August 13
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: August 13, 2013 -

August 13 is here again.

To every Manipuri true to his blood, it is not just an important day in the annual calendar but a sacred day washed and made sacrosanct by the blood of their forefathers.

It was on this day in 1891 when two heroes of Manipur, the then crown prince Tikendrajit and Thangal General were hanged to death at Pheidabung (the present BT Park located on the eastern side of Mapal Kangjeibung/Pologround) by the British on alleged charge of waging war against the British crown after the erstwhile independent kingdom was defeated in the battle of Khongjom on April 23, 1891.

Besides, Tikendrajit and Thangal General, who were hanged publicly, many more Manipuri patriots like Niranjan Subedar, Pukhrambam Phingang alias Kajao and Chirai Naga of Mayangkhang were also executed inside the jail by the British on different subsequent dates on alleged charges of waging war against the Queen Empress and abatement of murder of Mr J.W. Quinton, the Chief Commissioner of Assam; Colonel Skene , Commissioner of Assam; Lieutenant W.H. Cossins, Indian Civil Service, Assistant Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam; Lt Simpson, Commanding officer 42nd Gurkha Light Infantry and Mr Grimwood, Indian Civil Services, Political Agent in Manipur.

Kajao was hanged to death on May 25, Niranjan Subedar on June 8, and Chirai Naga on October 13.

In short, the observance of August 13 as Patriots'Day every year in Manipur and its significance is not just to remember or keep alive the spirit of patriotism and sacrifices shown by Tikendrajit and Thangal General alone, but also by all other Manipuri patriots, both known and unknown and belonging to different communities, who laid down their lives unhesitatingly and selflessly for the cause of protecting the independence and sovereignty of Manipur.

In another word, it is a day to remember what the collective spirit of Manipuri people could do in the face of any grave danger to their motherland.

However, observance of such an important day seems to have been diluted today due to various factors of our own making.

While sectoral politics on communal line has started casting its demonic shadow over the observance of Patriots'Day through imposition of bandh and blockade, the observance function organized under the aegis of the State administration has increasingly become a farcical show of dumb charade over the years with public forced to stay away from participation on account of the heavy security arrangement put in a place and the elected representatives speaking about the bravery and courage of our forefathers from behind the shield of security ring.

On the other hand, the confused Manipuri people are lapping up the occasion as some sort of festivity to be celebrated and are trooping out in the evening to click photographs in front of the elaborately decorated Kangla Gate or the lighting arrangement put up along the road side trees and traffic islands.

Our brave forefathers must be surely stirring in their graves when Patriots' Day arrives every year.