Irabot remembered

IMPHAL, Sep 26 : Recounting historical accounts which led Kangleipak to undergo a period of chaos due to disunity among royal families, Protection and Preservation Committee Manipur  (PPCM) convenor Ph Nando Luwang has asked the leaders of the State to learn from the mistake of the past events and work unitedly to safeguard Manipur  and her people.
He made the statement during the 73rd death anniversary of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot which was organised by Lamyanba Hijam Irabot Ningshing Thouram Observation Committee (LINTOC) under the aegis of PPCM at Kiyamba Shanglen in Bishnupur, today.
The observation began  by offering floral tributes to the photo of the Lamyanba and observing silence for two minutes in memory of those who lost their lives in the unrest engulfing Manipur.
Speaking at the function, Nando Luwang who is also the president of All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) continued that it was the disunity among the royal families and vying for power which led Kangleipak to suffer defeat in the hand of the British in Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 and Burmese  annexation of the erstwhile kingdom for seven years from 1819-1826 (Chahi Taret Khuntakpa).
Saying that Manipur existed today because of the contribution of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot, Nando Luwang added that Irabot was a bold leader who opposed formation of Purvanchal Pradesh despite being an MLA.
The underlying motive behind  observing the death anniversary of Irabot is to instil a sense of patriotism which the Lamyanba possessed to the current generation of Manipuris, he added.
Continuing that there is a constant threat to the unity and integrity of Manipur, he maintained that Manipur needs a leader like Irabot who will work selflessly for the cause of  the State and her people.
Manipur has been going through a period of  unprecedented crisis because the State doesn't have a leader like the Lamyanba, Nando Luwang added.
Both the Centre and the State Government are still unable to resolve the crisis in Manipur  which has been going on for nearly 17 months after Kuki militants and their associates started attacking innocent Meetei people, he said.
Claiming that Security Advisor and chairman of the Unified Command Kuldiep Singh has been working with vested interest instead of exercising his authority to resolve the crisis, Nando Luwang urged the Centre to appoint  another capable person as the Security Advisor and Chairman of the Unified Command.
LINTOC convenor K Thoiba Meitei, on the other hand, said that Irabot went underground in 1948 to protect the identity and integrity of Manipur.
Saying that the Lamyanba breathed his last at Tangbo in Burma on September 26, 1951, he appealed to all Manipuris to trace the footprints of Irabot and carry on his legacy.
LINTOC co-convenors L Shyam Khuman, Kh Gopen Luwang, Y Tiken, PPCM advisors L Nganbi, Y Leirik Leima, S Memcha and M Purnimashi also attended the programme among others.