WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OUR JANA NETA?

For someone who relinquished royal privileges, the most striking aspect of our Jana Neta's temperament is his unyielding stance against the mighty external pressure of colonial power. Hijam Irabot was a revolutionary whose ideas and beliefs remain relevant even today.

Amid towering political pressure shaped by colonial oppression, feudal exploitation, and socio-religious evils, Hijam Irabot’s crusade carries a legacy of giving a voice to the masses by forming a peasant union called the Manipur Krishak Sabha for the cause of the farmers, and standing firm against exploitative taxes and exorbitant, unfair levies such as Chandal Senkhai and Amin Chakthak, among others. He was overtly vocal about colonial oppression and sided with the women of the Nupi Laan movement of 1939. Throughout his life, he pioneered a revolution in statecraft and brought the kind of movement Manipur needed most at the time. Lamyanba, our pioneer, is honoured every year on 30th September as Irabot Day.

How contradictory it is to long for a leader like him in times like this! Manipur can honour and offer tribute to this legendary hero, but we can keep his vision and spirit alive. One way is for our leaders to walk in his path of resilience and accountability. Second, we can amplify the voice of the masses. Third, we can rekindle harmony by resisting oppression and violence through active participation. And this includes honouring and respecting women and their voices, because change is no change when half the population doesn’t participate! Maybe Manipur needs to ignite the spirit of our Jana Neta in every single soul!