76th Celebration of People's Unity and Democracy in Manipur
- Date : 18th October 2024 :: Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee (DMCC) / MSAD -

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Observance of 18th October 1948

Background of the Celebration:

What is the celebration about?

The 18 of October 1948 marks a significant historical event of setting up the first assembly in the small state of Manipur, located in Southeast Asia, which became part of the Indian Union in 1949. The first Manipur State Assembly was addressed by Maharaja Bodhchandra, emphasizing the shift of power of the sovereign king to the sovereign democratic state, and the assembly lasted for about eleven months as the state winded up before it even began to take off in full swing. The assembly was operated under the provisions of the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947.

The first assembly by the elected representatives was an epoch-making historical moment that drew the world's attention during the era of Decolonisation in Asia and Africa (1945-1960). This era was a period of excitement and anxiety, as experienced by many countries on these continents as a transition from colonial rule to independence, with many striving to establish democratic governance and the rule of law.

In this period of historical transition, the state of Manipur moved from being a princely state under British crown paramountcy and suzerainty to a democratically elected assembly with universal adult franchise in 1948, operating under the Manipur State Constitution Act of 1947. This transition marked a significant moment in the history of democracy during the early decolonization era.

The period from 1947 to 1949 marks an intriguing and significant moment in the world history of democracy following World War II. For the state of Manipur, the founding leaders of modern Manipur embarked on a bold journey, transitioning from a monarchical form of governance to a democratic one, adhering to the core tenets of democratic values and principles such as universal adult franchise and inclusive representation based on ethnicity and religion.

It is noteworthy that Manipur, as a kingdom since ancient times, has always been a space for the coexistence of diverse communities, with a history of harmonious assimilation and syncretism long before the arrival of the British. The years 1947-1949 in Manipur are also crucial for studying the polity and society, demonstrating a smooth transition from monarchy to democracy, the adoption of universal adult franchise, and the promotion of coexistence and pluralistic values reflected in the state's ethnic composition and inclusive representation, among other aspects.

This raises a historical question about how such an experiment in electoral representation was made possible in a matter of stroke. This can be traced back to the historicity of establishing the rule of law under a constitution, as evidenced by the document of Loiyamba Sinyen. It is recorded that the final version of a proto-constitution was first drafted in 429 CE by King Naophangba.

However, it was King Loiyamba (1074-1122 C.E) who emerged as a pivotal figure in the historical tapestry of the ancient history of Manipur and marked his groundbreaking establishment of the first constitution containing an enduring testament of his governance known as the Loiyampa Silyel or Loiyamba Sinyen. Moreover, the concept of dynamic co-existence demonstrates a continuous pluralistic culture, values, and polity throughout the rich history of Manipur, which has consistently been present since ancient times. The period 1947-1949, the history preceding the period, and post-1949 are significant for the history of democracy and political history.

The emergence of the Manipur State Constitution in 1947 transformed Manipur into a constitutional monarchy with a council of ministers elected on the principle of Adult Franchise. This political transaction became important not only in Manipur but also in the South East Asian democratic political history since Manipur practiced the first adult franchise in the region. No election was held in the more than 500 princely states in India.

The first election in India was held in 1951, three years after the election in Manipur in 1948. There is no report of an election prior to this with neighboring countries, including Burma, India, China, East Pakistan, and West Pakistan.

Manipur became an independent state with the passing of the Indian Independence Act, 1947 in the parliament of the United Kingdom on 14 August under the provision of clause 7 (1) (b) (Indian Independence Act 1947). In fact, the history of Manipur between 1939 and 1948 reveals an open manifestation of the popular political consciousness on various issues concerning democratic rights and the rational identity of Manipur.

This was a decade when several political associations or parties were active such as the Nikhil Manipur Mahasabha (1938), Praja Sameloni (7 January 1940), Praja Mandal (7 March 1946), the Krishak Shabha (formed in 1935) as Krishak Sameloni became a political organization in May 1946, Praja Sangha was formed by merging Manipur Praja Sameloni and Manipur Praja Mandal on 22 August (1946), Manipur state congress (4 October 1946), Shanti Shabha (1948), communist party (September 1948) and socialist party (1948) were the organizations.

As per the Royal order No.-30 P of 1946 dated 12.12.46, a 16-member constitution-making committee consisting of five elected members of the valley, five nominated members from hills, one chief court judge, one non-official nominee of the King, one representative of Jiribam (on outlying region), and the president of the Durbar, a British officer was formed on 10 March 1947. The constitution-making committee finalized the drafting of a constitution of Manipur, adopted it on 26 July 1947, and submitted it to the king for his approval.

In a public declaration, the king announced that he had given his assent to the constitution. This came to be known as the Manipur Constitution Act 1947. It is clear that the idea of independence of Manipur when the Manipur king hoisted the ‘national flag’ with an embroidered picture of the Pakhangba on it, putting an end to British colonialism, is seen as the restoration of Manipur's earlier political status of Manipur.

The Interim Government of Manipur was headed by a Chief Minister and consisted of six other Ministers; however, the movement for the establishment of a responsible popular Government finally announced on 23 November that a fully responsible Government would be established by April 1948. The election of the Manipur National Assembly took place on the 11 and 30 of June 1948 in the valleys and in the hills on the 26 and 27 of July 1948.

The MLA ratio was 30 for the valley, 18 for the hills, and 3 for the Muslims, additionally one from commerce and one from education, thus resulting in a total of 53 MLAs.

In the election, no party could secure an absolute majority in the general election, Manipur state Congress won 14 seats, Krishak State Sabha 6 seats, Praja Shanti Sabha 12 seats, in the hills 18 seats (including independent candidates), and the Muslim 3 seats. A Government was formed by the Praja Shanti led coalition as a non-congress coalition ministry.

On the 18 of October 1948, the Manipur State National Assembly was ceremonially inaugurated by the king, who clearly announced that “I now bring to the mind of the people that I had transferred my powers and responsibilities other than those of a constitutional Ruler to the state council since 1 July 1947 before the lapse of the British paramount and since then, I have already remained as a constitutional Ruler.”

Section 8 of the Manipur State Constitution Act 1947 contained the King’s powers that could not and should not extend to the legitimate interest of the state administration, Section 9 (b) and Section 26 of the Act made it mandatory that the law-making authority in the state vested in the King in the council only in collaboration with the state Assembly.

The first elected government was formed with the universal adult franchise in Manipur and the entire Indian sub-continent with M.K. Priyobartra Singh as chief Minister with 8 council of ministers and one speaker by T.C. Tingkham, a Tankhul community.

Why do we need to revisit this historical moment?

The question of having the first assembly on 18 October after phases of election following the democratic principles and inclusive representation is about just the transfer of power from the sovereign king to the sovereign state of Manipur. Political observers like S.K. Banerjee (1958) have pointed out that the magnitude and the importance of the provisions in the Manipur State Constitution become clear when it is seen that what had taken ages in England had been achieved in Manipur at a stroke.

Such observations invite us to delve into the meaning of 18 October 1948. This historical event provides us with the chance to see the relationship between the Past, History, Memory, and Memorialisation. Contextualizing this relationship in the history of democracy in Manipur viz a viz India and Asia and Africa. Democracy suffered a setback in Manipur after eleven months of democracy; it became a Part C state administered by the president through the Chief Commissioner.

The meaning of 18 October draws multiple layers of interest.

Firstly, it invites the interest of studying the historicity of setting up the rule of law through the establishment of a constitution, Loiyamba Sinyen.

Second, there was a shift in the notion of sovereign power from the body of the king to the body of collectives, the imagination of new collectives to embark on the rule of law by the elected representative, and the adoption of a universal adult franchise. The transmutations as a consequence of such shift leading to the societal and cultural transformation, structural changes in the social milieu, and the transition to modern society in the Weberian sense are intriguing fields of examination.

Thirdly, it invites the attention of the subversion literature chroniclers to examine the post-1949 Manipur. The insights drawn from such examination would guide the conscience of democratic states and observers of democracy to embrace peace and development through the path of democracy.

Fourthly, the Manipur State Constitution Act of 1947 has provisions that follow core democratic values such as inclusiveness, acceptance, and respect of others beyond identities based on religion, ethnicity, sex, and place of residence. The receptiveness of such values by its people reflects the historical continuity of co-existence and upholds the foundational tenets of the idea of co-existence in Manipuri society. The significance of such values for sustaining democracy is something that the students and observers of the history of democracy could examine, chronicle, and incorporate into political practice.

Fifthly, the revisiting of 18 October 1948 is significant to collective understanding and builds solidarity to contest the rapidly emerging ethnonationalism and ethnic homeland. Such politics of ethnic lebensraum is unsuitable for peace and democracy to continue, and the culture of co-existence and inclusivity has always been the hope and beacon of progress and stability, peace and democracy around the world.

On this brief background, Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee (DMCC) and Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD) would like to invite researchers, political practitioners, educators, students, community and cultural organizations, government officials, policymakers, and social observers to collectively seek, and revisit the epoch-making historical moment of 18 October 1948. This is a humble effort by members of the DMCC and MSAD to contribute to the gigantic steps for furthering peace, democracy, and liberatory political practice.

Reference:

1. Akoijam, Angomcha Bimol (2023). Celebrating 75th Year of People’s Unity and Democracy in Manipur. Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi, Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee (DMCC)
2. Banerjee, SK, (1958). The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 35-38
3. Laishram, Dhanabir, 2007, North-East in Benthic zone, Akansha Publication, New Delhi
4. Ningthouja, Malem, 2014, Diametrical Nationalism: Rulers and Masses in Manipur, Aakar Books
5. Sanajaoba, Naorem, 1988, Manipur Past and Present, History Polity & Law, Mittal Publication, Delhi
6. Rojesh, Seram, 2009, Armed Conflict: A Comparative Study between Manipur and Kashmir, M.Phil Thesis submitted to Delhi School of Economics, Department of Sociology, University of Delhi