Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 06 2010:
Two war heroes of state (father and son) who sacrificed their life on this day in 1891 Khongjom War were remembered today in separate functions.
The sacrifice made by Sengoisana, a young warrior Manipur in the Khongjam War of 1891 was remembered today on his death anniversary which Manipur People Party (MPP) observed as "Youth Day" every year.
While Yaiskulsana who also sacrificed his life at the Thoubal Athokpam battle of the Khongjom War was remembered in a function held at premises of the Iputhou Arong Ningthou Sanarik Chaningkhombi temple at Thoubal Athokpam by the Yaiskul Lakpa Death Anniversary Celebration Committee.
The need of youths like Sengoisana who fought the battle with British at the age of 15-year and sacrificed his life for the motherland by today's Manipur was stressed in the observance function which was marked paying of rich homage to the state hero of yesterday.
Speaking at the observation function as chief guest, MPP President, Dr Nimaichand Luwang recalled the life Sengaisana who fought with the British at the age of 15 years and laid his life in safeguarding the freedom his motherland.
People of the state should not forget the sacrifice made by the young war hero.
That was why MPP is observing the day as "Youth Day", he said expressing disgruntle when none of the political parties or state government authority observed the day.
Youths as brave as Sengoisana are must for the state considering the challenges ahead of the people of the state when questions of territorial integrity and other come up, he said.
MPP has been observing April 6 every year as "Youth Day" since the last 13-year in the similar manner other observed Patriot Day, Khongjom Day etc.
The party is observing these too, he added.
He also assured that once the party comes to power, the day will be observed as state level function.
Yaikulsana who also laid down in the same battle was remembered at a function organised by the Yaiskulsana Death Anniversary Celebration Committee, Moirangkhom Bazar.
The observance function was graced by retired IAS officer Elang Sonamani as chief guest, retired IGP, W Damudor as president and retired deputy registrar of co-operative Society B Kullachandra as guest of honour.
Delivering his speech as chief guest, E Sonamani recalled that Yaiskul was among the brave warriors of the state who sacrificed his life first in the last battle of Manipur Independent.
He also expressed the need of observing the day every year and appealed to gathering to provide names of the war heroes of the battle if any of their forefathers who died in the battle.
In his speech as president of the function, W Damudor remembered the spirits of the father Yaiskulsana and his son Sengoisana in the Thoubal Athokpam battle on the same day despite knowing that Manipur warriors could not defeat the British armed with guns.
Observing two minute silent and offering of floral tributes to the place where Yaiskulsana breathed his last in the battle field marked the observation function.