Sougaijam Lalit : "We must remember the contribution of Churachand Maharaj to sports development"

Seram Neken *

Unfortunately, not a single stadium, playground or sports complex in Manipur has been named in memory of Churachand Maharaj of Manipur who introduced modern games and worked for development of modern sports in Manipur. 'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player S. Lalit from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

"The national paper Statesman once reported that Churachand Maharaj of Manipur had purchased all the sports equipment available at Oberoi in Calcutta leaving nothing for sale at the shop." This was told by Sougaijam Lalit quoting his elders while referring to ardent role played by Churachand Maharaj in sports development during the pre-independence period. Churachand Maharaj of Manipur who lived only for fifty years from 1891 to 1941 dedicated his life for sports development in Manipur.

He was responsible for introduction of various modern games in the state during his days as king of Manipur. Besides patronizing the games, the king himself was a good player of almost all games. The present generation must remember him for the greatest ever contribution made by the king.

Sougaijam family at Yaiskul has been known as a sports family because eminent players of all disciplines had hailed from it since the 1930s. Sougaijam Ibotomba, father of S. Lalit was a polo player during the time of Churachand Maharaj. Sports personalities of pre-statehood years such as Sougaijam Biren, Sougaijam Dhiren, Sougaijam Somorjit and Sougaijam Lalit belong to this family, which was better known as family of goal keepers. Born in 1930, Sougaijam Lalit is the son of S. Ibotomba and Konthoujam Ningol Amureima (Ibemhal) Devi of Yaiskul Sougaijam family, which had been known to have passionate sports background. He was an all rounder player from around 1946 to 1956.

In an interview, the octogenarian sportsman said, "I took keen interests in games and sports from the very beginning. I remember the hectic efforts made by Oja Benudhar, Oja Baruni, Nongmaithem Rebati, Ayekpam Biramangol, Khomdram I. P Singh (Dhanachandra), Sougaijam Biren etc. for development of sports in Manipur. The Town Club, the Manipur Sports Association and Manipur Olympic Association were a few sports bodies existent during those days". Dwelling on the sports organizations in their initial period, Lalit added that there was also a Body Building Association managed by Oja Sagolsem Indramani and Oja Manaobi (Friends Talkies), and the Manipur Olympic Association was led by RK Madhurjit.

As a Football Goal Keeper who drew inspiration from family elders like Sougaijam Biren and Sougaijam Dhiren, Lalit recalled names of his contemporary players as Sangam, Yangkhahao, Phareng and Mangjakai. Although he could not memorize all the players, he said that Manipur Eleven Team was composed of 7-8 Tangkhul players. Yangkhopao and Phareng were good players in back position.

Those who represented Manipur in Football, as he said, were Mangjakai (Centre-Half), Sangam (Left-In), Yangkhahao (Right-In), Phareng (Back), Zed Ramio (Right-In), N. Brajamani (Left-Half), Baorei (Centre-Forward), Aboi (Right-Out), Tongkhohao, Holkholal, AK Manihar (Right-Out), Nongmaithem Giri, Mutum Dhanabir, Huidrom Baruni, Khomdram Nimai, Mohan Babu, RK Gandhisana, Sanjenbam Priyokumar etc.

On 1956, Lalit participated in the Naogaon Independence Cup and the Captain MN Gupta Trophy at Silchar. He had played Football under the Kuki Sporting Club for around seven years and Tangkhul Sporting Club for one year. A first batch student of DM College of Science (1951), Lalit appeared examination at Cotton College Guwahati and later joined Engineering College in Guwahati. During his studentship at Engineering College, he pursued Badminton at leisure. According to the 84 year old player, they were responsible for introducing Table Tennis during the post World war-II period.

Besides being an enthusiastic Badminton player, Lalit also took major role in the formation of Manipur Badminton Association, for which he worked as President for 12 years. Narrating the story of formation of the Association, he said that Manipur Badminton Association was formed in a meeting held at the Friends' Talkies Hall under the chairmanship of L. Joychandra.

Besides Lalit, the meeting was attended by P. Kumud, Dr. L. Jogamani, L. Joychandra, W. Prabhas, N. Nilamani, H. Biseshwar, Kh. Deben, Dr. Th. Brajabidhu, H. Banikanta and Dr. RK Sanayaima. It resolved to form a working committee with L. Manaobi as President, N. Binoybhusan as Secretary and M. Ram Singh as Treasurer. Lalit along with P. Kumud, Dr. L. Jogamani, L. Joychandra, W. Prabhas, N. Nilamani and H. Bisheshore and Nagesaran (Keralaid) were the members. Constitution Drafting Committee was also formed with N. Ram as chairman, N. Binoybhusan as convener and P. Kumud as member.

Manipur Badminton Association with 100 registered players was initially affiliated to Assam Badminton Association in 1955, and later in 1975 it was affiliated to Badminton Association of India. The Association also organized the "First Official Manipur State Open Badminton Championship" at the erstwhile Public Library premise near GM Hall. S. Lalit who also designed the logo of the Association in 1963 led the Manipur Badminton Team to Assam Inter District Open Badminton Championship at Dribugarh as its captain-cum Manager.

In the first ever participation outside Manipur, he was accompanied by L. Jogamani, Jatra and Laphoisana. After a few years, Manipur could produce Badminton players who became Assam number one. As per the accounts of veteran player, an indoor stadium was constructed at Kabo leikai and the All India school meet was also organized by the state Association in 1975.

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