The Lost Sovereignty of Kangleipak
- Part 2 -

M. Nilamani *

Manipur Maps showing the different districts

Very unfortunately our own self Government could not last long. Manipur Legislative Assembly was dissolved immediately after merging Manipur with the Government of India on the 15th of October, 1949 and Manipur (once an independent kingdom recognized by the world) was placed in the category of Part C-State of India.

Signing of the Merger Agreement by Maharajah Bodhchandra at Shillong in the month of September, 1949, and to merge Manipur with the dominion of India from the 15th of October, 1949, had become a controversial issue since Maharajah of Manipur did not have sovereign authority to sign such agreement on behalf of the Government of Manipur while Manipur was having it own Legislative Assembly with the Chief Minister being the Head of the State. All the MLAs were elected Representatives of the people of Manipur, election of which was held under the provision of Manipur Constitution Act, 1947.

Any instrument of agreement, if any, alleged to have been signed or signed by the King of Manipur while Manipur was under British Rule, cannot be acted upon since Manipur was absolutely under the legal jurisdiction of the crown of England.

Unity of the indigenous people of Manipur which once prevailed prior to the conquest of Manipur by British Forces, disappeared completely with the division of Kangleipak (Manipur) into hills, valley and British Reserved Areas.

In the name of administrative conveniences - inner hidden motive of "DEVIDE & RULE" policy as adopted right from the arrival of "East India Company" into the soil of India, presenting the company as a "Trading Company of England" and thereafter taking the whole lands of India under their possession and control, the same attitude and the policy of British people could be seen in the case of Kangleipak by giving free hand to the missionary of Religion to convert most of the people of hills into "Christianity" while valley people (more than half of the population of Meiteis had already been converted into "Vaisnavism" since the regime of Pamheiba, the then King of Manipur. Before the arrival of British People in Manipur there was no Christian in the hills. Religious differences between the people of hills and valley played vital role leading to the signal of severance of blood relationship of brotherly and sisterly ties.

Example of the role of Religions is not far to seek. Everyone living in the world knows as to why and how "Partition of India and Pakistan effected" and how many lakhs of Muslims and Hindus were killed throughout India in the uncontrollable riots that occurred before, during and after the partition. Md. Jinnah's long cherished aim and objectives were fulfilled at the cost of innocent lives of lakhs of Muslims who professed "Islamic Religion" on one side and lakhs of Hindus lost their precious lives in Hindustan and Pakistan Riots - of the other side. Still enmity between India and Pakistan continues. God knows what would happen to India and Pakistan in the near future. Both these two countries possess most dangerous Nuclear Weapons.

Evils of religions would continue as long as Religious fundamentalists exist in the world. These people are ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their religion. They interpreted the meaning of religion in a different way.

Streams of politics of valley and hills of Manipur coupled with religious conflicts between the two groups, though undisclosed but hidden behind a big curtain just after they embraced two sets of religions which were foreign to them, the entire environment surrounding hills and valley had been found completely changed as it two boats in the river running towards different directions destination of which can never be the same goal. Christianity and Vaisnavism were not a religion here so much as a birth right as these two religions were alien to the people of hills and valley of Manipur.

Our passion for living in Unity, oneness, communal harmony and peaceful co-existence amongst people of hills and valley should not be allowed to poison by elements of religious faiths.

Religion should not be made as cause for severance of more than two thousand year old relationship between hills and valley people. Great Saints of India who knew the meaning of "RELIGION" never indulged in the war of religion because they know what is religion.

One of the greatest Saints of the world "SHIRDI SAI BABA" allowed all sections of people who professed different religions to become His disciples. His teachings and philosophy never classified human beings as low cast untouchable Harijans or High Class Priests. To HIM all human beings irrespective of case, creed and religion are the same and treated them equally.

Now, coming to the role of Meiteis (Majority Community of Manipur) it could very easily ascertain from historical records of Kangleipak that Meiteis had never interfered into the traditions, rituals, customs and religions of hill tribes under Manipur Rule. In true sense of the term, Meiteis were the warriors who were loyal to the Kings of Kangleipak (Manipur). Their strengths, courages and peculiar type of techniques of fighting with swords, spears and Arambais with which they were brought up enabled them to win over their opponents.

Meiteis were not communal. In a very soft and delicate manner all the ethnic communities of hills were treated with love and they were not looked down by the majority community. In sixty members "Manipur Legislative Assembly" - Rishang Keishing, Yangmaso Shaiza and Alimuddin were the Chief Ministers. Rishang Keishing is still MP of Rajya Sabha. This is concrete proof of Meiteis' full co-operation to minority communities. Meiteis never treat hill people as strangers. There should not be any distinction between hills and valley. Meiteis were also originally "tribes" though they had settled down in the valley.

Where did they (Meiteis) live when the valley was full of water?

Very often we have come across two communities from the hills - claiming Home Land (Kuki State from the lands of Manipur) and another demand by NSCN (IM) was for slicing off 4 (four) districts of Manipur viz. (i) Tamenglong, (ii) Chandel, (iii) Ukhrul and (iv) Senapati from the lands of Manipur both of which became a threat to Territorial Integrity of Manipur.

Manipur is unbreakable. Neither all the lands of Manipur could be patitioned under Indian Law of Partition nor was there any right on the part of any Ethnic Group of Manipur to claim this and that land as their home land.

Everyone is aware of the fact that (Kangleipak) was a sovereign country - ruled and governed by the Kings having its own unique history inclusive of its own boundaries - recognized by neighbouring as well as prominent countries of the world wherein all the Ethnic groups of people of the Kingdom of Kangleipak lived together from time immemorial and within its areas where was no specific areas of land which can be called Kuki land, Naga land, Kom land, Maring land, Kabui land, Meitei Pangal land, Paite land, Chothe land, Meetei/Meitei - majority peoples' land - so on and so forth - and as such no community has right to claim "HOME LAND" from the entire areas of land of Manipur.

All the land within the geographical boundaries of Manipur (Kangleipak) belonged to the Government of Manipur. Why people of Manipur of this 21st Century generation tend to forget that MANIPUR (Kangleipak) was once a sovereign country till before the Anglo -Manipur War, 1891. Under the supreme command of the kings of Manipur, HILLS and VALLEY people were ruled till before the 27th April, 1891. This fact is well proved. British people also supported this view. That is why many British Authors who wrote books Manipur always address "HILLS UNDER MANIPUR RULE".

Aiming at the provision of Article 3 of the Indian Constitution would be fruitless. Two or three groups of people cannot invoke the contents of Article 3 of the Constitution of India. Government of India does not have child's brain. Everything is stored in the proper place. Government of India knew it well that 36 Ethnic Groups of people of Manipur are the bonafide citizens of India. Government of India would not commit grave mistake which would lead to bloodshed from amongst the ethnic communities of Manipur.

In order to run the Government smoothly - giving full satisfaction to the people of hills and valley and to avoid unreasonable claims in future, the author of this article would like to urge the Government of Manipur, headed by Shri Okram Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur to take up two important issues on top priority bases:-

Viz. (i) Amendment to Article 3 of the Indian Constitution:
Proposed words for insertion: "This Article 3 of the Indian Constitution shall be inapplicable to the state of Manipur for protection of its territorial integrity".
-AND-
(ii) Amendment to Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 (MLR & LR Act, 1960)
Proposed words for insertion: For bringing in one uniform Revenue law in the state of Manipur this Act is hereby extended to the entire hill areas of Manipur.
These two Amendments would give everlasting "PEACE, ONENESS, UNITY & COMMUNAL HARMONY" among the people of hills and valley of Manipur.

Concluded...