TODAY -

The Khongjom Day - 23rd Or 25th April
The British accounts are not sacrosanct

Chabungbam Amuba Singh *

Khongjom War Memorial Complex atop Kheba Ching in Thoubal district :: April 23 2013
Khongjom War Memorial Complex atop Kheba Ching in Thoubal district on April 23 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam



While writing a life story of Major Chongtha Mia recently (25 Feb 2014) Dr Ch Jamini Devi maintained that the battle of Khongjom was fought on 25 April 1891, at the same time said that Paona Brajabasi and Wangkhei Meiraba Poila died fighting the British on April 23, 1891.

Speaking on an occasion of observing 'Khongjom Battle Day 2013' last year R K Jhalajit Singh said the same thing.

Late N Khelchandra Singh, on whose writing many subsequent writers draw, maintained that the battle of Khongjom was fought on 25 April 1891 and Paona died in that battle. He also wrote that Wankhei Meiraba Poila died on 23 April in an ambush by 'the out -numbered British army'.

Haobam Bhubon wrote in the Sangai Express ( July 2008 and August 2010) that the battle of Khongjom was fought for three consecutive days ending on the evening of 25 April 1891 and Paona died on the first day (the 23rd April).

There are many other proponents of 25 April 1891 as the day on which the battle of Khongjom (Bapam for Sapam ,in British accounts)was fought.

Cheitharol Kumbaba records that the battle of Khongjom occurred and Paona died on 23 April 1891. As for Wangkhei Meiraba, from the recordings in the chronicle it may be unambiguously concluded that he was killed in an ambush at Kakching on the dawn of the 21 April 1891.

R K Jhalajit even opined that had Dr L Chandramani (in his thesis) rectified enlisting April 23, 1891 as the day the Khongjom battle was fought there would be no confusion. But the controversy, regarding the dates of events, is not between individual scholars. It is a conflict between the recordings in the Manipur royal chronicle and the so-called 'British accounts'.

He is also reported to have said that 'on 23 April 1891 the British soldiers had not even arrived at the battle spot and thus no conflict could have taken place'. He couldn't be right. Because, on 18 April 1891 Major Charles Leslie arrived at Palel with 500 troops plus 40 mounted infantry and two mountain guns under 12 British officers including the eight who later took part in the battle of Khongjom.

I am ignorant of the methodology of learning history. I have no way of knowing how many of the British accounts (often referred mistakenly as records) could be taken as bona fide primary source. Many seem to be drawing from a compilation of columnist's reports in The Pioneer, Allahabad and G.H.H.Couchman's The Manipur Expedition 1891 which was published in 1892. I feel frustrated - like a disciple without a guru. Yet I venture to make some observations concerning the British accounts.

1. Hard-to-believe casualty figures:
Captain F. M. Rundall, the field commander of the British troops at the battle, reported the casualty figure on the Manipuri side as much more than 178 killed (128 bodies counted, plus many uncounted but estimated to be at least 50). The last paragraph of his report reads as
"Of the enemy, 76 dead were counted inside the work, and 2 wounded: and just outside the work 52 dead were counted, those killed in the nalla were not all counted as they lay in2 heaps in the water, nor did I count those killed by the guns and mounted infantry as it was getting late and the bodies were too far off. The mounted infantry estimate that they killed about 50, certainly not less than 50, and some villagers have since told me that 400 fell on that day."

Mark the last sentence! It reveals that the report was not a prompt one, - contrary to what Khelchandra made it out to be in an editorial foot-note in the Cheitharol Kumbaba.

Lieutenant Grant gave the casualty on the Manipuri side on that day as more than 231 killed. The following is an extract from his narrative dated 28 April 1891: "We gathered seventy five bodies in the fort and fifty six near it, and the shrapnel and the mounted infantry killed over one hundred. The Manipuris here say we killed over four hundred."

On the other hand, the British casualty was reported to be just two killed and thirteen injured! Difficult to believe, unless you are prepared to believe anything the British wrote!

2. Inflated report of the exploits of Lieutenant Grant:
On 28 April 1891 Lt Charles J W Grant dashed from Tamu with just 80 sepoys and three elephants to attempt a rescue of the British officers, thinking they were being held captive by the Manipuris. By his own account , he faced an estimated 800 Manipuri troops at Thoubal, killed the 'Bhudda(old) Senaputi , commander-in-chief, of the old Maharaj, and two generals' and hold off the attack for a week till he finally withdrew ,under order from Capt Presgrave, "at 7.30 pm of 8th, Saturday". The only casualty he admitted was - one man killed, his horse 'Clinker' killed, two men and one follower wounded, two elephants and two ponies wounded. Brig Graham even said that Lt Grant's party was attacked by two thousand Manipuris implying that 2000 Manipuris could not defeat Grant's 80 sepoys ( 50 Sikhs and 30 Gurkhas). Fantastic!

Notice a grave error in Grant's noting, "8th, Saturday". The 8th of April 1891 was not a Saturday, it was a Wednesday. It speaks volumes about the credibility of his narrative.

3. A four-fold discrepancy in the British accounts:
On the strength of the mounted infantry taking part in the day's battle (at Khongjom):-
Capt Rundall in his report - 35; Brig Gen Graham in his report dated 29 April 1891 - 44;
Lt C J W Grant in his narrative -50; G H H Couchman in The Manipur Expedition - 43.

4. Who out-numbered whom?
Khelchandra said the British were out-numbered; Laldena says the Manipuris were out-numbered.
The strength of the Manipuri force at Khongjom:
Not more than 370, - according to Cheitharol Kumbaba;
200, - according to Y. Mohendra Singh quoting from, "Manipur compiled from the columns of the Pioneer, Allahabad, 1891";
300 probably, - estimated by Lieutenant Cox;
About 1000, - according to Brig T Graham the commander of the Tammu column.

The strength of the British force at the battle of Khongjom:
Considering various British accounts, the assault party on that day consisted of 335 - 350 sepoys plus at least eight British officers.
From the above it is clear that unless one believes in Brig Graham's estimate of a thousand Manipuri troops one cannot say that the British were out-numbered.

5. One episode, two accounts:
The much publicised episode of individual treachery - a Manipuri soldier raising an improvised white flag and then shooting at a British officer is reported in two separate accounts: in one Capt Drury is associated, and in the other Lt Grant. Was the alleged episode a piece of romanticism?

6. The intrigue of Chongtha Mia's statement:
In the so-called statement of Chongtha Mia - engineered, prepared and signed by the British - the date of the battle was mentioned as " about 24th or 25th of April". Isn't it intriguing?

These tit-bits put a question mark on the credibility of the British accounts.

Here, it is apt to take a look at a particular recording in the Cheitharol Kumbaba. The flight of the Manipuri royal party consisting of about 200 men from the Kangla palace fort at the night-fall of the 26th April 1891 was arranged three days ahead - by sending out Moirang Tonjao Subidar with a fee of rupees 3000 and a Kabo guide to lead the royal party to (the land of) Khagee and with an instruction to wait for the King and his party (at Moirangkampu). This means that the decision to flee was taken on the 23rd April, the day Maipaksana Wangkheirakpa , the over-all commander of the Manipuri force resisting the British Tammu column , took flight to the palace fort. It would be wrong to denigrate the King and his brothers by saying that they took the decision to flee even before the battle of Khongjom was fought.

To the Manipuris the Khongjom war is more than a historical event. The battle of Khongjom gave birth to a unique Manipuri narrative art form - the Khongjom Parva. It is pertinent for the present-day Manipuri generation to know that the originator of this popular art form - Sapam Dhobi Leinou - was a soldier who participated in the fighting at Khongjom on the 23rd April 1891 as the Manipuri flag bearer. He was an eye witness to the battle, to Paona's unparalleled skill of cutting the fuse tail of a bomb (cannon ball) in flight and to Paona's sacrifice of his own life (at the hand of one Takhellambam Rasman of Cachar, a subedar in the British army, according to a legend).

To the Manipuris Paona (Paonam Naol Singh) became a legend overnight. To the British there is no Paona and no legend.


* Chabungbam Amuba Singh Lamkang wrote this article for e-pao.net
The writer is Former Vice Chancellor, Manipur University and can be contacted at camuba(dot)singh(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was posted on April 19, 2014.


* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.




LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Md Alimuddin, celebrated Sagol Kangjei player
  • Violence in Manipur 2023-2025 : Timeline
  • Condemnation of Armed Football Match
  • Webinar: KM3NeT Mediterranean experiment
  • Redefining Cancer care: People-centered
  • How thought leadership can propel your career
  • The Science of Success : Attitude #3
  • Guwahati Asian Film Fest : Day 1
  • Of guns and football
  • Armed men playing football, taunting Govt
  • 76th Republic Day @ Kangla #3 : Gallery
  • Epom Amadei Ithak - A theatrical revisit
  • Economy of the dynamic global landscape
  • Is the Bhagavad Gita relevant today ?
  • Healthy hair in Winter
  • Guwahati Asian Film Festival (GAFF) 2025
  • From the battlefields to Delhi
  • Speculations on replacement of Chief Minister
  • 12th Legislative Assembly #2 : Gallery
  • Education & its disjuncture in Manipur
  • HUN-Thadou Cultural Fest 2025 : Theme
  • Coo :: Poem
  • Agartala Coach : India U-19 Women Cricket
  • The story of the village of hope
  • Career choice in wetlands
  • CM in Delhi to meet Shah
  • After failed plastic ban bid, on brickfields
  • New catfish species discovered in Chakpi
  • Love, Unsure :: Poem
  • Manipur's border battles: Deeper conflict
  • A world without leprosy
  • Origin of corruption & possible remedies
  • The question of life
  • 'Sereki' unveils Majuli-themed campaign
  • Posers over summons to Delhi
  • Addiction-free campaign
  • Mera Chaorel Houba @Kangla #5 : Gallery
  • Lamtanganba, Adum , Mahaiso : eMing
  • Manipur : Champions Jr Natl Sepaktakraw
  • Effective Unified Command approach
  • Saurashtrian Tamils
  • Accepting the change :: Poem
  • From Kumbh to heaven direct
  • Edge of the seat suspense
  • Wetlands revival efforts reaping fruit
  • Natambakta : Play by JNMDA #4 : Gallery
  • EIIFF 2025 unveils Festival Memento
  • Climate change & plant diseases
  • Shija Hospital- AHPI Healthcare Award
  • Budget 2025: A big gift for middle-class
  • The Science of Success : Attitude #2
  • Cakeology 2025: India's largest cake expo
  • Need to stick to a consistent narrative
  • Leniency on tobacco ban aiding demographic
  • 76th Republic Day @ Kangla #2 : Gallery
  • Pheiroijam Christina - 21st Miss North East
  • Manipur: Gold at 28th Jr National Sepaktakraw
  • Clarion call for redeeming our rightful future
  • The Power of Poppy - 67 :: Poem
  • Clean energy for sustainability
  • Union Budget: Industrialists from NE speaks
  • Balaram Sougaijamba: General of Manipur
  • Nikhil Okram crowned 14th Mister North East
  • Chadong village: Rising from waters with hope
  • Financial literacy for common man
  • Obituary: (L) Pu Thangkholen Sitlhou
  • Nail care in Winters
  • State of war since 2023: No winner, only losers
  • Talks on new district row
  • Radio E-pao: 1000+ songs from Manipur
  • Maibi Jagoi @ Kwak Tanba : Gallery
  • February Calendar for Year 2025 : Tools
  • Ballad of Letting Go :: Poem
  • 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Fest
  • Deeper exploration of term 'Hill-Valley Divide'
  • Children's Book to adopt 'Look East Policy'
  • Pony registration & conservation
  • Endless suffering of internally displaced child
  • 21st Ningtham Kumhei Fest #2 : Gallery
  • Thiyam Suryamukhi conferred Padma Shri
  • Isolate Kuki Militants by facilitating safe return
  • Sports Meet held at Rongdai Village
  • Eco-Apocalypse: Prevent collapse with Green
  • Grand Finale : 21st Mega Miss North East
  • Time to give more teeth to ST demand
  • 5 years of ILP; what about NRC demand ?
  • Remembering Md Ladu, celebrated polo player
  • The Lament of Love's Deceit :: Poem
  • Need for inculcating value based education
  • Royte - Times Young Entrepreneur Award
  • Glass Child Syndrome ! 'Sibling rivalry'
  • 6 Films for NE Section at GAFF 2025
  • Pony registration & conservation
  • Impartial anti-extortion cell need of the hour
  • 76th Republic Day @ Kangla #1 : Gallery
  • Conservation Strategies of Pethia manipurensis
  • Remembers 13 Brave Indian Soldiers
  • Workshop: Intl Year of Quantum Science
  • Governor's role and discretionary powers
  • Physics workshop for educators at Agartala
  • Who wins Delhi - Daru or Dharma
  • War on Drugs: A war Manipur cannot loses
  • NE turning into transnational drug hub
  • Essence of Gaan-Ngai #2
  • Manipur's dystopian reality
  • The day Light reached the hills
  • 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal Intl Film Fest 2025
  • Why is depreciation of rupee not stopping ?
  • An introduction to Rabies (Hydrophobia) #5
  • Thoithoiba Yelhou Yangkok Artist #2 : Gallery
  • Republic Day Titbits
  • NIT Manipur: Best Design Award @VLSI Design
  • The Power of Poppy - 66 :: Poem
  • Grand Finale: 14th Mega Mister North East
  • Application : FILMART, Hong Kong
  • The Science of Success : Attitude #1
  • 21st Ningtham Kumhei Fest #1 : Gallery
  • Demographic for balkanisation of Manipur
  • Training on Mushroom Cultivation at Nambol
  • Jugeshwor Kshetrimayum receives GELA 2025
  • Construction Committee of Meetei Yumpham
  • Call against misuse of social media
  • Positive & negative aspects of social media
  • In Search of Peace in Manipur
  • Embracing the Shadows :: Poem
  • Dr Manmohan Singh will live on
  • Rise in the price of medicines
  • Respecting the dead- Denying is a disgrace
  • Winter skin care tips for oily skin
  • Illegal immigrants :: Of FMR & border fencing
  • JD-U row exposes national parties' apathy
  • State Gaan-Ngai @Sagolband #2 : Gallery
  • On 'Only BJP can save Manipur'
  • Frontline health workers dispelling darkness
  • 14th East Himalayan Trade Fair
  • Life is plastic
  • Killers on the road : 834 lives lost
  • Call to action to save State's wetlands
  • Essence of Gaan-Ngai #1
  • The Taste of Dreams wins @Red Intl Film Fest
  • Science: 3rd eye for Meitei-Kuki reconciliation
  • Northeast flies high in direct selling
  • Mastering focus amidst distractions
  • An introduction to Rabies (Hydrophobia) #4
  • Indo-Naga Talks (From 2012) :: Timeline
  • BJP : Tepid response from the hills
  • BABINA Hospital sets example in healthcare
  • Nitya Ras @Nongmeibung #1 : Gallery
  • Agonizing reality of our country's veteran elites
  • Historicising the colonial narratives
  • NSS Team Departs for National Integration
  • HUN-Thadou Cultural Festival 2025
  • Time to recreate Naga Peoples Convention 2.0
  • Career in nutrition
  • Need to give more meaning to War on Drugs
  • Time for real action not empty rhetoric
  • Foundation: Manipur Press Club #2 : Gallery
  • "Aronba Wari" :: Shumang Leela Synopsis
  • Tripura's livelihoods challenges
  • Archaeological Exhibition @ Kangla : Gallery
  • Gaan-Ngai @Chaopok village #1 : Gallery
  • Manipur needs to affirm her tribal roots
  • Madras/Chennai- 1989 till 2024 : Gallery
  • Investigate "arms recoveries" in Mizoram
  • Training on Mushroom Cultivation
  • NE Direct Selling Conference & Expo
  • Response of Delhi in last 20 months
  • Regulated entry after FMR scrap, border
  • Mutua Bahadur : Preserving Manipuri culture
  • Competitive Altruism: Resolving ethnic conflict
  • Pithe Puli Utsav at Agartala
  • Building the best version of yourself
  • Guwahati Asian Film Festival 2025
  • Tips to keep your lips soft & smooth in winter
  • Subsidised flight tickets for all
  • MCPCR alert on child trafficking fear
  • Imoinu Erat Thouni @ Wangkhei : Gallery
  • Gaan-Ngai celebrating Culture in Delhi NCR
  • The Weeping Gods of Manipur :: Poem
  • Disarming Kuki-Zo armed groups under SoO
  • Why nurses deserve more recognition, pay
  • The hidden truths of our social media lives
  • MMTU stand bang on target: Recapping May 3
  • Enhancing aerial options to ease travel woes
  • 2nd Emoinu Fish Festival #1 : Gallery
  • Sustainable development - climate action #1
  • RIST Talk- 62 : Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • "Technically a BJP MLA will rule Nagaland"
  • Makar Sankranti : vibrant customs & traditions
  • Why gold is a strong hedge but ...
  • Delhi date on January 17
  • Onus of addressing tribal issues on new Guv?
  • Nupilal Ningshing Lamjel #2 : Gallery
  • Licypriya Kangujam: Nat'l Youth Day Award
  • Barak Festival advocates Peace, Progress
  • 'Yu', not fully liberalised
  • Article 355 equals Governor's Rule ?
  • Calls to vote with conscience
  • Zingtun academy leading by example
  • State Gaan-Ngai @Sagolband #1 : Gallery
  • Is Kuki-Zo community pushing Nagas to edge?
  • Will drive to find-treat-prevent TB continue ?
  • Smart Cities, dustier roads ?
  • ST of NE & Dalits of mainland India
  • That May :: Poem
  • Understanding Red, Yellow, Green
  • Cong posers on Govt aid to SoO group
  • Culturals @Tri-Nation Football #1 : Gallery
  • Gaan-Ngai festival of Kabui/Rongmei
  • 40 Years & 04 Stations- Part IV (Madras)
  • Manipur Gold: 34th Sr Natl Sepaktakraw C'ship
  • Public Health Risk Management Training
  • The Power of Poppy - 64 :: Poem
  • The Science of Success #4
  • Hingminashi Eikhoi : Call for unity in diversity
  • A Hymn for Goddess Emoinu
  • Are the foods we eat, correct ?
  • Gangtok, Sikkim (1983 till 1988) : Gallery
  • The Taste of Dreams : Teaser Unveiled
  • Be a child of courage & conquer obstacle
  • Hans Renal Care Centre in Guwahati
  • Focus on pre-May 3, 2023 period
  • Conundrum over the genesis of crisis
  • Misna Chanu aids to Jiribam IDPs : Gallery
  • North-East Students invited to JEE Main 2025
  • Empower the State else avoid blame on CM
  • Obituary : Thaunawjam Brajamohon
  • Hope :: Poem
  • An introduction to Rabies (Hydrophobia) #3
  • Winter makeup tips for dry skin
  • Imphal, Delhi still groping in the dark
  • Tension over assault case, land claims
  • Mega Protest Rally, end AFSPA #2: Gallery
  • Foundation: Manipur Press Club #1 : Gallery
  • Ningol Chakkouba @ Delhi #3 : Gallery
  • Indigenous Pottery Making @Imphal : Gallery
  • AIR Radio Imphal Station - Live streaming
  • Nupi Lal Memorial @Pune #2 : Gallery
  • The historical account of Kabaw Valley #3
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2024 #6: Gallery
  • E-Pao.net : 25th Anniv & 2025 Wishes
  • Protest @Delhi - Murder of Meiteis #2: Gallery
  • "Connections", art exhibitt @ DC : Gallery
  • Observance of Thang-Ta Day #1 : Gallery
  • Mera Chaorel Houba #4 : Gallery
  • Nupi Lal Memorial @Pune #1 : Gallery
  • Meitei Mayek Tamba : Online Classroom #5
  • Indigenous People Cultural Fest #1 : Gallery
  • Maibi Jagoi @ Mera Houchongba: Gallery
  • Mega Protest Rally, end AFSPA #1: Gallery
  • Ta Ta TabuHtoN :: Seireng
  • Downloadable Manipuri Calendar :: 2025
  • GHOST of PEACE :: Download Booklet