Arambam Bidhu : A living tale of a king's soldier
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 15 2012: Arambam Bidhu, now 93 years old has seen it all, survived it all and was one of the most trusted body guards of Maharaj Bodhchandra.

Arambam Bidhu was born on December 20, 1918 in Langthabal Mantrikhong Awang Leikai.

During the reign of Churachand Maharaj, Bidhu joined service as a soldier when he had not reached even 20.For his dedication to duty, Bidhu was entrusted several important works by the king.

Though 93 years old, Bidhu is still healthy.

Though he has started bending a little bit, he can still move around riding a bicycle.

During an exclusive chat with The Sangai Express, Bidhu said that he was once asked by Churachand Maharaj if he could kill his own parents after being inducted as a soldier.

As prompted by a Naik he was sitting beside Bidhu, he replied in the affirmative.

He recalled that he got Rs 7.50 as monthly salary.

Bidhu was among 80 soldiers who were assigned the task of guarding the royal palace.

Three years later, the younger ones among the 80 soldiers were transferred to the State Manipur Police (SMP) by an order issued by the Commandant Mr Hugh.

A young Bidhu in his uniform and now in his 90s

At that time, SMP was commanded by one Inspector known as Khomdram IP.

SMP personnel were detailed to fight in the WWII, better known as Japan Lan in Manipur, Bidhu narrated.

Though Manipur Rifles was already raised by then, MR personnel were kept away from World War II.

Though Bidhu enrolled as a soldier during the time of Churachand Maharaj, he was more acquainted and close to Maharaj Bodhchandra.

From SMP, Bidhu was again assigned the task of guarding the royal palace.

Maharaj Bodhchandra's first wife was a Nepali named Ishwari.

On hearing about the impending Japan Lan, Bodhchandra directed Bidhu to escort the queen to Nepal.

Armed with a 303 rifle each, Bidhu and two other soldiers escorted the queen all the way to Nepal.

On the return journey, Imphal-Dimapur road was found blocked which compelled Bidhu and his team to take Tongjei Maril road.

By that time, Japanese army had already reached Nambol.

They were apprehended by the Japanese soldiers and thrashed mercilessly.

They were abandoned by the Japanese soldiers thinking that they were dead.

After overcoming all the pain and obstacles, they managed to reach the palace, Bidhu recalled.

On reaching the palace, Maharaj Bodhchandra promoted Bidhu to the rank of Naik.

Two years later, he was again promoted to the rank of Havildar before becoming a Jemadar.

Once he was promoted to the rank of Jemadar, Bidhu became very close to Maharaj Bodhchandra.

Besides being a body guard of the king, he was also assigned many important tasks of the kingdom.

Once the king accompanied by royal nobles and priests went to Khalong to offer a kritan there.

The king and his entourage stayed at Khalong for about a month.

One day, the king left behind his waist band in a latrine.

He came to know it only when the entourage reached the foothills.

At this, the priests and priestesses said that the waist band would not be found.

"But I went up the hill and searched for the waist band in the area where the king had camp.

I found the waist band hanging in the latrine" .

"I came down and handed the waist band to the king.

On recovering the waist band, the king whipped the priests and priestesses who predicted wrongly", Bidhu recalled.

When Maharaj Bodhchandra went to Shillong during which the historic Shillong Accord was signed, Arambam Bidhu was the commander of the king's body guards who numbered around seven.

As the king came out after signing Shillong Accord, it was writ large on his face that the king was crestfallen.

"Throughout the return journey, no one spoke anything.

Every one was silent and we even forgot to eat", Bidhu recounted.

After the journey to Shillong, Maharaj Bodhchandra's health suddenly deteriorated and he never recovered.

"On his death bed, the king summoned me and said that his trip to Khalong had turned out to be digging his own grave", Bidhu recalled.

Though Bidhu participated in the last rites of Maharaj Bodhchandra, he left the palace soon afterwards as he was no longer comfortable inside the palace.

When Bidhu retired from the post Jemadar, he was around 55 years old.

"I never sought any personal favour from the king when I was very close to him.

I was content that the king was satisfied with my service", Bidhu said.