UCM team leaves for Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 06 2022:
Continuing its "Eegi Khongul Libagi Khongchat" expedition, a team of United Committee Manipur (UCM) along with a media team left Imphal for Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Wednesday to trace the history of Manipuris, who spent jail time during the British rule in the Cellular Jail of Kalapani, which has been converted into a museum.
It may be noted here that Mount Harriet in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where the Manipuri forefathers spent their jail time, was recently renamed as Mount Manipur.
Before leaving Imphal for the five-day long expedition, UCM president Joychandra Konthoujam told media persons that 23 people were sent to Andaman and Nicobar Islands by the British on charge of waging war against the Queen of England after the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri War.
For thousands of years, Manipur, the erstwhile Kangleipak, remained as a sovereign nation having good political relationship with the neighbouring nations.
Unfortunately, Awas (Burmese) occupied Kangleipak for seven years from 1819 to 1826 but Manipuris reclaimed its sovereignty by ousting the Awas beyond Ningthi River.
He also recalled the historic events that led to the Anglo-Manipuri War after the British interfered in the administration and internal affairs of Manipur, and how Manipur lost its freedom to British.
The expedition is to pay tributes to the forefathers who spent in the cellular jail and to identify locations where memorial monuments could be constructed in honour of the brave forefathers, he said.