Restore respect and dignity of the Kanglasa
- The State Emblem for Manipur -

Th Kamini Kumar Singh *

Kangla Sha - The state Emblem of Manipur - as seen from Mapal Kangjeibung in March 2014 :: Pix - Ashok Ningthoujam

The Kanglasa is one of the most revered symbols associated with the history of Manipur. It occupies a unique place in the heart of every Manipuri. A true Manipuri in blood will never ever show disrespect and disregard to the Kanglasa. There was a saying related to the Kanglasa that "Sa mamangda angouba makok ken-gani".

It may be translated to the nearest meaning into English as " the Britishers (angouba) will be beheaded (makok kenba) in front of the Kanglasa (sa)". The saying came true with the execution of the Britishers in front of the Kanglasa on March 24,1891.

The execution of the British Officers was not an act of brutality on the part of the Manipuri but was the outcome of the unprovoked attack on the Manipur Palace by the Britishers to arrest Jubraj Tikendrajit Singh. The Kanglasas witnessed the executions of the British Officers, namely, James Wallac Quinton, the Chief Commissioner of Assam, Lt Col Charles M Skene of 42nd (Gorkha) Regiment of Bengal Light Infantry, Lt Walter Henry Simpson of 43rd (Gurkha) Regiment of Bengal Light Infantry and WH Cossins, ICS, Assistant Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam.

The bugler who came along with the British Officers on the day to the Manipur Palace was also executed. Frank St. Clair Grimwood, ICS, the Political Agent in Manipur was speared to death by Pukharamba Kajao. The heads of five British Officers were buried at the Nungoibi.

Never in the history of the mighty and powerful British Empire, was there such an instance of execution of the British Officers by the native people. In order to revenge and to uproot the pride and valour of the people of Manipur, the Britishers blasted and destroyed the two Kanglasas on July 20,1891 immediately after Manipur was conquered by the British in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891.

The Kanglasa, an unique historical symbol of Manipur, was declared as the State Emblem for Manipur by the Government of Manipur vide the Home Department Orders No. 8/40/72- POL dated December 18, 1980 (notified in Manipur Gazette Extraordinary No.327 dated 23-12-1980).

The relevant part of the Order of the Home Department is reproduced : "The Governor of Manipur is pleased to declare the "KANGLASA" with two horns and inscription below "KANGLASA" as State Emblem for Manipur as per sketch given below with immediate effect. This supersedes of all previous orders in this regard."

Even though the Kanglasa was declared as the State Emblem for Manipur, it failed to get its due respect and dignity in the State of Manipur. Everyone seems to forget all about the existence of the State Emblem of Manipur.

Instead of using the State Emblem of Manipur, We, the people of Manipur, see the use of the State Emblem of India (hereinafter referred to as the Emblem of India) by the Constitutional functionaries like the Governor of Manipur, the Chief Minister, the Ministers and the Speaker of the State of Manipur for their official purposes.

If the use of the Emblem of India is more preferred and prideful than the use of the State Emblem of Manipur, the Government of Manipur may take a policy decision to rescind the State Home Department Order dated 18-12-1980 issued for declaration of the Kanglasa as the State Emblem for Manipur.

So long as the operation of the said Home Department Order dated 18-12-1980 continues, the use of the Emblem of India by these Constitutional functionaries of the State of Manipur is an act of negligence and insult to the State Emblem of Manipur. Furthermore after the enactment of the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, it became also an act of improper use of the Emblem of India.

View of Kangla - The sacred place of Manipur in May 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

It may be pointed out that to regulate the use of the Emblem of India, Parliament enacted a self-contained legislation, namely the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005 and it came into force on 12-9-2007.

The main objects of the Act are to regulate the use of the Emblem of India with a view to
(i) prohibit the use of the Emblem of India by members of public, including retired/ former Government officials/ public servants, etc., unless specifically authorised by the Central Government;
(ii) prohibit the improper use of the Emblem of India for professional and commercial purposes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto; and
(iii) regulate the use of Emblem of India by Government functionaries.

Section 11 of the State Emblem of India (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 2005, empowers the Central Government to make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 11 of this Act, the Central Government made the State Emblem of India (Regulation of Use) Rules, 2007 to regulate the use of the Emblem of India. Even though these rules are subordinate legislation made by the Central Government, they have the force of law. These Rules came into force on 4-10-2007.

In rule 4,- (a) in sub-rule (1), the State Government is empowered to adopt the Emblem of India as the official Emblem of the State concerned without obtaining approval of the Central Government; (b) in sub-rule (2), a State Government may incorporate the Emblem of India or any part thereof in the Emblem of the State concerned after obtaining the prior approval of the Central Government.

On a critical examination of the Rules of 2007, rule 4 is the condition precedent for the lawful use of the Emblem of India by any indian States. Rules 5 and 6 provide that the use of the Emblem of India in official seal, and on official or demi-official stationery shall be restricted to authorities specified in Schedule I. Rule 7 provides that the use i.e. display of the Emblem of India on vehicles shall be restricted to authorities specified in Schedule II.

Rule 8 provides for display of the Emblem of India on very important public buildings. Rule 9 provides for the use of Emblem of India for other purposes as are specified in Schedule III. Rule 10 provides that no person (including former functionaries of the Government, like, former Ministers, former MPs, former MLAs, former Judges and retired Government officials), other than those authorised under these rules, shall use the Emblem of India in any manner.

No Commission or Committee, Public Sector Undertaking, Bank, Municipal Council, Panchayat Raj Institution, Parishad, NGO, University, other than those authorised under these rules, shall use the Emblem of India.

To understand the eligibility for using the Emblem of India by the State functionaries, a comprehensive study of the Schedules appended to the rules of 2007 shall be done. From the Schedules, there is no iota of doubt that the mandates of these rules are not to use the Emblem of India by any State Government that doesn’t adopt the Emblem of India as its State Emblem or doesn’t incorporate the Emblem of India or any part thereof to the Emblem of the State concerned under rule 4.

It is axiomatic that due to existence of a State Emblem for Manipur, the State Government of Manipur has neither adopted the Emblem of India as the State Emblem for Manipur nor incorporated any of its part thereof in the existing State Emblem of Manipur. It is, therefore, evident that the use of the Emblem of India by the constitutional functionaries of the State of Manipur is a gross violation of the provisions of the Rules of 2007.

Kanglasha : Landscape Photos of Manipur by Onel Shambanduram :: 2011

From a reading of the Schedule I appended to the Rules of 2007, the use of the Emblem of India in official seal and on official or demi-official stationery by the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Ministers, Departments and Offices, the Offices and Officers of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Manipur is in contravention of the provisions of Schedule I (see rules 5 and 6).

As per Schedule II (Part I) appended to the rules of 2007, the display the Emblem of India on the cars of the Raj Bhawan when the Governor of Manipur or the spouse is travelling by such vehicles within the State shall also be in contravention of the provisions of Schedule II (see rule 7).

The display of the Emblem of India on the Raj Bhawan, State Legislature, High Court and Secretariat buildings of the State of Manipur shall be in contravention of the provisions of rule 8. So far the State of Manipur is concerned, the use of the Emblem of India in the Visiting Cards and the Greeting Cards, official publications, etc., shall contravene the provisions of Schedule III (For full details pl. see Schedule III).

At the cost of repetition, it may be requested that the Government of Manipur shall take appropriate steps to use the State Emblem of Manipur, the KANGLASA, instead of the Emblem of India by the State functionaries. Such benevolent steps will shine and strengthen the pride and prestige of the State of Manipur. Give a thought to uphold the dignity and respect to the State Emblem of Manipur before it is too late.