The Renaissance man
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 30, 2013 -

116th Irabot Birth Anniversary held at Iboyama Shumang Lila Shanglen on Sep 30 2012 :: Pix - Bunti Phurailatpam

Apart from the fact that September marks the transition from the scorching summer heat to the chilly winter in northern hemisphere with half of the world coming alive to autumnal festivities, the month of September has come to occupy a special not only in the annual calendar all over the world but also in the hearts of the people of Manipur.

In fact, the significance of the month in the lives of the Manipuri people is becoming more prominent with each passing day, week, month and year.

It was in this month that Hijam Irabot (30th September, 1896 - 26th September, 1951), the pioneering renaissance man of Manipur, was not only born but also breathed his last.

So, the entire September is being observed by various organisations within and outside Manipur to pay homage to Irabot, who left his marks in almost every front, be it politics, social, literature, sports, theatre, art or culture.

Irabot not only fight against the hegemony of the then British ruler but also worked for abolishing many social evils prevailing in Manipuri society of that time.

To bring about social consciousness and political awakening among the people, Irabot wrote poems, books and published magazines/journals and also acted in many theatrical performances to reach spread his message, more particularly to the neglected farmers and other marginalized sections of the society like a true Renaissance man.

Interestingly, for greater part of his life and even after his death, Irabot remained a much misunderstood personality, especially among the elites and rulers.

It was only during the last three decades or so that the people have started according due recognition to Irabot.

As the ideologies and principles of Irabot are being extolled everywhere today, we may take a pause and question why Irabot is being becoming so popular among the people today.

The answer to this question should not be far to seek to anyone who can see, hear or feel.

Irabot was one leader who sacrificed everything for the people and led them by setting himself as an example.

This is the quality of a true leadership, which the people could not expect from the present lots of their so-called public leaders and elected representatives even in their wildest dreams.

Contrary to what Irabot did during his lifetime, contemporary leaders work by keeping themselves before everything else and they are always eager for rewards for every little thing they do.

So, the high sounding talks and speeches of sacrifices and dedication to public services that came out from the mouth of these leaders on the occasion of commemorative events of Irabot sound like an insult to an iconic man who was already a legend even during his lifetime.

How many of these so-called present leaders would be remembered by the people as a source of inspiration like Irabot long after they have gone? We just wonder.