Hijam Irabot
Encyclopedia
Hijam Irabot Singh also known as Jana Neta Hijam Irabot, was a freedom fighter, politician and social activist from Manipur
. He was one of the founder leaders of Communist Party of India
(CPI) in Manipur. During his eventful life, he has written journals and composed poems, wrote plays and played in them, participated in various sports activities. He chaired the 4th Session of the Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha
. He played leadership roles against social injustices during the Second Nupilal, 1939.In the June/ July 1948 election to the Manipur Assembly, Irabot won from the Utlou Constituency.
with his cousin, Sawaijam Somorendro and got admitted at Pugoj High School to study till Class 9. In 1915, he dropped out due to shortage of money and went to Agartala.
Later that year, when he came back to Manipur, he found that his mother had died. He stayed with a friend in Wangkhei called Maibam Shamden who worked in the court of King Churachand. It was then that he came in good relations with the royal family. He got married to the king's elder brother's daughter Khomdonsana. He was then appointed a member of the Sadar panchayat
was founded under the patronage of Maharaja Churachand Singh who was the president of the organization. All works were carried out by Hijam Irabot who was the vice-president. Under Irabot's guidance, 4 sessions were held. In the last one at Chinga, during Maharaja Churachand's absence, Irabot changed the name of the sabha by dropping Hindu off the original name. He also changed it into a political party. Maharaja Churachand sent a warning to Irabot on the events taking place in his absence.
Irabot and Elangbam Tompok, a clerk at the revenue department resigned from the Sadar Panchayat. They outlined a legislature which was submitted to the king and the Manipur State Durbar. It was rejected.
At the jail, he met Indian communist leaders like Hemanga Biswas
and Jyotirmoy Nandi. He was greatly influenced by them.
Irabot was released from the Sylhet jail on 20 March 1943. But he was not permitted to enter Manipur.He stayed in Cachar district
to work among the Manipuri peasants and also among the non-Manipuri ex teagarden workers. There he joined the Kisan movements. He kept in touch with the communist leaders and attended the first Party congress
of the Communist party of India that was held at Bombay from 23 May to 1 June, 1943 as a special invitee from Cachar.In Cachar he organized cultural squads known as Swadesh Ganer Dal, which was later on incorporated in the Indian People's Theatre Association
. He led a delegation from Cachar to the All India Kisan Sabha
session held at Netra Kona in Mymensing District of Bengal. In March 1844, he went to Bejwada (Katakual Village) to join the Kisan Conference and stayed for sometime at the Bengal Communist Party office. The same year he went to Sylhet to join the annual session of the Surma valley provisional Kisan Sabha.
Irabot was detained as a security prisoner in the Silchar District jail with effect from 15 September 1944 on the charge that he was a communist. He was released on 10 January 1945. After more than 5 years of political exile, Irabot was given permission to stay in Manipur for a week (from 2 to 10 September, 1945). His request for an extension of his stay in Manipur was denied.
He came back to Cachar and carried out peasants' movement. He was appointed General Secretary of the Cachar District Kishan Sabha and President of the Surma Valley Kishan Sabha. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Assam Kisha Sabha, the CPI Assam Provincial Committee, and the Assam Students' Federation. He contested in the 1946 election to the Assam Provincial Legislatures Assembly from the Silchar
constituency as a CPI candidate, but lost by a narrow margin.
Irabot was finally permitted to enter Manipur in March 1946. In Manipur he organized a new party called the Manipur Praja Mandal in April 1946. He attended two sessions of the Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha
before he was expelled from the membership of the Working Committee of the Mahasabha on the charge of being a member of the Communist Party of India. He attended the second congress of the CPI held at Calcutta from 28 Feb to 6 March 1948.
The first Communist Party of Manipur was formed on 23 August 1948. In the June/ July 1948 election to the Manipur Assembly, Irabot contested and won under from the Utlou Constituency as a Krishak Sabha candidate. Before the inauguration of the Assembly, Irabot on behalf of the Manipur Praja Sangha and Manipur Krishak sabha called a meeting at the M.D.U Hall on 21 September 1948, to protest against the formation of Purbachal Pradesh, composed of Manipur, Tripura, Cachar and Lushai Hills.
A scuffle took place at Pungdongbam when the Manipur State Police prevented a group of citizens who came to attend the meeting in which a police officer was killed on the spot. The Manipur state council declared the Manipur Praja Sangha and Manipur Krishak Sabha unlawful. The state officials declined to constitute an Enquiry Committee to investigate the Pungdongbam incident.
Irabot could not attend the first meeting of the Manipur Legislative Assembly held on 18 October 1948 because of the warrant against him. Irabot formed an underground Communist Party of Manipur on 29 October 1948 and carried out armed struggle against the government. He died on 26 September 1951 at the foothills of the Anggo Hills.
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
. He was one of the founder leaders of Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
(CPI) in Manipur. During his eventful life, he has written journals and composed poems, wrote plays and played in them, participated in various sports activities. He chaired the 4th Session of the Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha
Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha
Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha, initially a Hindu nationalist organization founded in Manipur in 1934. NMHM was opposed to the increasing Manipuri nationalism, and sought to protect the interests of Hindus in the state...
. He played leadership roles against social injustices during the Second Nupilal, 1939.In the June/ July 1948 election to the Manipur Assembly, Irabot won from the Utlou Constituency.
Early life
Irabot was born to Hijam Ibungohal Singh and Chongtham Ningol Thambalngambi at Hijam Leikai which has now been replaced by the 1st Manipur Rifles. After his father's death, he moved with his mother to stay with his aunt at Moirangkhom Sawaijam. He studied at Johnstone Higher Secondary School, Imphal, Manipur (still existing, located at western side of Kangla Fort), till Class 7 and founded two student bodies, Bal Sangha and Chatra Sanmelan. In 1913, he went to DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
with his cousin, Sawaijam Somorendro and got admitted at Pugoj High School to study till Class 9. In 1915, he dropped out due to shortage of money and went to Agartala.
Later that year, when he came back to Manipur, he found that his mother had died. He stayed with a friend in Wangkhei called Maibam Shamden who worked in the court of King Churachand. It was then that he came in good relations with the royal family. He got married to the king's elder brother's daughter Khomdonsana. He was then appointed a member of the Sadar panchayat
Political Life Phase I(1934-1938)
Originally known as the Nikhil Manipuri Hindu Mahasabha, the Nikhil Manipuri MahasabhaNikhil Manipuri Mahasabha
Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha, initially a Hindu nationalist organization founded in Manipur in 1934. NMHM was opposed to the increasing Manipuri nationalism, and sought to protect the interests of Hindus in the state...
was founded under the patronage of Maharaja Churachand Singh who was the president of the organization. All works were carried out by Hijam Irabot who was the vice-president. Under Irabot's guidance, 4 sessions were held. In the last one at Chinga, during Maharaja Churachand's absence, Irabot changed the name of the sabha by dropping Hindu off the original name. He also changed it into a political party. Maharaja Churachand sent a warning to Irabot on the events taking place in his absence.
Irabot and Elangbam Tompok, a clerk at the revenue department resigned from the Sadar Panchayat. They outlined a legislature which was submitted to the king and the Manipur State Durbar. It was rejected.
Political Life Phase II(1939-1951)
This phase could be termed as the socio-reformer phase. In 1939, when the 2nd Nupilal broke out in Manipur, a section of the NMM called the Praja Sanmelani split off the original party to join the Nupilal. Irabot headed this party and gave a speech at the Police lane in 1940. He was arrested and deported to the Silhet Jail.At the jail, he met Indian communist leaders like Hemanga Biswas
Hemanga Biswas
Hemanga Biswas was an exponent of the Bhantiali folk music, originally popular among the fishermen of Bangladesh. He was born in 1912.-Songs:Hemanga Biswas wrote and sung some popular songs in Bengali...
and Jyotirmoy Nandi. He was greatly influenced by them.
Irabot was released from the Sylhet jail on 20 March 1943. But he was not permitted to enter Manipur.He stayed in Cachar district
Cachar District
Cachar is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India.-Etymology:The name "Cachar" has derived from the words 'kacha' & 'har'.The district headquarters are located at Silchar...
to work among the Manipuri peasants and also among the non-Manipuri ex teagarden workers. There he joined the Kisan movements. He kept in touch with the communist leaders and attended the first Party congress
Party Congress
A party congress is a general conference of a political party. The congress is attended by delegates who represent the party membership. In most parties the party congress is the highest decision making body of the organisation and elects the party's leadership bodies such as the National Executive...
of the Communist party of India that was held at Bombay from 23 May to 1 June, 1943 as a special invitee from Cachar.In Cachar he organized cultural squads known as Swadesh Ganer Dal, which was later on incorporated in the Indian People's Theatre Association
Indian People's Theatre Association
Indian People’s Theatre Association was an association of leftist theatre-artists and others mostly based in Kolkata, West Bengal, Mumbai and Assam, India. Its goal was to bring cultural awakening among the people of India. It was the cultural wing of the Communist Party of India...
. He led a delegation from Cachar to the All India Kisan Sabha
All India Kisan Sabha
All India Kisan Sabha , was the name of the peasants front of the undivided Communist Party of India , an important peasant movement formed by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati in 1936, and which later split into two organizations, by the same name.-History:...
session held at Netra Kona in Mymensing District of Bengal. In March 1844, he went to Bejwada (Katakual Village) to join the Kisan Conference and stayed for sometime at the Bengal Communist Party office. The same year he went to Sylhet to join the annual session of the Surma valley provisional Kisan Sabha.
Irabot was detained as a security prisoner in the Silchar District jail with effect from 15 September 1944 on the charge that he was a communist. He was released on 10 January 1945. After more than 5 years of political exile, Irabot was given permission to stay in Manipur for a week (from 2 to 10 September, 1945). His request for an extension of his stay in Manipur was denied.
He came back to Cachar and carried out peasants' movement. He was appointed General Secretary of the Cachar District Kishan Sabha and President of the Surma Valley Kishan Sabha. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Assam Kisha Sabha, the CPI Assam Provincial Committee, and the Assam Students' Federation. He contested in the 1946 election to the Assam Provincial Legislatures Assembly from the Silchar
Silchar
Silchar is the headquarters of Cachar district in the state of Assam in India. It is the economic gateway to the state of Mizoram and part of Manipur. It is south east of Guwahati. The city of Silchar has tremendous commercial importance and is the second largest city in the state of Assam...
constituency as a CPI candidate, but lost by a narrow margin.
Irabot was finally permitted to enter Manipur in March 1946. In Manipur he organized a new party called the Manipur Praja Mandal in April 1946. He attended two sessions of the Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha
Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha
Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha, initially a Hindu nationalist organization founded in Manipur in 1934. NMHM was opposed to the increasing Manipuri nationalism, and sought to protect the interests of Hindus in the state...
before he was expelled from the membership of the Working Committee of the Mahasabha on the charge of being a member of the Communist Party of India. He attended the second congress of the CPI held at Calcutta from 28 Feb to 6 March 1948.
The first Communist Party of Manipur was formed on 23 August 1948. In the June/ July 1948 election to the Manipur Assembly, Irabot contested and won under from the Utlou Constituency as a Krishak Sabha candidate. Before the inauguration of the Assembly, Irabot on behalf of the Manipur Praja Sangha and Manipur Krishak sabha called a meeting at the M.D.U Hall on 21 September 1948, to protest against the formation of Purbachal Pradesh, composed of Manipur, Tripura, Cachar and Lushai Hills.
A scuffle took place at Pungdongbam when the Manipur State Police prevented a group of citizens who came to attend the meeting in which a police officer was killed on the spot. The Manipur state council declared the Manipur Praja Sangha and Manipur Krishak Sabha unlawful. The state officials declined to constitute an Enquiry Committee to investigate the Pungdongbam incident.
Irabot could not attend the first meeting of the Manipur Legislative Assembly held on 18 October 1948 because of the warrant against him. Irabot formed an underground Communist Party of Manipur on 29 October 1948 and carried out armed struggle against the government. He died on 26 September 1951 at the foothills of the Anggo Hills.