Khongjom War was not India's War : CorCom
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 23 2023: The CorCom has categorically stated that the Khongjom War was not a war fought to defend the independence but it was a war fought to protect the sovereignty of Manipur.

A statement issued by the CorCom Publicity Committee said that the Khongjom War was fought knowing well that there was no chance for Manipur but the war inspires the present generation to live with freedom.

The supreme sacrifices made by the heroes and martyrs of the Anglo-Manipur War taught a very valuable lesson to the present generation that one moment of freedom is more meaningful than 100 years of bondage, it said.

After the British invaders took over the palace of Manipur on April 27, 1891, British rule of suppression began in Manipur/Kangleipak with Maxwell as the Chief Political Officer.

The repressive regime of the British rulers gave rise to the first Nupi Lan of 1904, the Jadonang Movement (post 1921), the Irabot Movement (post 1935) and the second Nupi Lan of 1939 .

Soon after India's annexation of Manipur in 1949, Irabot launched an armed liberation movement.

The same movement has been continuing till date with many paying with their lives against the repressive regime, it said.

Manipur (Kangleipak) has not yet achieved independence.

Taking advantage of the many black laws, Indian military forces have detained, raped and killed a large number of people, it alleged.

This grim situation will persist in the coming years too while the territory of Manipur has been growing smaller and smaller.

Not satisfied with the divide and rule game, a process of balkanization of Manipur is being pursued actively.

With the Government of India transplanting their surplus population in Manipur (Kangleipak), the State is being overwhelmed by non-local people, the CorCom said.

There is little difference between the war fought in the 19th century and the ongoing war.

The first one was against white Sahebs while the latter is against Indian Sahebs, it alleged.

It was disunity which brought about the Seven Years Devastation and again the Khongjom War, it continued.

"In order to avoid such catastrophic events, we need to be united", the CorCom asserted.

"We are still living a wretched life of slavery.

We need to struggle collectively as one if we must free ourselves from this bondage", it said.

One very important message of Khongjom Day is "Unite and be united", it added.

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