Revisiting Khongjom
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 24, 2013 -

One hundred and twenty years ago, on this day of April 23, the then princely State of Manipur fought its last war of independence against the mighty British forces at the battle field of Khongjom, and historians have described this decisive war as one of the most glorious chapters in the history of Manipur.

Though the defeat of Manipuri soldiers in the hand of the mighty and well-equipped British soldiers was a foregone conclusion, Manipuri soldiers and their leaders like Paona Brajabashi, Yaiskul Lakpa, Wangkhei Meiraba and several others did not hesitate from going out into the battlefield to take on the invading British forces.

They knew in their hearts deep down that they were going to face the military might of a colonial ruler in whose empire the sun was said to be never set, yet the call of the motherland was hard to be ignored and they willingly sacrificed their lives for a cause which was dear to their hearts - that of defending the sovereignty and independence of their nation.

It is in remembrance of this spirit of patriotism shown by the Manipuri soldiers during the Anglo-Manipuri war of 1891 that every succeeding generation has been observing April 23 every year as Khongjom Day to pay homage to the departed souls of brave Manipuri soldiers belonging to different communities and both known and unknown.

Even if the resistance of the Manipuris against the invading mighty British force in the last decisive war at the battle of Khongjom has become a legend of patriotism and valour worth inspiring, there is something even more important for the people of Manipur which they could not afford to forget while paying tributes to their brave forefathers who laid down their lives not only in the battlefield but also in the gallows.

History tells that the battle of Khongjom was not an isolated event but a culmination of a series of events prompted by lack of unity among the various Manipuri princes of that time.

After the death of King Chandrakriti in May 1886, his eldest son Surchandra Singh succeeded to the throne and this led to a kind of tug of war among the sons of the departed king for the occupation of the throne.

Kulachandra Singh, Tikendrajit Singh, Angousana and Zilanamba were against newly anointed king, who was subsequently forced to flee to Kolkata (then Calcutta) to seek help for reinstatement, thus, giving undue advantage to the British colonialists to interfere in the internal affairs of the royal family, and in extension, in the administration of Manipur.

How disunity among the Manipuri princes brought about the downfall of an independent kingdom should be a lesson to all.

In addition to the annual ritual of offering floral tributes, the most befitting homage that could be paid to martyrs of Khongjom war would be for the people to rededicate themselves to the cause of strengthening the bond of unity and oneness among all the ethnic groups in the State.

After all, ‘United we stand, divided we fall’, is not just a popular phrase, but a truism that has stood the test of time.