Hailakandi: Manipur deputy chief minister Y. Joykumar Singh urged the youth to follow the path shown by the leaders of the 1857 War of Independence.

Speaking at a function organised jointly by the Thougan Marup and the Assam Manipuri Sahitya Parishad to commemorate 199th birth anniversary of Sana Chahi Ahum, also known as R.K. Norendrajit at Rajyeswarpur of Hailakandi district on Friday, Joykumar narrated the life of the freedom fighter.

He said Narendrajit was sent to Andaman for lifetime imprisonment for revolting against the British regime. He fought against British in 1857 from Latu to Jiribam of Manipur. In Jiribam, he was caught by the British and sent to jail. The deputy chief minister said the younger generation should follow this path of bravery.

Joykumar Singh inaugurated the open session.

The session was presided over by the president of the Hailakandi district committee of Thougan Marup, K. Nanibabu Singha, and was attended by Karimganj MP Radheshyam Biswas, Hailakandi MLA Anwar Hussain Laskar, Manipuri Association chairman N.G. Madhuchandra Singha, among others.

A seminar on the life and activities of Norendrajit was also held and papers were presented by Sapan Singha of Hailakandi, Kunjalal Singha of Silchar, K. Manindra Singha of Imphal, J. Manidhan Singha of Karimganj and Oinam Meehenba Khuman.