TMB Correspondent
Kangpokpi: Two hundred years old Haijang village in Kangpokpi district, one of the oldest village in the state celebrated its bicentennial anniversary today.
Minister for Textiles, Commerce, and Industry and Cooperation, Nemcha Kipgen graced the historic occasion as Chief Guest and unveiled the monolith of the village erected by the present village chief Thangkhopao Chongloi in honor of the village founder and his succeeding chiefs while the monolith was blessed by Dr. Satkhokai Chongloi, Principal of Restoration Theological College, Imphal.
Haijang village was established by the Late Helkhotong Chongloi in 1823 AD. After his death and during the time of Late Jamkhohel Chongloi as chief of the village, World War II had worsened to its highest peak. The inroad to the destination of the Japanese Army passes through Haijang village. The Japanese Army on their tactical road march usually takes a breather in the village. On the other hand, British Army were guided by misleading information that the village was a permanent tactical headquarter of the Japanese Army. One day at noon tide, the British Army conducted an airstrike on the village with two warplanes dropping two bombs.
The airstrikes killed seven persons and critically injured three persons. The village was covered with dark smoke wherein innocent women and children were screaming and moaning for survival.
The British Government later learned that the Bombing causes death tolls to the innocent villagers rather than the Japanese Army and felt sorry for their failed mission. The British Political Agent (P.A.) Sir Gimson wrote an official letter of procurationem for war relief and handed it over to the then village chief Jamkhohel Chongloi.
However, due to the hypertension of the war, there was no way to run after the Letter. As such, the Letter remained as a “Dead Letter” and is merely preserved as a “documentary letter” till today.
Despite the fact that Haijang village had been terribly devastated during World War II, no assistance both in kind and cash is availed to the Village.
Further, the aftermath consequence of the Bombing was the outbreak of deadly epidemic disease. In fear of the epidemic, majority of the residents abandon the village and scattered to the nearby villages.
However, Haijang village survived and celebrated its 200th Anniversary and remained one of the oldest villages in the state of Manipur. Manipur’s Textiles, Commerce, and Industry and Cooperation Minister Nemcha Kipgen said that I feel very blessed to have Haijang village, one of the oldest villages in Manipur under my constituency 50-Kangpokpi Assembly Constituency which could joyously celebrate its 200th anniversary today.
The Minister also appreciates the chief of Haijang village and the villagers for not indulging in poppy cultivation but rather standing firm with the Government on War against Drugs. She then wishes the village chief and his family, and the villagers good health, prosperity, and unity. A souvenir was also published and released as a mark of the village’s bicentennial celebration on the occasion.
