Do We Need Sanamahi And Umang Lai Council Act With Leisemba Sanajaoba As The Head
- Part 3 -

Dr. Khomdon Lisam *

Sacred site of Lord Sanamahi at Kangla - The sacred place of Manipur :: Picture - Shankar Khangembam

Abolition of Privy purses -1972

At the time of Indian independence, out of 565 princely states , 102 were getting privy purses of more than 1 lakh rupees and 11 states were getting privy purses of more than 2 lakhs . Manipur was getting 3 lakhs per annum. But these privy purses were abolished by 26th Constitutional Amendment of 1971 of dated 28 December 1971 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi because of her personal jealousy and enmity with charismatic and beautiful Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. It became effective in 1972. With the abolition of Privy Purses in 1972 all the priviledges and privy purses (financial grants) to the princely states were withdrawan by the Government of India.

Out of 565 princely states, only 117 princely states were entitled to gun salutes. Onkendrajit Sana inherited the privy purse of Rs. 300,000 per year plus all the benefits mentioned in the Merger Agreement of 21 september, 1949 signed between Maharaja Bodhachandra and the Government of India. He was entitled to 11 gun salutes. With the abolition of privy purses , he lost everything in one night. However, Shri Okendrajit used to work for furtherance of the cause of Sanamahi and Umang Lais as the head of customary laws and Sanamh religion and for unity of all ethnic groups in Manipur.

Shri Shri Govindajee Temple Act-1972

In the early years, the king looked after and control Umang Lai and Sanamahi religon. After conversion to Hinduism, the king, assisted by the Hindu Mahasabha looked after and control Govindajee temple and worked as the head of the Hindu religion. After abolition of Privy Purse, the Manipur Government enacted the Shri Shri Govindajee Temple Act -1972 snatching away the management of the Shri Govindajee Temple from the control of the Maharaja. The Temple Board was put under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, Manipur. The titular King Okendrajit was not given any honourable position under this act. This action of the state government forced the titular king to join the Sanamahi movement. We were insulting our own king for no fault of his.

Fate of King of Tripura

The sudden abolition of privy purses without compensation forced many royals to sell off their private properties to survive. Immediately after abolition of privy purses, the Maharaja of Tripura , Radhakishor Manikya Bahadur sold the main building along with the area of Ujjayanta Palace to the Government of Tripura during the period of 1972-73 at a price of Rs. 2.5 million. The Ujjayanta Palace comprises of many buildings and the palace compound covers an area of approximately one sq. km. The name Ujjayanta Palace was given by Rabindranath Tagore .The main block covers 800 acres comprising public halls such as the Throne room, the Durbar hall, Library and the Reception hall. The palace was designed by Sir Alexander Martin of Messrs Martin & Co. The construction of the palace was started and completed in 1901 by then Tripura king, Maharaja Radha Kishore Manikya. The members of the royal family live now in a section of the Ujjyanta palace

Fate of King of Manipur

The impact of abolition of privy purses in Manipur was devastating to the Manipur Maharaja. Maharaja Okendrajit (Pareihanba) was hardly 21 years old when the privy purses was abolished. He had no real political power nor authority to influence the state government. Subsequent governments of Manipur during the past forty years have not shown any interest in sustaining the traditions of Sana Konung, livelihood and survival of the royal family. The abolition of "privy purse" as per 26th constitution amendment is a main cause for minimizing the importance of the Maharaja and its institutions.

The Government of Manipur has not done anyting worthwhile during 1972 to 2014 to preserve the Manipur Palace, to preserve the indigenous religions of Manipur and for the survival of the royal family. The Government of Manipur has not given any compensation or has not taken care of his livelihood and survival during 1972-2014. Earlier, the management of the Govindaji temple was under the care of the Maharaja. It is rumoured that the educated advisors, who were closed to Maharaja Okendrajit tried to take full advantage of the situation and tender age of the Maharaja and asked him to part away with the valuable articles, antiques, guns, paddy fields and lands which belonged to the royal family. Maharaja Okendrajit obliged. Everyday, they tried to influence him by offering drinks.

In the mean time, the tenants of paddy fields of about 500 hectors (paris) which belonged the king located at various villages had reportedly started registration of paddy fields and getting Pattas in their own names. Many of the relatives of Maharaja Okendrajit started claiming their own shares in the land and other properties of the Maharaja. This forced Maharaja Okendrajit to sell off the land properties at throw away prices since the land do not have pattas. But he never blamed the state government. He was a very good man.

He lived just like a commoner. He was a victim of the State Overnment's apathy and negligence. Still, Maharaja Okendrajit Singh exercised the non-alienable and non-abolishable royal rights as the Supreme Head of the customary laws and religious matters of the people through the Customs Secretary, Shri Waikhom Chaoba Singh. He died unwept and unsung on 5th August, 1996 at the Manipur Palace. The next day he was cremated at the Manglen at the Kangla Fort according to Hindu rites. Maharaj Okendrajit declared Sanamahi as the State Religion-1992

Shri Okendrajit Sana (Pareihanba) was the last Maharaja of Manipur. Okendrajit was recognized by the President of India as the Maharaja of Manipur on the 9th December, 1955 after the death of Maharaja Bodhachandra on 26th of Hiyangei, 1955 CE. (Friday/ November ) at 9 A.M. He was only four years old when he became king with 11 gun salutes . M.K. Priyobarta was appointed as the regent of the king .

On 23 April 1992, the then Maharaja of Manipur, Okendrajit Sana declared " I open the Lubak Tabu and abandon Hinduism as state religion and recognition is hereby withdrawn by the Royal Customary Law of the Country, instead the Royal Customary Law revives the Lainingthouism as the state religion and do hereby give recognition as state religion".

This small step initiated by Shri Okendrajit Sana has invigorated the Sanamahi revivalism movement. The festivals of Sanamahi religion have become more popular and is being observed by more and more people in the recent times. Sajibu Cheiraouba is being observed to welcome the New Year (Sajibu Nongma Panba). Meitei mayek is formally included in the school curriculum . Many images of Lord Sanamahi were brought from its Brahmin Pujari from many places like Keisamthong Moirang Ningthou Leirak Imphal, Kongmaroo, Mongba Hanba Forest, Hiyangthang Lairembi and the sacred place Nongmaijing Nongpok Ningthou. Many books on how to conduct religious ceremonies with rites and rituals are being published. With the establishment of many religious organizations devoted to Sanamahism, the old religion is gaining popularity among the educated and uneducated alike.

Leisemba Sanajaoba, Titular King

After the death of his father, Leisemba Sanajaoba comes into the shoes of his father. He is trying to revive the different organs of Sanamahi religion and Umang Lai. He revived the tradition of Maharaja-in-Council , Uttra Sanglen , Royal Council etc to give shape to the movement. Uttra Sanglen is the ancestral coronation hall of the Manipur kings. Kangla Fort has also one Uttra Sanglen.

Presently the institutions of Maharaja-in-Council , Uttra Sanglen , Royal Council are very much functioning with Members appointed by the Titular King and he had been carrying out as the Supreme Head of the Royal Council for Sanamahi Religion, Umang Lai and other customary functions and ceremonies of the people of Manipur. The powers and authorities so exercised by him are fully protected by the Mandatory Provisions of the Articles II and VI of the Manipur Merger Agreement of 21 September 1949,

The Titular King has a large number of followers and hundreds of organisation from both hills and valley supported him. The people of Manipur give him an honourable place and give him due honour and respect. He reconciled the disputes in respect of Sagei Piba, Umang Lai, Lai Haraoba etc. He encouraged inter-caste and inter-ethnic marriages. He is considered as Symbol of Unity and solidarity among all ethnic groups of Manipur. Today, Unity is the only weapon to save Manipur from ethnic conflicts, communal disharmony and resulting disintegration of Manipur. The Manipur State Government should not undermine the contributions of the Titular King.

Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Act 1976

The Manipur Legislative passed the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Act 1976 (Manipur Act 2 of 1977) on 3rd December, 1976. In the midnight of 13th October 1977, the Sanamahi devotees brought back the image of Laningthou Sanamahi and Ema Leimarel Sidabi from the residence of a Brahmin, Laihaothabam Surjamani Sharma at Keishamthong Moirang Ningthou Leirak, Imphal to its original temple at Haying Khongbal Tolom Yumpham within the compound of 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles after a protracted struggle. Yangmasho Shaiza, the then Hon'ble Chief Minister of Manipur paid a visit to the place of Lainingthou Sanamahi at Haying Khongbal Tolom Yumpham on the following day. The Government of Manipur declared the Mera Chaoren Houba Day as a state holiday from that year onward.

Now, the Sanamahi Temple is under the direct control of the Government of Manipur. The Govt. of Manipur has published in the Government gazette on 14th May 1980 and declared the said Temple at Haying Khongba Uphong Yumpham as protected monument under the Archaeological site and Remains Act 1976. I will not go into the details of the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Act-1976. I just want to mention that the titular king was not given any honourable position under the said act.

To be continued...