Imphal, August 27 2010: The only surviving Maram queen Apei Hinga passed away at her traditional home at Maram Khullen village in Manipur's Senapati district, at 2pm on Friday afternoon.

The eighty six-year-old Maram queen who had been seriously ill for some time,was being looked after round the clock by her only surviving son and present Khullakpa (village chief) K Namba and granddaughters at Maram Khullen village, about 86 km north of Imphal.

The queen had been struggling with problems related to the heart and lungs since the first week of August.

Many had thronged to the queen's place to get her blessings till the last hour with the belief that their wishes would be granted.

Meanwhile Maram Students' Union (MKS) has appealed the masses and well wishers to attend the ritual ceremony and traditional last rites of the queen tomorrow.

Known for her justice and her role as a peace loving mother, the Naga Women's Union Manipur (NWUM) had conferred the title 'Best Mother' in 2006 on her.

Pioneer Health Club Manipur with its office at Khurai Tinsid Road, Imphal had awarded a citation to the queen on the International Day of Older Persons in October 2009 .

The queen brought about many social changes in the Maram society by abolishing in 1968, the evil-traditional practice of "M-Bung Katai" under which law a pregnant women undergoing a difficult labour was ill-treated, thus upgrading the status of women in Maram society.

In 1975, the queen also lifted the restriction on inter-clan and inter-tribe marriages.

She also proclaimed the freedom to villagers to start cultivation works in their own convenient time even before or after the Saraha Kati Lura Manai (seed-sowing) ritual.

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