KCP greets on MFL raising day-I
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 12 2022:
The proscribed KCP has greeted all the peoples and revolutionary groups of Kangleipak and WESEA on the 18th raising day of its armed wing Miyamgi Fingang/Lanmi (MFL).
A statement issued by the outfit's Military Affairs Committee said that the MFL was set up on August 13 which is observed as Patriots' Day every year across the State in memory of the patriots who laid down their lives in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 .
As such, the outfit has been observing both the Patriots' Day and the raising day of MFL on the same day.
Manipur went through many critical phases in its history which could have wiped off the whole Nation.
Two such events which have far reaching consequences on the fate of Manipur are the Seven Years Devastation (1819-1826) and the Anglo-Manipur War 1891, it said.
The Seven Years Devastation took place after the death of Maharaja Bhagyachandra who took leading roles in proselytising Meitei community into Hinduism.
After Bhagyachandra's death, his sons and relatives were divided into several camps and a senseless internecine conflict started within the palace to take the throne of Manipur.
As the conflict intensified, Marjit took help from the king of Awa and he ascended the throne after ousting his elder brother Chourajit in 1813 .
Not long after, the king of Awa invaded Manipur on the pretext that Marjit refused to act subservient.
Unable to face the invasion, Marjit fled to Cachar, the outfit recounted.
It was during the reign of Marjit that Manipur was devastated by invading Burmese forces for seven years and this historical event is known as the Seven Years Devastation.
Even as most of the princes had fled Manipur, Hirachandra started attacking Burmese soldiers with the help of hill people.
After Manipur was occupied by Burma, the warring princes reconciled and came together to save their motherland.
With the help of British rulers of India, Gambhir Singh set up the Manipur Levy and the Manipuri soldiers succeeded in driving off the Burmese soldiers beyond Ningthi River.
Thus the sovereignty of Manipur was restored and it also marked the beginning of a new relationship between Manipur and the British empire.
Subsequently, a Political Agent of Manipur was stationed at Imphal since 1835.Even though Manipur was freed from Burmese occupation, all the neighbouring States/kingdoms were conquered by the British empire one after another.
The British empire occupied Cachar district in 1832, northern Assam in 1842, southern Burma in 1852, Naga Hills in 1866, Lushai Hills in 1872 and they took Kohima under their control in 1878-79 .
The British empire conquered northern Awa in 1885 and it completed the conquest of whole of Burma.
In all their military campaigns to conquer the neighbouring territories/kingdoms, the Manipuri kings helped the British empire, the outfit said.
The Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 is another most significant event in the history of Manipur.
After the death of king Chandrakirti in 1886, his eldest son Surchandra ascended the throne.
However, his stepbrothers Tikendrajit, Angousana and Jilasana revolted against Surchandra.
As Surchandra and his group were defeated in the battle for the throne, they sought refuge with the British political agent.
In the meantime, Kullachandra was crowned the king of Manipur.
Saying that he had no desire to rule Manipur, Surchandra left on pilgrimage to Brindavan along with his brothers Pakasana, Thambousana and Gopalsana.
However, on reaching Calcutta, Surchandra submitted a petition to the Viceroy of British India seeking their intervention to regain his throne.
By that time, all the neighbouring territories and kingdoms had been already occupied by the British empire.
The unfolding situation gave perfect opportunity to the British empire to interfere into the internal matters of Manipur and bring it under their occupation, the outfit narrated.
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