Had there been proper guide, we could have been recognized: Priyobati
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Seram Neken

Imphal, January 10 2014 : Nowadays, sports persons of both genders have earned high respects of the society.

There was a time when women players were looked upon as violating social norms and traditions.

Defying all challenges, a number of women of took up various games and demonstrated the abilities inherent in the women of this land.

'ON THE GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS' reproduces here the sports profile of veteran player Yumnam Priyobati from Ratneshwori Goswami's Akao Parei Chankhrabasing published in the Huieyen Lanpao (Manipuri) .

Yumnam Priyobati, 78 year old woman veteran player of Manipur from Keishampat Laisom Leirak was the sixth child of Yumnam Chandrahas and Yumnam Ongbi Puklenkhombi.

With encouragement from the father, she started her sports indulgence during schooling at Elangbam Leikai LP School.

Priyobati began to play whole heartedly while studying class III/IV in Tamphasana School.

By that time, Saraswati Pujah was celebrated with games and sports on a wide scale in educational institutions.

Priyobati alias Modhu did not deter from participating in the sports meet in schools.

From 1950, she began to play under Tidim Road Athletics Union (TRAU).

In 100 metre race, she stood first.

As an all rounder player, she took up almost all events like Race, Balance Race, Badminton, and Hockey.

Oja Ningthoujam Kullabidhu was an ardent sports lover who did the sports arrangements in school.

Priyobati whole heartedly played from the year 1952 to 1956 (upto class IX).

In the Manipur Olympic Games in 1951, she stood first positions in 400 meter race, 200 meter race and 100 meter race.

And she did well in 80 metre Hurdles also.

Her body was quite matched with the short distance run.

Among the mate runners of her time, she could recall only the names of Jamuna, Momon, Manileima and Ibemhal.

She was a Hockey player in the National Blue.

Elangbam Ibohal, Ngairangbam Jugindro, Sougaijam Lalit, Amuba, Hodam Mohon taught the techniques of Hockey games.

RK Madhurjit also acquainted them with the various styles of striking and carrying balls.

She recollects the names of players who were in National Blue Team as Chingakham Pramoda (Goal Keeper), RK Bino (Back), Tarubi (Left Forward), Kumudini (Centre Half), Arambam Sobita (Centre Forward), Sumati (Half), Sougaijam Santa (Half), Manjuri Angom Bino, Waikhom Bijaya, Waikhom Manorama etc.

They had neither a coach nor a proper guide who could lead them to the national level.

It was an amazing thing that women of 1953 took to the fields with Hockey sticks in spite of all odds and challenges.

The orthodox society looked down girls wearing pants and skirts as over smart.

During schooling, girls usually wore a Chadar across the body, and were often bare-footed.

A small umbrella and a watch were all they wore.

By class VIII/IX, they began to wear shoes.

Wearing skirts and pants by the girls was not approved of by the then orthodox society.

Her relations with husband Akoijam Ibopishak developed while he was studying in CC school.

His family members and he himself did not like Priyobati to indulge in games with pants and skirts, and to mingle with boys in the playfields.

Hence, she had to distance herself gradually from games as per the wish of her boyfriend.

Her husband Ibopishak had been serving for a long time as the Joint Director of Cooperative Department since 1958. After passing out matriculation in 1956, she proceeded to Calcutta to study nursing as per the wish of the family.

She recollected that she boarded the Dekota plane with a fare of 75 rupees by then.

Upon staying in Calcutta, she managed to avoid the nursing training and joined a two year training in crafts, weaving and dyeing.

Her real ambition was Had there been proper guide, we could have been recognized: Priyobati sports.

However in the absence of guidance, she could not take up sporting career.

During the training in Calcutta, she had the opportunity to join in the sports meet of Vishwa Bharati.

She earned champions titles in Badminton - both in Open All Girls category and in Open to Senior Girls category.

In Santiniketan, she never missed the activities such as dancing, singing and games.

It is worthy of pride that Manipuri women could demonstrate their skills in various events as early as 1956-57.By 1958, she came back to Manipur and married in the month of May.

In 1960, she was appointed as the Crafts Instructor at Ibotonsana Girls School during the time of Chief Minister Moirang Koireng.

In 1976, Helim Chouwdhry who was an important functionary of All Manipur Sports Association organized a women Hockey exhibition match for the veteran women.

She played in the Right Forward position in the match.

It was a great satisfaction to the veteran player.

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