Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 08 2010:
Paying rich tributes to Niranjan Singh Chhetry (Niranjan Subedar) of the Royal Manipur Army, who was hanged to death at the western gate of Kangla on this day in 1891, the 119th Sahid Diwas was observed at Kanglatongbi today.
Organised under the aegis of Gorkha Welfare Union, Manipur, the observance function was attended by MLA of Sekmai Assembly Constituency Dr B Borajao, president of the host organisation RB Chapagain and president of Nepali Sahitya Parishad Prof Durga Sharma as presidium members.
According to the book, Manipur's Who is who, 1891 of the Manipur State Archives (1990) edited by Deputy Director (Archives) Kh Sorojini Devi, Niranjan Subedar was sentenced to be hanged to death by the neck for assisting the Manipuris against the British in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 by the Chief Political Officer of Manipur Field Force on June 8 of the same year.
He was hanged after the Government of India and the officer in commanding of the Manipur Field Force confirmed the sentence, the book says.
Hailing from Tikuamoh, a Nepali village, 39-year old Niranjan Singh Chhetry left the 34th Native Infantry under the British Army and joined the Royal Manipur Army.
He was latter appointed as Subedar by Jubaraj Tikendrajit, the book added.
Speaking at the observance function, RB Chapagain said that Niranjan was one of the trusted men of Jubaraj Tikendrajit and he did not leave the Royal Manipur Army even when the British offered him a higher post in their Army.
He preferred to sacrifice himself
for Manipur.
Chapagain further said that such sacrifices and contributions to the State by the Gorkhas are to be acknowledged.
Gorkhas who have been living in Manipur since the British rule can very much be considered as Manipuris, he said, while lamenting that Gorkhas who came to Manipur after 1951 have been termed as 'foreigners' and attempts are being made to drive them out of the State.
Chapagain also appealed to the Government of Manipur to erect a statue of Niranjan Subedar at the Bir Tikendrajit (BT) Park and announce June 8 as a general holiday as tributes to his patriotic act of self sacrifice.