IMPHAL, November 1: The 93rd birth anniversary of Biplabi Lamabam Ibotombi, alias Mamotombi, was held today at Manipur Press Club. N Binoy Singh, president of Senior Citizens for Society, Manipur was the chief guest while Sarat Salam, secretary of CPI (M); Dr Lamabam Pardeshi, social activist; Meitram Shamu, veteran communist leader; L Sotinkumar, CPI leader; Kh Gyaneshor, secretary of Forward Block and L Radhe Devi, wife of Ibotombi were the presidium members.
Secretary member of CPI (M), Ksh Shanta and author Dr Rajkumar Sanajaoba were the speakers.
Shanta recalled that Ibotombi was the secretary of CPI in the year 1951 but after the division of the party into CPI and CPI (M), he served as the secretary of the latter from 1964 to 1978. After Jananeta Irawat went underground in 1948, Ibotombi became his follower and work for development of schools, peasants, farmers and road connectivity in the areas now included under Khundrakpam and Lamlai Assembly constituencies.
“He was responsible for the popularisation of CPI in Manipur and made great contribution for the overall development of the state. He was born in a poor family and due to his adverse upbringing devoted times on development activities for the farmers and peasants,” Shanta stated.
Shanta also appealed to the organisers that the function in the coming years will be organised on a bigger scale, particularly the centenary celebration falling in 2020.