Rainbow resistance and freedom movement against British colonialism
- Part 2 -

Lt Gen (Dr) Konsam Himalay Singh *

The resistance to the British hegemony and their administration began soon after their entry into the region. In 1832, the Khasis fought the British forces by a series of guerilla actions against the British to ensure that the British intrusion into the area was stopped. The Britishers wanted to occupy the Khasi Hills due to its salubrious climate akin to Scotland.

The Jaintias, another tribal group who inhabited the eastern part of the present day Meghalaya fought the British against their taxation system and to protect the traditional customs. However they were defeated and British control was established in early 19th century.

During the 1857 rebellion or the First War of Independence, people of Assam offered resistance in the form of non-cooperation. Many leaders in Assam were executed for their role in the non-cooperation movement particularly in the Nagaon district of Assam. The winds oforganised resistance as part of overall Indian freedom movement against the British were first felt in the Brahmaputra and the Surma valleys (Cachar district) of Assam.

British intrusion into the Angami village Khonoma, in present day Nagaland during 1880 resulted in heavy losses of British infantry and of the Angamis by the swift retaliation of the British. The Angamis made treaty with the Britishers soon thereafter. This resistance is one of the fiercest episode in the Naga territory.

The Anglo-Manipuri war in 1891 is also manifestations of revolt against the British Govt policies when the latter tried to ensure extinction of the kingdom of Manipur. The Kingdom of Manipur was used as a buffer against the Burmese empire by the British during the early days of British arrival in the region. However after the British victory in 3rd Anglo-Burmese war in 1885, the British saw no reason to tolerate a strong Manipuri kingdom.

Hence, the British decided to annex Manipur by taking advantage of alleged palace in fighting and intrigues was reported. The British employed over 4000 troops against approximately 4000 Manipuri soldiers to protect the kingdom. Victoria Cross was awarded to Lt Grant of British Army during the campaign against the brave Manipur Army.

The king of Manipur, Maharaja Kulachandra was imprisoned in Andaman island after the defeat of Manipur. Recently, Mount Harriet in the Andamans where the Maharaja was lodged in a jail was renamed as Mount Manipur by the Union Home Minister. The British is believed to have offered the throne to the same Maharaja in return for his allegiance to the British Empire.

However, the king chose to remain in jail rather than be under the British rule in the kingdom. A few others like Maj Gen Thangal and the regent Bir Tikendrajit who played a role in the killings of British officers in Kangla (Capital Fort) were hanged for waging war against the empire .

On the other hand resistance to the British were also building up in the Manipur hills. Rani Gaidinliu of Manipur Hills consolidated her followers to reject Christianity and challenge the British administration in the hills of Manipur and erstwhile Assam during 1930s. Armed resistance against the British were carried out under her leadership. Mr Nehru honored her after independence of India.

Kukis and Lushais from Southern Hills carried out a number of raids against British expansion eastwards from Chittagong. These raids were against British expansion in the hills of the region. The tribes also carried away heads of the Britishers and looted their belongings. During 1871, the first of the military operations against Lushais were undertaken to subjugate the tribe.

The Kuki rebellion took place in Manipur Hills during 1918-1920 to challenge the British policy of forced recruitment to the Labour Corps during WW1. The Kukis also challenged the British taxation system in the hills. The Kukis fought bravely in the hills of Manipur as well as in a few parts of present day Assam and Myanmar as well.

In the present day Arunachal Pradesh, various tribes like Daflas and Akka resisted British intrusions in the region during 1850-1880s. The tribes carried out multiple raids and carried away prisoners and properties of the British. However, these tribes were also subdued in due course of time. In this connection British Expeditions of 1850 and 1883 in the present day Arunachal Pradesh are notable.

Most of these uprisings against the British colonization over a period between 1826 (Treaty of Yandaboo) were isolated and un-coordinated efforts by the kings and local chieftains to challenge the hegemony of the British in their respective areas except in Brahmaputra Valley and Surma Valley where freedom movements as part of the National awakening were seen.

Further Gandhiji’s visit to Assam in 1921 invigorated the freedom struggle in the region. Quit India Movement in 1942 also saw a very active participation of the Assamese people including women folk once again in the Brahmaputra valley in particular. A prominent leader of Assam, Kushal Konwar was hanged after the movement for his role in the movement.

World War 2 (1942-44) saw the emergence of INA (Indian National army) under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. INA forces were part of the Japanese invasion of Manipur and Naga hills in 1943. Many people from these areas opted to assist the INA in their struggle to liberate India from the clutches of the British. These individuals were later given the status of freedom fighters.

World War 2 brought the Japanese and British forces against each other in the battles of Imphal and Kohima. There were considerable support to the INA in their fight alongside the Japanese to liberate India from the British. The Japanese forces and the INA forces reached within 20 miles of the capital Imphal.

There are over a hundred freedom fighters from Manipur who joined or directly collaborated with the INA during the period. The first INA flag was hoisted at Moirang a small town in the south of Capital city Imphal on 14th April 1944 by Colonel Shaukat Ali Malik of the INA with the help of many Manipuris in the area.

As part of the scheme to honor and project the INA, the erstwhile brigade HQ of the INA at Moirang has been given a facelift with the generous funding from the Centre. Hence, Moirang in Manipur stands out as a symbol of freedom movement of India. On the other hand the raising of the Assam Regiment in 1941 brought many to join the regiment to serve the British Indian army.

Such towering personalities like Captain Maharaj Kumar Priyobarta , the younger brother of the King of Manipur and Brig T Sailo of Mizoram who were later Chief Ministers of Manipur and Mizoram respectively also served in the Assam Regiment. Major Khating of the same Regiment earned his Military Cross while fighting alongside the British against the Japanese forces.

The British Indian army also played a significant role in India’s gaining freedom as well and Assam Regiment was part of the British Indian army even though they were fighting for the British during the great war.

The mainstream Indian history does not find much mention of the resistance by various North Eastern tribes and princely kingdoms. It is however an undeniable fact that various groups carried out relentless and fierce resistance to the British Rule right from the beginning of their incursion to the region till the British left India in 1947.

The contribution of the people of the region towards overall efforts of the mainstream Indian freedom movement need to be recorded and recognized by the historians. These rainbow resistance may have been isolated ones, and their actions were largely to protect their land and identities. But, these certainly contributed in no small measure directly or indirectly to the matrix of the overall freedom movement of India.

Concluded ...