Hijam Irabot

Irabot was born to Hijam Ibungohal Singh and Chongtham Ningol Thambalngambi at Pishum Thong Oinam Leikai.

He studied at Johnstone Higher Secondary School, Imphal, Manipur (still existing, located at the Western side of the Kangla Fort), till Class 7 and founded two student bodies, Bal Sangha and Chhatra Sanmelan.

He stayed with a friend in Wangkhei Ningthem Pukhri Mapal called (Maibam Iboton Singh), a renowned Polo player whose father Maibam Samden Singh worked in the Manipur State Durbar of Meidingngu Churachand as Additional Darbar Member.It was then that he came in good relations with the royal family.

In 1939, when the 2nd Nupi lan broke out in Manipur, a section of the NMM called the Praja Sanmelani split off the original party to join the struggle.

In Cachar he organised 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 Mymensingh District of Bengal.

In March 1944, he went to Bejwada (Katakual Village) to join the Kisan Conference and stayed for sometime at the Bengal Communist Party office.

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 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.

In the June/ July 1948 election to the Manipur Assembly, Irabot contested and won under from the Utlou Constituency as a Krishak Sabha candidate.

Irabot formed an underground Communist Party of Manipur on 29 October 1948 and carried out armed struggle against the government.