Manipur on Friday celebrated the 120th birth anniversary of freedom fighter and social activist Hijam Irabot.
Considered as the father of modern Manipur, Irawat was a versatile personality who made his mark as a writer, politician, journalist and a true revolutionary. He was born on September 30, 1896.
As a writer, Irawat brought out a hand written magazine, titled Meitei Chanu in 1922. He published Saidem Seireng, which was prescribed as a textbook for the High School students of Class V. He wrote Mohini, a novel published in serialized form in Yakairol monthly and wrote Dalil Amasung Darkhast Iba (1933).
He also wrote plays and acted too. He was the founder General Secretary of Manipur Sahitya Parishad.
Irawat was a sportsman, who played hockey, football, cricket etc. He was the founder member of Imphal Town Club and Manipur Sports Association
Irawat was also a messiah for the people, who fought for the cause of down-trodden sections of the Manipuri society.
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He challenged and fought against the oppression of the common mass by the ruling elites.
Irawat was the founder member of Nikhil Manipuri Hindu Mahasabha with an aim to unite the Manipuris spread in and outside Manipur. Another body founded by Irawat, Manipur Praja Samelini, played a significant role in the Second Nupi Lan or Women's Agitation of 1939.
He was influenced by the Communist ideologies. He wrote a collection of poems, Imagi Puja during his stay at the Sylhet jail.
He contested the Assam Provincial Legislatures Assembly election of 1946 from the Silchar constituency as a CPI candidate, but lost. Irawat contested the historic election for the Manipur Assembly in 1948 from the Utlou constituency as a Krishak Sabha candidate where he won that election.
He passed away on September 26, 1951, at the Tangbo village of Burma.