. Her style of preparation is unique. I had many occasions to have elisa prepared by Imabem. Quite delicious.

My mother and Imbem Satyabhama studied in the same Ibotonsana School ; though my mother was one year junior or senior to her, they have some common stories of those days.

Once Imabem told me that "your mother should come out , she is always doing service to her family only; she must do something for the community". Then I requested her to come take my mother wherever she goes. She simply smiled and said " hoi hoi ".

I was told that Madhumangol ji had a habit of travelling long distances by cycle along with his associates for organization and party. Once they went to a faraway place by cycle and conducted a few meetings and came back late at night.

All his associates didn't have anything and all had left saying that they would have something at their respective homes. There was BB Sharma who was a bachelor and stayed alone. He was in the group but also left without saying anything.

Satyabhama ji knows each of Eigya's associates and she enquired whether BB had left. Eigya said yes , all have gone . Satyabhama ji told Eigya to deliver him something to eat .

Eigya Madhumangol came cycling to BB Shrama to deliver rice and roti sabsi. She takes care of each and every member of the Parivar as far as she can. Indeed she was a mother figure to many party workers and she always tried to help whoever approaches her.

Satyabhama ji has a distinctive emotional connection with her son in the UK; she always insisted that Dr Krishnananda should come back home for good; he has done enough for England now he should do something for his people.

Umpteen times I was given the instruction to convey the message to him . I am sure Dr was by her side when she breathed her last at Imphal.

Satyabhamaji had finally handed over to Modiji the blood stained copy of Gita (abridged) which was in the pocket of Madhumangol ji at the time of his murder, when she last met him . Modiji will always remember the dream of the martyred leader whenever he sees or remembers the unusual gift.

Whenever she visits me Imabem used to bless me "nungairo nungairo", the vibration of her blessing will always remain echoed in my mind forever.

I will be missing her but more than me BJP and Sangh Parivar will be missing her like anything.