Yangmaso Shaiza as a Man of the Mass

Dr. Simrayangam Hungyo *

Yangmaso Shaiza : Chief Ministers of Manipur

Miwurla (Song of Origin)

O khili tunglo...?
O Ava Samsokli tungthuiya Samsok
O Makangana ili phungshok,
O makungana ili pangthang hand
O Ngakangana safa singmiya O
mala mangmilaga O ili rai
phamiya Ya Ngachang chihui O
om ungaphei shared O
O Shokvaoli O mei ngayar O
ungkanlo inaoshang Ashang
O Meizailungli O mei ngayar
O Hunphun Avakhararwo
O Longpi Kajuipavo Ronravo
O nala iwui shimzunna
O nala iwui shimzunna
O Marem Kalhang
O ngason ngason O Thisom (Tusom) rara vapeiya

Where are you from (originally)?
O we originated from Burma
O Makanga carried me on back
O makunga supported me by the
O Ngakanga handled the Hound
O leading (the way) as an archer
O guarding me in front Reached
the Sajik tampak O opened the
packed rice (and ungkanlo inaoshang Ashang
O distributed fire at Meizailung
O cross (the ocean) my son
O distributed fire at Meizailung O
Hunphun Patriach O you Longpi
Kajui and Ronra O you are also
my host (house) O you are also
my host (house) O marem (and)
Kalhang (villages) O stage by stage O reaching Thisom Tusom rara.
(Adapted from R. Luikham IAS)

The man who brought his group from Samsok (In Myanmar), Phungshok whose real name is still fondly remembered as Hunphun Shangyang Shaiza S/o Kanrei Shaiza married Ningchungla Hunphun Awungashi D/o Hunphun Chief Raihao, the man who saved the life of the American Baptist missionary, William Pettigrew from the hands of his people and who eventually became the first man to embrace the new faith, Christianity and also one of the first Tangkhuls to learn the English alphabets.

According to Mayo (pronounced as Maiyo) Shaiza, the Shaizas came along with the Hunphun chief Phungshok. Settled first at Meizailung, Somsai. The Shaiza man married a princess from Talu (Taloi) village and his children were called Taluvanao. Adescendent of Taluvanao married a Hunphun woman and had many children and his father-in-law blessed his grand children - Sakkhangaisak - 'Shaikhangai Shailo' meaning, plentiful and surplus of paddy (food and wine).

From these etymological words, 'Sakkhangaisak-Shaikhangai Shailo' they came to be known as Shaiza family or Shaiza clan. Shangyang Shaiza was the younger brother of Nganaongai Shaiza. Their father's parents died when they were quite young, who was a Mara (orphan). Shangyang Shaiza studied up to class IX at Jorhat (Assam). In those days there was no motorable road from Ukhrul to Imphal, Again, Imphal all had to travel by bullock - carts up to Dimapur.

Shangyang Shaiza started his service career as a clerk and retired as Circle Officer of the Manipur East District (now Ukhrul District). He served as Commandant Labour Corps and was the founder President of Tangkhul Union Education (now the Tangkhul Naga Long, the apex Tangkhul Naga organization). All the lands (now owned by) the Tangkhul Naga Long were acquired during Shangyang Shaiza as President of the organization. He started a hostel at Imphal better known as Shangyang's Thangmeiband Tangkhul Hostel to encourage schooling for higher education. He also organized the Tangkhul Trade Union (now Tangkhul Leihsak Long) to prevent cheating by the non-Tangkhul Mahajans. He was a generous person who never sent away empty handed when somebody came for his help. The present Ameikharar' (head of a clan) of the Shaiza family is Wungmareo Shaiza, I.A.S.

Ten children were born from the loin of Shangyang Shaiza (the first Tangkhul Gazetted Officer):

1.	Khashuila (daughter)	w/o Yangkahao Luikham
2.	Yangmaso Shaiza	married Hangmila Kashung matriculate (Ex-MLA, the first woman elected in Manipur Assembly d/o M.K. Shimray, poet)
3.	Leiyaphi (daughter)	w/o V. Kaping (D.S.O. Sports, Ukhrul)
4.	Vangamla (daughter)	w/o Naomachum (from Shangshak, School A.I.)
5.	Lungshim Shaiza B.A	married Rano Mese (Ex-MP from Nagaland State)
6.	Shirala (daughter)	w/o Ramyo Luikham IAS married Irene
7.	Shimreingam Shaiza	Shingnaisui (Headmaster) BA, B.T.
8.	Mayo Shaiza B.A., B.T Headmaster)	married Irene Shingnaisui
9.	Dr. Rashing Shaiza MBBS Medical Director, Nagaland	married Joyrita Shimray D/o Y.K. Shimray, the first Tangkhul engineer and poet
10.	Rainao Shaiza Businessman	married Ringyamla Zingkhai

By the time Yangmaso (pronounced as Yengmaso, from the English Alphabet 'a' Tangkhuls have : a, aa and oo) Shaiza (1922-1984) was born, Shangyang Shaiza was a very prosperous, rich and respectable man among the Tangkhul tribe; he held a prominent position in the Government office, so named his son, Yangmaso meaning : a respectable and lovable man. Yangmaso started his education at Ukhrul and then studied at Johnstone, Imphal.

His contemporary school fellows were : Rishang Keishing (Chief Minister of Manipur for about 15 years), Dr. Jonathan Thumra (the famous Tangkhul Bible theologian), Mazachang Raikhan IRS (Indian Railway Services), Wungmareo Shaiza IAS, etc. They were the products of Thangmeiband Tribal Hostel founded by his father Shangyang Shaiza. From Johnstone, Yangmaso Shaiza went to Shillong studied at Government H/S and passed his Matriculation examination.

Then he joined the Calcutta University in I .A. and passed his B.A. (History) from the same University. After graduation he became a school teacher at Ukhrul M.E. School and he also served as an Interpreter during the World War II. Then he started along with Sagolsem Indrmaani, the 'Revolutionary Nationalist Party of Manipur' a movement for statehood of Manipur for which they were jailed. (Intense Andolan for nearly a month in 1953 demanding statehood for Manipur. Sometimes the Party would give ultimatum to New Delhi saying if Manipur was not given statehood within 15 days, they would declare Manipur an Independent country).

Four prominent leaders of the party arrested were (i) Sagolsem Indramani, (ii) R.K. Maipaksana (iii) Wahengbam Prahlat (editor, Mother Manipur) and (iv) Yangmaso Shaiza. They also formed Manipur Man Building Institute (MMBI) for sports. The sport items of this Institute were football, boxing, weight lifting, etc. He was a sportsman, he played football.

After his release from jail, while Manipur was in turmoil he entered Government service and served as SDC and SDO in various districts of Manipur namely : SDC of Tamenglong, Phungyar (Phaisat), BDO of Curachandpur, Tadubi, Tamenglong, SDO of Imphal West etc. While he was serving in various government offices, he always fought tooth and nail against the corrupt practices of the officers, several times, he resigned from his post as BDO/SDO (three times) on grounds of racial/ religious discrimination and mal-practices in the government offices, but he was always called back to his posts seeing his good records. Finally he resigned from his post as an SDO of Imphal West and joined politics. In 1970 M.P. election he contested as an Independent candidate, Rishang Keishing with National Integration Council ticket and Paokai Haokip Indian National Congress. Paokai Haokip won the election. Then became a school teacher at Khamasom M.E. School.

Yangmaso Shaiza married Hangmila K. Shimray D/o M.K. Shimray (writer)

Five sons were born from the loin of Yangmaso Shaiza :
1. Keinan Shaiza (meaning : plenty of cattle) born in 1950 and died in 2000.
2. Ngaran Shaiza, Lt. Colonel Indian Air Force, born in 1952.
3. Danny Shaiza (real name, Hangzik meaning : thick forest) born in 1954 elected 3 times in the Manipur Assembly.
4. Shimyo Shaiza, District Civil Supply Officer, born in 1957 and died in 2007, and
5. Lakh born in 1960 and lives in the US

After Manipur attained a full fledged statehood in 1972, he formed 'Manipur Hill Union' party and contested in the Ukhrul assmebly Constituency and won. The Aims and Objectives of the "Manipur Hill Union' are :
1. To uphold the cause of the people.
2. To preserve the culture and customary practices of the hill people of Manipur.
3. To work for the unity, well being and advancement of the hill people in particular and the common man in general of this tate regardless of caste and creed and therey to remove the economic disparity among the hill people, and
4. To work for bringing about a clean administration in the state. (Courtesy : The Eastern Frontier, February, 2013)

The Manipur Hill Union and the Manipur People's Party formed government under the banner of United Front Government, Md. Alimuddin as Chief Minister and Yangmaso Shaiza as Cabinet No. 2 the Finance Minister of Manipur. In the 1974 (Mid-term Poll) Yangmaso Shaiza contested from the Ukhrul Assembly Constituency with Manipur Hill Union ticket and won. He became (the first tribal) Chief Minister of Manipur in 1974. His tenure as the Chief Minister of Manipur was short : from 10 July to 5 December 1974 (for 149 days).

The works taken up by Yangmaso Shaiza as the Chief Minister are:
1. Allotment of land at Wino Bazar, Ukhrul for the construction of a Hindu Temple.
2. Formation of one Meitei Mayek Expert Committee and made the Mayek a state official language and
3. installation of a Meitei Sanamahi idol at the 1st Manipur Rifles' Temple.

Yangmaso Shaiza was elected as Member of Parliament in 1977. He resigned from the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha Member of Parliament seat and became Chief Minister of Manipur without (being) a member of the Assembly. And Md. Alimuddin became the Finance Minister of Manipur. Then he won the Bye-election from Ukhrul Assembly Constituency with Janata Party ticket. His second stint as the Chief Minister of Manipur started from 29 June and up to 13 November 1979 (869 days, total days as the Chief of Manipur - 1018).

The main works or projects taken up by Yangmaso Shaiza in his Second term as the Chief Minister of Manipur are :
1. Water pilot project,
2. Reformation of Bank Loan policy for poor farmers.
3. Self Employment Schemes : revival of cottage industries and establishment of Handloom and Handicrafts Department.
4. Takeover of many privately run High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools (107) and Colleges (17) to government institutions, etc. Professor Ksh. Bimola (Political Science, M.U.) said Yangmaso Shaiza was simply good. He was agreat human being. Such a leader is rarely seen in any other N.E. states of India.

To Prof A.K. Chishti (reitred Principal of D.M. College of Commerce) Yangmaso Shaiza was a gentleman. He speaks the truth. If there is a mistake he would boldly admit the mistake and see a way to correct it. He wanted to have the ablest man to hold a responsible post. No distinction between the hill men and the valley men - all are equal in his eyes. His door was always opened for everyone.

For Prof. N. Joykumar (History, M.U.) Yangmaso Shaiza was not a politician, but a great humanist. He speaks the truth and always keeps his word. His helping nature was never surpassed by anyone. There was no distinction between one community and another community, no difference between one religion and another religion and even ruling party and opposition party. All are equal in the eyes of Yangmaso Shaiza. His heart always melts with love for the poor and tried hard to uplift their living conditions by appointing them to governemnt posts, sometimes he would mistakenly recommend two people for the same post and in such a case, he would tell the appointing officer to create an additional post saying paying salary was his responsibility.

His blood was a pure Manipuri, a pucca nationalist. He was more of a Meitei than the real Meiteis who stood for the integrity of Manipur. When he joined politics he along with Sagolsem Indramani Singh formed Manipur Nationalist Union and demanded statehood for Manipur. They were so bold and sometimes gave ultimatum to Delhi saying if Manipur was not given statehood within 15 days, they would declare Manipur an Independent country. And when he became the Chief Minister of Manipur, for the development of Manipur he would make a big budget and place before the Planning Commission and if his budget was argued he would threaten to declare Manipur an Independent country and always won his battle.

H. Bhuban Singh (Rtd. Lt. Colonel) remembers Yangmaso Shaiza was a man of down to earth Chief Minister of Manipur. He said in his article, 'Aspects of Bringing Peace and Harmony in Manipur', "This language known as Manipuri that is Meiteilon was adopted as the official language of our State during the Chief Ministership of Yangmaso Shaiza, a tribal from Ukhrul."

According to N. Luikham IAS (Rtd. Commissioner) Yangmaso Shaiza's love for the poor people was boundless. He was not only a man of action but was also a man of great insight. N. Luikham remembers Yangmaso Shaiza as the Chief Minister who worked hard for:
1. Paying Central Pay to government employees of the state,
2. Construction of Tipaimukh road.
3. Construction of Jessami road,
4. Construction of Mini Secretariat to all the Dsitrict Headquarters of Manipur; and
5. Requesting the landowners to donate land for construction of Pettigrew College, Ukhrul.

A Tangkhul social worker, an ardent admirer of Yangmaso Shaiza said he loved the common people and feared no man howsoever powerful one may be. He feared God, not man. On one Christmas celebration he was made a speaker of the programme for which he sought leave, but the then DC of Tamenglong flatly declined him leave-. Yangmaso Shaiza resigned from his post and became the speaker of the Christmas Programme. When he was the Chief Minister of the small state of Manipur even the powerful Indra Gandhi was called to Manipur for a trial.

A Meitei man said, of course Yangmaso Shaiza gave many government service appointments to tribal people but he gave more government service appointments to Meiteis and Meitei Pangals. He said there are some families in Singjamei, Tera, Bishenpur, etc. who still hang Yangmaso Shaiza's Photograph on their walls and do puja. There was a saying 'B.A. thiba' to appoint as SDC among the Maring Nagas. The family project of helping the poor and manual labourers called 'Awakokpi'. One would see in those days, the poor standing in line in front of his bungalow and his wife would come out and distribute a hundred rupee note to each of them. This project was taken up mainly to help the poor Muslims for he thinks the Scheduled tribes and the Scheduled castes have the Tribal Welfare Department, but the poor Muslims do not have any Department to improve their living conditions.

This study is not an exhaustive one, there are tens and even hundreds of people who want to share their beautiful memories in their association with Yangmaso Shaiza but due to constraint of time and space I could not do any justice. Yet the few months I interviewed only sing about Yangmaso Shaiza's love for the poor. He was a legend in his own time and something of a myth. He was not an orator but a man of action There was a saying, 'if you want to talk, go to some other politican but if you want work come to me'. Work was his motto.

From my interview to his family they say Yangmaso was simply good (phashukmana) and they cannot describe about him more than this. He was not selfish. He would share anything he had with his sisters, brothers and friends. He was not happy to send back anyone empty handed who came to him in great need. He inherited this nature from his father.

Although mingled with many friends, yet he was very choosy inmatter of friendship and he did not want to move along with bad companions. He was not a regular Church goer and could not sing Hmn well. Nevertheless, he feared God and not man. 'Truth' was his religion and hated liars. He was a loving father. He loved children. One would always see him carrying one of his children or grand children on his back. He was at pain to see a beggar on the road and would not pass his way without throwing a 10 rupees note or two.

Yangmaso Shaiza who respected the teachers, who moved around with the intellectuals, who debated with the great politicians of his time, who loved the poor but hated poverty and who saw all human beings on equal footing (and did try to say all men are equal at least in small part) was assassinated on 30th January, 1984. Thus ended the political career of the man whose religion was 'Truth', whose motto was 'Work' and whose action was Reformation'.

Here is a poem, 'Yangmaso Shaiza' composed by Rev. K.N. Shimrei, 30/01/1984 [This poem was composed by someone whose face is not known (till now). The poem was picked up by (L) Mrs. Grace Merry Luikham near Litan, Ukhrul District on 09/02/1984] I am thankful to uncle N. Luikham for allowing me to copy the poem from his Notebook.

Ngaleiwui kahor hakmeikap ngalei kahor.
Nalaka Oh, Zimik Manipur Ngalei ngalei
Nawui kahor chungmei kaphungli
Nawui otsak chuk yang chihuli.

Ngaleiwui amei hakmeikap kachi amei,
Nalaka, Oh yarkhok yuwui tungli
Nawui pang, pangchon lei, reikasang rin
Nawui thangmet, ning mipha ngarin.

Ngaleiwui wungnao hakmeikap kachi wungnao
Nalaka, Oh wungnaoyo maunphunli
Na-maun khangzana ringphai
Nawui leisem khangambing socha.

Tungkahai zimik hakmeikap kachi zimik
Matunmara shokluira, tara ngaleili
Yaokasang ngaleili mashiman
Kharkashok awon won'thei chungmei.

Manipuri Version

Lamdamsigee mangal pumnamaktagee athoiba
O nahakti Manipurgee Korouni
Nahakkee nangal chingshang napomda ngalli
Nahakkee thabak tampakkee lamdamda shonnari

Leibaksigee niacha ibungo miyamlaktagee athoiba
O nahakti athoubani jatisigee
Chaokhat thourangee lamda nahakkee khutpham tari
Nahakkee thoujaldi mipum khudingmakta thung-i.

Leibaksigee macha ibungo ikai khumnaningai mashak oiraba
O nahakti miyam pumnamakkee mapi mapani
Nahakkee ieingaklon pamnei pumnamakna
Shonnari nahakkee Ieingaklon angam athoubasingnsu

Takhraba korou pumnamaktagee athoiba
Tararoi thoklaklani laijagum malemda
Manglaroi hunkhiba maru marangsing malemda
Hourakkani ahoinadum mahei marong chumna.


( ** This is a speech made on The book release, 'Yangmaso Shaiza And His Manipur' on October 12 2014 by the United All Communities Social Uplifters Kangleipak (UNACSU), in its Third Foundation Day at Amity Hall, Adimjati Siksha Ashram, Imphal )

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* This is taken from a Book - 'Yangmaso Shaiza and his Manipur' published by United all communities social uplifters (UNACSU), Kangleipak
Dr. Simrayangam Hungyo wrote this article ; The write is Assistant Professor, Deptt of English Pettigrew College, Ukhrul
This article was posted on November 12, 2014.

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