Imphal, April 21 2009: Urging all to pay fitting tributes to the souls who laid down their lives fighting for the sovereignty of the land on April 23, 1891 at Khongjom the proscribed RPF has today stated that it is the sacrifice of the heroes of the Khongjom War who continue to inspire today's freedom fighters.

In a statement issued to the press today, the outfit while tracing the history of the land, said that the sacrifice of heroes like Heirangkhongja, Chinglensana, not to speak of Paona Brajabashi and General Thangal continues to inspire the sons of the soil to fight against alien rule.

Setting the struggle of the people against alien rule into two phases, the outfit said that in 1891 it was against the mighty British Empire while now it is against India.

The great warriors believed in the dictum, 'It is better to live for a second in freedom than to lead a life of servitude,' said the statement and added that it was this principle which prompted the great Paona to tell his men to save their lives while he would sacrifice his for the sake of the land.

This was however turned down by the other brave sons of the soil.

Going into the history of Manipur and the Palace intrigue that led to the invasion of the British, the outfit said that Bir Tikendrajit and General Thangal were the thorns in the agenda of the British to expand their empire.

The British first took a foothold in Manipur during the time of Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba when he took help from them to drive out the Burmese.

Till the time of Ningthem Chandrakriti the relationship was equal but it changed dramatically after he passed away in 1886 and the reign was passed over to the second son of the King Kullachandra instead of Surchandra, the eldest son.

This led to the revolt by the third son Tikendrajit, said RPF.

The brave stand led to the execution of JW Quinton and his officers for wrongly interfering in the internal matters of Manipur, said RPF Taking the harsh realities of the history of Manipur, it would be fitting for the people to lay their respect to the martyrs on Khongjom Day, said RPF further.

Comment