Salutes offered to Lamyanba on Manipur Kanba Numit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 21 2026: As in previous years, the 78th anniversary of Manipur Kanba Numit was observed today at the Irawat Memorial Hall, Chalou, Lamlai.

Organised by the Irawat Celebration Committee (ICC), Manipur, in association with the Lamlai Local Council of the Communist Party of India (CPI), the event commemorated the people's revolt on September 21, 1948, against the then Government's move to merge Manipur with the proposed Purvanchal Pradesh.

The event began with the offering of floral tributes at Pungdongbam Khubam (memorial site), following which a short rally was taken out to Irawat Memorial Park at Chalou, Lamlai.

Salutes offered to Lamyanba on Manipur Kanba Numit

The CPI flag was then hoisted at Irawat Memorial Park by Langol Iboyaima, former chairman of the CPI Manipur State Council Control Room.

Following the flag-hoisting ceremony, floral tributes were paid at the memorial of Jananeta Hijam Irawat and the statue of late CPI leader Pheiroijam Parijat.

As part of the observance, a motorcycle rally was also taken out from in front of MDU Hall at Yaiskul, to Chalou.

Addressing the function at Chalou, former Minister and chairman of the CPI Manipur State Council Control Room, Dr M Nara, said that the Pungdongbam incident of September 21, 1948, is an important chapter in the history of Manipur.

He said that Manipur might not have existed as a separate entity had the people, led by Jananeta Hijam Irawat, not revolted against the proposal to form Purvanchal Pradesh (Northeastern Frontier Province) by merging several North Eastern States including Manipur.

He added that Jananeta Hijam Irawat stood firmly and started a movement against the move to include Manipur which has its own language, traditions, culture and script in the proposed Purvanchal Pradesh.

Saying that a meeting was convened at MDU Hall on September 21, 1948, he added that many people came to attend the meeting with a band party from Lamlai area.

The police stopped the people at Pungdongbam, following which an altercation broke out, resulting in the death of a police officer identified as Naranbabu, he said.

Saying that Irawat was framed in connection with the death of the police officer and a bounty of Rs 10,000 was announced for his arrest, the Left leader added that Irawat went underground from that day.

Dr Nara said that Manipur might not have existed as it does today had Irawat not led the revolt against the move to form Purvanchal Pradesh.

He added that the Communist Party would always stand against any abusive Government.

The programme was also attended by CPI, Manipur State Council secretary A Nabachandra, former secretary L Thoiren, vice chairman of Irawat Celebration Committee l Sotinkumar, Manipur Loumi Lup president N Singhajit, All Manipur Nupi Marup president S Sorojini and several other Left leaders.