Emergence of Manipur in historical perspective
- Part 2 -

Prof Gangmumei Kamei *

Coronation of Maharaj Churachand 1908. Warning: These images CANNOT be reproduced in any form or size without written permission from the RKCS Gallery

Treaty of Yandabu and Maharaja Gambhir Singh

The treaty of Yandabu recognized the independence of Manipur and her king Gambhir Singh who reconquered his kingdom from the Burmese. Manipur regained her territory and independence by force of arms shown by military skill and the generalship of Gambhir Singh and Nara Singh. It was the third international treaty concluded in the history of Manipur which recognized Manipur and its king as independent ruler of Manipur.

Treaty of Yandabu was also historically significant as Burma recognized the Burmese occupation of Cachar, Jaintia and Assam marking the beginning of British conquest of North East India. It also marked the beginning of modern period in the history of Manipur. The independence of Manipur which was recognized by the Burmese ruler was guaranteed by the British. Gambhir Singh ruled in Manipur from 1825–1834.

He conquered the Naga tribes of northern Manipur as far as Thibomei (Kohima) of Naga Hills which was conquered in late 1832. Gambhir Singh reconstructed the devastated kingdom of Manipur. He restored the monarchy and its rule. Because of this achievement Gambhir Singh has been described as one of the makers of modern Manipur.

The British gave him the border area of Jiribam and the present sub division of Tousem in western hills of Manipur. He concluded a friendship and defence treaty known as the agreement on the transfer of Jiribam (1833), which regulated Anglo-Manipur relation till 1891 when British conquered Manipur. His reign was marked by eight year old dispute over the possession of Kabaw valley.

Gambhir Singh was shocked at the end of his reign when he realized that Governor General Lord William Bentinck of India ordered the transfer of Kabaw valley to Burma. The loss of Kabaw valley was a shocking event in the life of Gambhir Singh who died on 9th January 1934, the day Kabaw Valley was transferred to Burma.

After the death of Gambhir Singh, Chandra-kirti Singh became the king. Chandrakirti Singh had a long reign. During his reign Nara Singh was the regent of Manipur from 1832–1844. He became ruler of Manipur from 1844–1850 when Chandrakirti Singh and his mother Queen Dowager Maharani Kumu-dini Dev fled to Assam. After the death of Nara Singh, Chandrakirti Singh became the king of Manipur again in 1850.

Chandrakirti Singh (1850 – 1886)

During the 35 years of reign of Chandrakirti Singh there was peace and progress in the kingdom of Manipur. There were three important Political Agents in Manipur namely, McCulloch, Dr R Brown and Sir James Johnstone who supported Maharaja Chandrakirti Singh during his rule in Manipur. The British helped the Maharaja in controlling the Naga tribes by the use of gun supplied by the British. They also settled the boundary between Manipur and Naga Hills.

The Kuki immigrants were settled in the villages along the southern boundary of Manipur. The Kukis were recruited in the army of Manipur known as the Kuki Irregulars. The British authority suppressed all the pretenders to the throne of Manipur which was occupied by Chandrakirti without any fear. Trade, commerce and small industries were developed. Manipur gave help to the British in the suppression of Naga Revolt of 1879–1880.

Two thousand Manipuri soldiers and Kuki Irregulars joined the British in the suppression of Khonoma and Kohima villages under the command of Jubraj Sur Chandra Singh along with the help of Prince Tiken-drajit and General Thangal.

Manipur also helped the British in the third Anglo-Burmese war of 1885 in which Upper Chindwin district of Upper Burma was conquered by the British. Chandrakirti Singh was friendly with the British particularly Sir James Johnston, the Political Agent in Manipur. He was awarded the title of KCSI (Knight Commander of the Star of India). Chandrakirti Singh died in 1886.

Anglo-Manipur War (1891)

The six years after the death of Maharaja Sir Chandrakirti Singh was followed by a period of quarrels among his sons by his different queens. Sur Chandra Singh whose recognition as a Maharaja was guaranteed by the British during the life time of his father could not unite his brothers. The princes were divided into two groups.

Camp of Maharaja Sur Chandra supported by his three brothers and another camp of Jubraj Kulachandra Dhaja Singh led by his younger brother Tikendrajit Bir Singh. The feuds among the princes led to the palace revolution of September 1890 as a result of which Maharaja Sur Chandra fled to British territory and Jubraj Kulachandra ascended the throne of Manipur.

The British Government intervened in the affairs of Manipur in which they refused to restore Maharaja Sur Chandra to the throne of Manipur. They decided to recognize Kulachandra Dhaja as a Maharaja. However their condition was that Tiken-drajit Bir Singh whom the British condemned as the ring leader of the Palace revolution was to be exiled to British India.

Lord Lansdowne, the Viceroy of British India deputed Chief Commissioner of Assam, Quinton to enforce this decision. This proposal was not acceptable to Political Agent in Manipur, Frank Grimwood. The Chief Commissioner and 400 Gurkha Rifles attacked the Palace of Manipur. In the process five British officers including himself were executed.

The British forces invaded Manipur from three sides, Kohima, Silchar and Tamu. There was not much resistance to the British forces in the Kohima and Silchar fronts. The Tamu Column from Burma was resisted at the village of Thoubal and Khongjom. The Battle of Khongjom was fought between the British forces led by Major General Graham and the Manipuri army led by Major Paona and Major Chongtham Mia.

The Manipuri forces were defeated in this battle fought on 25th April 1891. British forces occupied Imphal, the capital of Manipur on 27th April 1891. The British executed the leaders for fighting against the British who committed aggression against Manipur. The executed leaders were Jubraj Tikendrajit Singh and General Thangal who were hanged on 13th August 1891.

British Rule (1891– 1947)

After the conquest of Manipur, the British Indian Government in deference to the wishes of Queen Victoria, Empress of India decided not to annex Manipur and regrant the kingdom to a minor prince of the royal house of ex-Maharaja Nara Singh. The five year old Churachand was appointed as a Raja of Manipur. During his minority British ruled Manipur directly for 16 years.

When Raja Churachand Singh came of age in 1907, the administration of the kingdom was given to him. He was assisted by a council of Ministers named Manipur State Durbar. Maharaja was the President and a British ICS officer of Assam Provincial cadre was appointed as the Vice President. In 1917 Maharaja withdrew from the Manipur State Durdar's presidency and the British Vice president was upgraded as the President.

During the First World War Raja Churachand Singh gave both financial and military help to the British Government. He sent 2000 strong labour force consisting of Nagas and some non-Naga tribes in France. There was also a rebellion by the Kuki tribe which is known in history as Kuki Rebellion (1917–1919). After the war Raja Churachand Singh was upgraded to the title of Maharaja.

Maharaja Churachand Singh gave encouragement to the spread of western education in Manipur. The Christian missionaries were also permitted to work for the spread of their religion to the Naga and Kuki tribes of Manipur. The names of American Baptist Missionary, Rev William Pettigrew and a Welsh missionary, Watkin Roberts are still remembered even today. British awarded the title of KCSI. to Maharaja Churachand Singh in 1934 in recognition of his services to the British Empire.

During the last years of his rule Maharaja Churachand Singh in collaboration with the conservative council of the Brahmins known as the Brahma Sabha let loose an exploitation of Meitei Hindus by imposing obnoxious religious fines. This was opposed by the liberal Hindu Meiteis including the leaders of Nikhil Manipuri Maha Sabha which was founded by son-in-law of the royal family Hijam Irabot Singh and presided over by the Maharaja himself.

Irabot opposed the monopoly capitalists who came from outside in the trade of export of rice from Manipur. The people suffered due to the shortage of rice because of this export. The womenfolk launched an agitation against the export of rice. This is known as the Great Women Agitation of 1939 (Nupi Lan: Women's War).

This agitation was converted into a movement for political reforms to bring responsible Government in Manipur under the advice of Hijam Irabot Singh, the new President of the Mahasabha. In his later years Maharaja Churachand Singh developed differences with the British authorities and he died in November 1941.

The 8 years after 1941 were marked by three important political events which greatly affected the destiny of Manipur. Jubraj Bodh Chandra Singh succeeded his father and his reign was marked by the coming of Second World War. The Japanese bombed Imphal in 1942. They invaded Mani-pur in early 1944. There were serious battles fought between the British allied force and Japanese army aided by Indian National Army.

Maharaja Bodh Chandra gave full support to the British forces. He was greatly appreciated by the British Government but due to the negative advice of Political Agent, C Gimson he was denied of any titles. After the war the liberal political leaders of Manipur who were educated in Calcutta, Dacca and Gauhati tried to start a political movement for reforms in the State.

The political forces were divided into the urban dominated Manipur State Congress and rural dominated Manipur Krishak Sabha. In 1947 the Maharaja took the initiative for political reforms with the help of British officers. He promulgated the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 and Manipur Hill People Regulation, 1947 to administer the country.

Before the promulgation of these legislations, the British were departing from India and independence of India was at hand. On the advice of the Chamber of Indian Princes and Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, Maharaja Bodh Chandra Singh signed two important documents known as Standstill Agreement and the Instrument of Accession Act. According to the latter, Manipur acceded to India and inde- pendence came to Manipur.

For two years from 1947 to 1949 Manipur had a Constitutional monarchy. Manipur had a 53 member Assembly which lasted exactly one year. The Government of India as a National policy decided to merge Manipur for which Maharaja Bodh Chandra Singh was coerced to sign the infamous but historic Merger Agreement by which Manipur was merged to India on 15th October 1949.

Manipur as a State of the Indian Republic

By the Merger Agreement of 1949, Manipur became a part of the Indian Republic. But the transformation of this ancient kingdom into a full fledged State was a painful process. Manipur passed through the stages of Part C State and Union Territory before she was given Statehood in 1972. Manipur had seen the working of the Indian democracy at different levels.

Since Statehood, Manipur had experienced the pleasures and pangs of democracy. Manipur looks forward towards a better future in the republic. Manipur had emerged from a petty principality of Kangla to a Nation State in the 15th century which grew into an empire in 17th and 18th centuries to carve out for herself an empire in North East India and south east Asia.

Her struggle with the Burmese imperialism forced her to accept military help from the British with which she liberated herself from the Burmese. Yet Manipur could not maintain her sovereignty because of expanding British imperialism. However, she could maintain her political identity under the British paramountcy till her absorption into the republic of India.

Concluded...

This article is being published as part of the 85th Birth Anniversary commemoration of Prof Gangmumei Kamei.
This article was earlier published in the Souvenir of 1st North East India TOP of the WORLD Mt Everest Expedition 2013