Despite being away from the hardships faced by displaced individuals and those living in the red zones of Manipur, the act of government leaders paying tribute to Irabot is tantamount to tarnishing his legacy, claimed political activist Sapamcha Kangleipal on Monday.
Speaking at the observance of the 128th Birth Anniversary of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot, held at the Lamboikhongnangkhong Relief Camp in Imphal organised by the Socialist Students’ Union of Manipur (SSUM), Kangleipal emphasised Irabot’s vision of creating an egalitarian society.
He suggested that, rather than merely laying floral tributes at Irabot’s statue, the government should visit the red zones and relief camps to genuinely honor Irabot’s memory.
Kangleipal urged the government to follow in Irabot’s footsteps by prioritising service to those in need, just as Irabot had done during his lifetime.
SSUM president S Yaima, in his presidential address, highlighted the dire situation of students, particularly those who have been internally displaced due to the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
He appealed to the state government to either waive hostel fees for these displaced students or provide scholarships to help cover their accommodation and food expenses.
To promote indigenous languages, Yaima urged the government to ensure the availability of bi-colour books for all the languages of Manipur.
He also praised BOSEM’s commitment to perfect binding and revising printing press standards, noting that this would ensure high-quality textbooks that are more durable and visually appealing.
At the Lamboikhongnangkhong relief camp, 165 students were given six exercise books each, while 93 students from the Thangmeiband TAKDO relief camp also received notebooks in a similar programme.
The event, which featured cultural performances and patriotic songs by prominent Manipur artists, also saw the participation of the president of Meitei Cheingak, Meitreibak N Sanahal.
