Historic reunification of people after 7 years of devastation remembered
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 09 2011:
The United People's Front observed Reconciliation Day at the Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul Imphal to commemorate the reunification of the people of the state under the leadership of King Gambhirsingh who freed the state from the Awa after a seven year occupation.
Professor N Joykumar, YK Dhiren, president UPF, Amu Kamei, president ZU (AMN), SM Seikh, general secretary Islamic Cultural Research Association, Manipur, Kh Ratan former president UPF, and Th Mangi were the presidium members in the function.
In a speech, Prof N Joykumar said that January 9 is a memorable day in the history of Manipur.
King Garibniwaj died on this date and India gifted Manipur's Kabow valley to Burma on this date.
The kingdom of Awa attacked Manipur in 1819 taking advantage of the internal clashes between the royal sons.
They ruled Manipur for seven years from 1819 to 1826.Hill and valley people united under the leadership of King Gambhirsingh and fought the Awa and drove them out of Manipur.
Honouring the courage of the Manipuris, the Yandabo treaty signed by Britain, Burma and Manipur recognized the independence and the boundaries of Manipur.
He reminded that Manipur had been defeated due to disunity among the people of the state that time.
He also said that tribal people are not communal minded.
Some tribal leaders residing in the valley areas are planning to bring discord among the hill and the valley peoples.
He stressed on the need of unification of the hill and valley people today like the unification effected under King Gambhirsingh's leadership.
Manipuris who are brave and used to live independently are now living as beggars.
Amu Kamei said that the people can achieve anything if they are united.
It is high time to bring unity and integration in the state.
He told the gathering that 'Meidingu' the title of Manipuri kings is a Kabui word which means 'saviour of the people'.
This clearly shows the age old relations between the Meiteis and Kabuis.
Amu Kamei said that the UPF should include representatives of the hill people.
He also pointed out that the AMSU and the ANSAM had good relations in the past.
Today they have severed ties and have begun to work for their own communities.
Such disunity will hamper development in the state.
UCM president, Yumnamcha Dilip said that some people are planning to disintegrate the unity of the people of the state.
The poor development in the hill areas is because of the insincerity of the hill MLAs and leaders.
Polythene pipes, GI sheets and other agricultural products supplied by the government for the hill people are being sold in Imphal by them.
He said some persons after reading the history of Manipur during the period of British claimed that the Nagas were not under the Manipuri king.
However, he recalled that the kings of Manipur dominated other countries with the help of the hill peoples and that Meetei kings did not suppress the hill peoples in the past.
In fact they lived in unity guarding the territory of Manipur.
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