We were pioneers of women hockey in Manipur : Khaidem Tararani

Seram Neken *

Sporting spirit enabled her to face the challenges of life. Although she was not an eminent sports star, she was a woman pioneer of modern sports in Manipur. 'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of one time Hockey player Khaidem Tararani Devi from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri).

As stated in earlier columns, Manipuri women were the first among Indian women to take up Hockey sticks and played in the field. By 1948/49, a few students of Tamphasana Girls School who took keen interests in games and sports requested the then Head Master Haobam Ibotombi to buy Hockey sticks so as to experience the game which was earlier meant for the males. As the Head Master agreed and bought the Hockey sticks, they started playing Hockey by then. Veteran women players including Kh. Tararani, Hajarimayum Jamuna, Thingbaijam Ibemhal and O. Sarojlata were responsible for introduction of women Hockey in Manipur.

In an interview, 75 year-old Kh. Tararani recalled that besides being a doubles partner in badminton, she and H. Jamuna were neck to neck in Javelin competitions during schooldays. By that time, the girls used to practice Hockey at a small playground presently occupied by the Cheirap Court from early morning till 5 am. The Hockey sticks were stored at the residence of Sanakhya Hajursana, who was then the secretary of Imphal Sporting Club. Shri Maisnam Kunjabihari from Kwakeithel was their instructor in Hockey. They also practiced at the playground at Kangjabi and sometimes at Pologround.

Besides playing, it was a hectic schedule for the girls to assist in family chores and then to attend classes on time. Being ardent sports lovers, Kh. Tararani and her colleagues missed the entertainments such as Thabal Chongba, Likon Sannaba etc. during their adolescence. Instead, they did not skip the games like Javelin, Hockey and Badminton.

Tararani narrated her sporting ordeal that she played Hockey under the Imphal Sporting Club, the main contender of which was the Yaiskul Team, earlier called Town Club. She had been the goal keeper of the team and later fielded as full back. She was adept in fast striking of the rolling ball without any halt. As she recalled, the players of her time had an intimate relationship as they used to share whatever they had.

Regarding her interest in Badminton, the septuagenarian said that they practiced Badminton at a small court beside the GM Hall and the erstwhile Public Library. By that time, a Madrasi called Nargesh was the referee of the games. The games were often organized by Captain Harnet, with whose wife she got the chance to play a single match. She remembered that by around 1958-59, she and partner H. Jamuna once had a doubles match against the wife and daughter-in-law of Captain Harnet. They received a big Cup for winning the match. Jamuna and she shared the Cup for alternate six months. During those days, she also got a number of dresses as prizes that sufficed her for the whole year.

Educated upto the metric level, Kh. Tararani received the Ram Sevika training at Sararani Ashram in Ulubari, Guwahati during 1958-59. After getting the training on social service, child care and family welfare, she joined in the Social Welfare department and worked for the welfare of women and children of the state. She had the opportunity to go from place to place in the hills and valley of Manipur to organize programmes on the health of women.

On various occasions, she had to face the Naga Hostiles during her works. She narrated a story in which a team of social welfare department under her leadership met some underground people somewhere at Laikoi Ching during a programme tour. She bravely talked to the armed persons and brought cordiality by sharing some of her belongings like medicines.

In almost all challenges of life, Kh. Tararani derived her courage from sports and she is proud of being a sports woman. She was also posted in Jiribam for about a year. Tararani also received trainings for two years from Santiniketan, Kolkata. After retirement from Social Welfare, she worked in All India Radio, Imphal for some time.

Acknowledging the drastic growth of sports in the state, Khaidem Tararani expressed the worth to recall the contributions made by the sports pioneers of Manipur. It was a story of courage and adventurism that women in Manipur had picked up Hockey sticks well before any other Indian woman played the game. She appreciated the then government of RK Jaichandra that invited the pioneering women of the state for a meeting at the state secretariat.

There, she had the chance to narrate their story. Once again during the chief minister ship of W. Nipamacha, they were invited to join the torch race of 5th National Games. Tararani lamented that the present government of the state has not remembered them on any occasion. In her wish, she suggested that in addition to topping of huge awards and prizes on achievers, the authority may also encourage the newly emerged players with various supports in time.