Princess Kuranganayani a symbol of harmony between Assam and Manipur
- Part 1 -

Dr Atul Borgohain *

During the reign of the Ahom kings, there was never any conflict between Assam and Manipur. Neither had there been any incident of attack by each other; rather, the two States had been living in harmony through marriage and other means. Manipur is a State in the North Eastern part of India, with Nagaland to its north, Mizoram to its south, and the State of Assam to its west.

To its east lies the Sagaing Region of Myanmar, and to its south lies the Chin State. The area of this State is approximately 8620.503 square miles. The main language spoken there is Meitei (Manipuri as per 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India).

In this article, I will discuss the cordial relationship between Assam and Manipur, particularly the story of Kuranganayani's role in maintaining the harmonious relationship.

In 1751, during the reign of Ahom King Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha, his chief advisor was Gendhela Borbaruah, who had imprisoned Mohan Malak and exiled him to Namrup. Gendhela was very arrogant, ambitious, and stubborn. He was so stubborn that he had even conspired against his own father to become the Borbaruah. Due to his arrogance and ambition, there were many problems in the Ahom kingdom.

As a result, the Moamoria rebellion began which lasted for about 20 years and it weakened the Ahom kingdom. Gendhela had become so powerful that he was disliked by the king's officials and other nobles. Gendhela was aware of all the State's affairs and politics. However, the king still respected him and by knowing this, Barbaruah's servants disturb peoples in different ways by taking bribes from them. The time passed on.

That year, in the month of "Bhadra", the king of Burma, 'Alaungpaya', invaded Manipur. After defeating the king of Manipur in a battle near 'Pallel', he captured the capital. Later, after hearing about the rebellion in "Maandesh", that is, Myanmar, he left Manipur after staying for about 13 days. During this time, the king of Manipur, 'Jai Singh', had already sought the help of the East India Company, which had conquered India.

Although the company's soldiers came from Chittagong to Manipur, they returned due to political reasons. Jai Singh again captured the throne of Manipur. In 1765, the Burmese invaded Manipur again and captured it. King Jai Singh fled to Cachar. The Burmese tortured the Manipuris and installed a person named Iringba as the king and returned to their country.

Meanwhile, Jai Singh returned and removed Iringba from the throne of Manipur and took over the responsibility of the kingdom himself again. Hearing that the Burmese were coming again; Jai Singh was defeated again in a battle at a place called 'Langthabal' and this time he fled to Assam. Meanwhile, the Bur- mese installed 'Khairang' as the king of Manipur and returned again.

Immediately thereafter, Jai Singh, taking shelter with the king of Cachar, sought help from the Ahom king and sent a letter to him. After discussing with his Ministers, Swargadeo Rajeswar Singh called Jai Singh to Rangpur.

Jai Singh came to Rangpur with 4,000 Paik guards and was given a place to stay near the Dikhow River. After discussions, Swargadeo appointed Harnath Borba-ruah, the grandson of Rangachila Borbaruah, as the commander and sent him to Manipur with 40,000 soldiers. The king of Manipur namely Jai Singh was also given the responsibility of showing the way to Manipur.

They decided to leave the old path of Nagaon Raha gate; so they had to take a different route via Diphu. This path was full of obstacles due to dense forest and creepers. It took sufficient time to clear the way, resulting in many soldiers falling ill and some of them died. Finally, on June 5, 1766, Harnath Borbaruah returned with a few soldiers. This was known as the 'Lata Kata Ran' in history.

Meanwhile, the Ahom soldiers' advance towards Manipur was reported to the "Maan", who retreated from Mani-pur. Later on, when the Ahom soldiers retreated, the "Maan" king reoccupied Manipur, and Jai Singh had again sought help from the Ahom king. This time, Uma Khangia Phukan was appointed as the commander, and he was sent to Manipur via the usual route with 30,000 soldiers. He destroyed three forts, and the "Maan" king retreated again.

Khangia Phukan did not trust the "Maan" king and sent Jai Singh with 10,000 Assamese soldiers, Nagas, and some Manipuri deserters to reoccupy the throne. He also instructed the Assamese soldiers not to return from Manipur until the timer Jai Singh settles there permanently. Meanwhile, Jai Singh drove away Kelemba, who had been made the king of Manipur by "Maan" and captured Manipur kingdom.

Later, Jai Singh's two sons, Madhusudan and Labanya-chandra, were captured in war and taken to Manipur, but Jai Singh cleverly rescued them and expelled the "Maan" from Manipur. After this, the Ahom king ordered Phukans to gather information about Manipur. Phukan sent Monmath Borah to Manipur with 200 soldiers.

The Manipur king Jai Sing treated Monmath Borah with respect and expressed gratitude to the Ahom king, saying that he had been able to regain his kingdom due to the Ahom king's favor. Jai Singh also agreed to give his brother Gour Shyam's daughter, Kuranganayani, in marriage to the Ahom king. The Ahom king agreed, and Kuranganayani was sent to Gargaon with great fanfare, accompanied by Sammath Borah, Manipuri Kotoki Shiramoni, and Nanangk, along with other gifts.

Upon receiving the news, the Swargadeo sent his main officials to Tengabari to bring the princess with great respect. He himself also went ahead and waited at Sonari town. Although Kuranganayani was the daughter of Gour Shyam, it was said that she was adopted by Jai Singh. She was imbued with unparalleled beauty, courage, and political wisdom. She was extremely beautiful, brave, and knowledgeable in politics, and was an exceptionally intelligent princess.

Meanwhile, 200 Munihs (man) and Tirutas (woman) came from Manipur with horses and elephants. Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha built a royal palace near Sonari town. This Sonari town was located on the banks of the Sonai River, 12 miles west of Gaurisagar, near the Dihing River. Here, the kingdom's chief official, Kirtichandra, took on the role of Kuranganayani's father and performed the 'Chak-long' ceremony, giving her to Swargadeo in marriage, along with golden clothes, ornaments, and other gifts.

He also gave a 'ghat' on the banks of the Sonai River, naming it 'Maglau Ghat'. 'Maglau' means Manipuri. Now, it is known as 'Malau Ghat'. A pond was dug for drinking water and named 'Maglau Pukhuri'. Kuranganayani was given the title of Queen (Rajmaharshi) by Swargadeo. This princess had quickly gained the trust of everyone in the kingdom and had become influential in the kingdom's governance.

At that time, the kingdom's chief official, Kirtichandra Borbarua, had become very powerful due to his role in making Rajeswar Singh the Swargadeo and performing the Chaklong ceremony with the Manipuri princess. He had become disobedient to the kingdom's officials and was doing whatever he wanted.

He was a disciple of the 'Kal Sanghiti Dihing Satra' and had insulted the mahant of that satra by giving them a lower seat in the royal court and calling them 'Mayamara Mahanta'. He had proposed to Swargadeo that all four satras should be given equal respect. But his proposition did not materialize due to the protest by ministers and officials who did not like Kirtichandra's activities.

On the 20th day of the month of "Jeth" in 1769, being a Tuesday, Swargadeo died at Deragaoh "Bahar". His younger brother, 53-year-old Kalshiliya Gohain, was made the king of Assam at Deragaon by making temporary "Singori ghar". During this Swargadeo's time, the power of the Borbarua had increased. He had insulted Mayamara Mahanta again.

After that, Mayamara Satra's disciple and Moran leader Nahar Saikia and Raghav Moran were given punishment and humiliated when they come to give elephants. To take revenge for this humiliation, all the Goshains, Mahants, and others united. Astabhuj Gosain said, "This is not a logical decision. Earlier, 'Indrabansi king had come and caused great suffering in this country. We were established by those kings.

Now, we will make Indrabansi's descendant the king, and we will unite with our devotees and friends. We will take officials from both sides. No one will be killed in the war. If Indrabansi's descendant becomes the king, it will be beneficial for the future. If you become the king, you will die, and we will be killed. You don't know how to rule. Do not bring the wife of Bamun devotee.

You will change the game and appoint new officials. If this decision leads to death along with your son, then so be it. In October 1769, this rebellion sparked, and the people revolted against the royal family. Hatichungi Raghav Moran took the lead in this rebellion".

From Namrup, they stopped Chesat and built forth there, in Brahmaputra's north and south banks everywhere rebellion started. The royal family's condition worsened. The king went, and the news spread to the rebel leader Raghav Moran that the king had left his kingdom come immediately to capture the city. That night, at around 2 am, Raghav Moran entered the city and brought it to his control.

Swargadeo was staying at Sonari, and Raghav Moran sent 400 Moran soldiers to capture him and bring him to Rangpur. Swargadeo was insulted and imprisoned at Joydoul. Kirtichandra was imprisoned in a boat and killed the next day. His son, Paramananda, was made the new king and named Ramakanta. This was not discussed with Saptabhuj-Ashtabhuj Gohain. Raghav Moran sat on the throne and ordered to kill Mohan Mala and his nephew. This was in 1769, Raghav Moran became the new Borbarua.

As soon as he became Borbarua, he announced that he would marry 100 women, and he took Rupabati and Bhuvaneswari, the daughters of Lakshmi Singha, and other Gohain Phukan Baruas' wives as his own. Kuranganayani, who was treated like a mother by Lakshmi Singha, was also taken as his wife. The old Mahanta had told Raghav that not to marry the wife of Bamun devotee; but Raghav disobeyed his Guru's word. If Kuranganayani was not given a place in the borghor (main house), the pages of the Assam Buranji would have been tom apart".

Borbarua Raghav Moran took the officials like Burah Gohain, Borpatra Gohain, and others from Morans. He made "Ligiri Kaari" as the Bar Phukan. He took all the officials like Soi Phukan, Chaidhara Rajkhowa from Morans.

Then, Ramakanta went to the house of the jutia Pota Gohain. From there, he went to Auni Aati, Daksinpat, Garamur, and Karuabahi Satra and gave 8000 and 4000 rupees to the Goshains. After that, he killed Burah Gohain, Bor Gohain, Kirti Chandra Borbarua, his son Chandrahas Deka Borbarua, Deka Phukan, and Kathkatiya Borbarua. Ahom king Lakshmi Singha was also beaten with Chamata (hunter) and also imprisoned in Joydoul.

Astabhuj Gohain cursed Raghav Moran for this act. After some days, Raghav Borbarua told Ramakanta, "I will fight a war and capture the city. I had captured the king and imprisoned him. Now I am all in all in this kingdom so give "Kekurakhula" to me, he asked the king.

The king immediately replied, "I won't give it to you. This is meant only for kings, not for Borbaruas. Raghav got annoyed and rushed to Sepon. Later on, Ramakanta called him. Raghav Borbarua was also sad to know that the Gagini Deka was also ignored; he just told this. Saptabhuj Gohain claimed that organizing paiks, convincing the Gaonburah and fighting with the aid of Morans, I conquered the kingdom. Inspite of that depriving me you have made Ramakanta, the king.

To be continued....