Md. Abdul Wahab: An Educationist and Founder Principal of Lilong Haoreibi College

Written by Dr. Syed Ahmed (Associate Professor, Department of History,Dhanamanjuri University,Imphal)

I have been searching for a detailed biography and pass-port photograph of Abdul Wahab for quite some time. Few months back, I inquired about him to his son, Md. Habibullah. However, at that time, he got an accident and was taking bed-rest. After his recovery, he sent me a bio-data of his father. He told me that most of his father’s books, documents and photographs were either washed away or destroyed by the flood in recent years. He recently recovered a magazine of Lilong Haoreibi College, Usoipokpi, for the session 1980-81, and handed it to me. In the magazine, there is a group photo of the faculty members of Lilong Haoreibi College. The photograph has Abdul Wahab and Md. Majher Ali Shah, the then Principal and Vice-Principal of the college respectively.

I have fond memories of Lilong Haoreibi College. Several decades ago, I and a few of my friends went to the college to watch a concert organised by the Students’ Union on the occasion of Freshers’ Meet at the huge lawn of the college. Youth from various places thronged to watch the concert. I was then studying Graduation in Delhi.

During those days, the college had Class XI and XII. It was a lively and popular college. Then several years later, I joined as a faculty member of the History Department of the college in 2009. I was at the college for five years. From there, I was transferred to Modern College, Porompat. After almost a year, I was again transferred to D.M. College of Arts, Imphal, in 2014.

While going through the book, Manipur (Including Who’s Who), compiled and edited by Rajendra Kumar Dave, who served as In-Charge of Post Graduate Studies Library, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Imphal (1980), I came across a short bio-data of Abdul Wahab. The author records:

“Abdul Wahab, Muhammad, Lecturer in Chemistry, D.M. College of Science, Imphal since September 1975, Birth: March 1, 1947; Education: M.Sc. (Chemistry), Gauhati University; Experience: PGT (Chemistry), Central School, Imphal 1969 August 1975, Member: Indian Science Congress, Indian Science Association; Publications: Two papers; Language: Arabic; Specialisation: Organic synthetic drugs; Hobbies: Arts and Model Construction; Address: Lilong Haoreibi Mayai Leikai, P.O. Lilong, Manipur.”

Abdul Wahab was born on March 1, 1947 to Md. Abdul Gani of Bogimayum Sagei and Ayesha Bibi. He got his early education at Haoreibi Makha Leikai LP Madrassa and Abdul Ali ME Madrassa, Lilong Bazaar. After Class VI, he was admitted to Canchipur High School and passed Matriculation Exam from the school in 1962. Then he completed his Intermediate in 1964 and B.Sc. (Hons.) in 1967 from D.M. College of Arts, Imphal, and further pursued Masters at Gauhati University. He cleared M.Sc. in 1969.

Abdul Wahab first got employed at Chaoyaima Higher Secondary School in Thoubal as a Lecturer. He soon left the school and joined Central School as a Chemistry Teacher. He served at the school from 14/9/1969 to 31/08/1972. He joined G.P. Women’s College and served as Head of the Chemistry Department. He worked there from 1/9/1972 to 1/09/1975. Thereafter, he was transferred to D.M. College of Science, Imphal. He taught at the college as Senior Lecturer in Chemistry from 1/09/1975 to 31/07/1979.

During his service tenure, he was engaged as Principal of Lilong Haoreibi College on Part-time basis under the order of Deputy Director of Education (U) without affecting normal duties in D.M. College of Science on 21/06/1977. He was appointed as full time Principal of the college on August 1, 1979. The college became a full fledged Government college from August 1, 1980 (vide order no. 1/32/79-S/SE). He continued to serve till his death on November 26, 1982 in a road accident in front of the PWD office at Khuyathong. He was just 35 year old. Majher Ali took over the charge of the Principal of the college.

Abdul Wahab made several significant contributions during his lifetime. He established an Islamic Public Library at Lilong Bazaar in 1971-72. He was the Secretary of the Construction Committee of Bari Jame Masjid, Lilong Bazaar. Needless to say, he played a crucial role in the establishment of Lilong Haoreibi College, and its up-gradation from Intermediate college to Graduate college, etc.

Abdul Wahab was a visionary educationist who had dreamed of establishing several institutes, such as setting up a Minority Meitei Pangal Women’s College, a Centre of Arts and Culture for Meitei Pangal with Library and Museum, opening of Arabic and Urdu Centres at Lilong Haoreibi College and ITI for enhancing the skills of the Meitei Pangal youth. He also had the vision of establishing a Madrassa Board for the proper management of madrassa education in the State.

Abdul Wahab is remembered as a humble and sincere man. He was a philanthropist. He was known for helping the poor and the downtrodden. It is said that he used to divide his monthly income into three parts, out of which, one part was kept for helping the poor and needy. He was, above all, a far-sighted man who knew that the educationally backward Meitei Pangal community could be uplifted only by giving them quality education. He dreamed of developing Lilong Haoreibi College one of the best colleges in the state.

In his untimely death, the community has lost a visionary educationist and leader. Today’s generation should know the life and works of Abdul Wahab. We should also try to fulfill the dreams he had dreamed. His life, works and visions should be studied by organizing seminars. Lilong Haoreibi College should institute an annual memorial lecture in his name and regularly study the educational status of the community, and also find measures to develop Lilong Haoreibi College as one of the best centres of higher learning in the State.

Abdul Wahab is survived by his wife, Rabijan, four daughters and one son. His eldest daughter, Rehana Sultana (48) completed Masters from Aligarh Muslim University. Now she is working as Resource Person at the office of the Deputy Inspector of Schools at Lilong. His only son, Habibullah Kaiser (43) is a Graduate Teacher at Azad Higher Secondary School at Yairipok.

Photo: Professor Md. Abdus Sattar Shah, Principal of Lilong Haoreibi College, and two of his faculty members.