CorCom salutes Anglo-Manipuri War heroes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 22 2026: On the eve of the Khongjom Day (April 23), the CorCom has offered revolutionary salute to all the heroes who laid down their lives in the battles fought against imperialist British.

The CorCom has also paid homage and respect to all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives and suffered casualties in the ongoing conflict to safeguard the integrity of Manipur as well as all those people who have been rendered homeless in their own homeland.

A statement issued by the CorCom Publicity Committee said that the Battle of Khongjom fought against the British Empire, the greatest military power of the time, remains a constant source of inspiration to struggle relentlessly for freedom.

It asserted that the Khongjom War was fought to protect the sovereignty of Manipur (Kangleipak), it was not a war to defend the freedom of India.

Manipur lost its sovereignty on April 27, 1891 and it became a Protectorate State of the British Empire with Maxwell as the Chief Political Officer.

But people continued to resist the British Empire as witnessed in the First Nupi Lan (1904), the Jadonang Movement (after 1921), the Irabot Movement (after 1935) and the Second Nupi Lan (1939), it said.

After the forced annexation of Manipur by India in 1949, Hijam Irabot launched an armed liberation movement.

Since then, a sustained armed liberation movement has been going on.

All the struggles and sacrifices made by the revolutionary fighters are for restoration of the lost sovereignty of Manipur (Kangleipak), it said.

Since the establishment of Indian authority over Manipur (Kangleipak) on October 15, 1949, the people have been suffering untold misery, it alleged.

The economy has been wrecked, the people have been deprived of political power and a systematic repression has been going on.

Moreover, the territorial boundary of Manipur (Kangleipak) is being challenged repeatedly, the CorCom said.

The prolonged policy of dividing the communities and supporting one community against another has taken the form of a time bomb now.

The time bomb has already exploded and as a result, communal clashes are currently plaguing the State, it said.

Because of the communal violence which broke out on May 3, 2023, large number of people have been killed and injured, around 60,000 people have been displaced, farmers cannot till their fields and students are deprived of proper education, it said.

The CorCom asserted that one major strategy of suppressing the liberation movement of Manipur (Kangleipak) is the divide and rule policy.

Following the Government of India's proxy war which started on may 3, 2023, all the people are now aware of India's divide and rule policy aimed at creating enmity among the communities of Manipur, it said.

People understood that the prolonged crisis was a result of India's proxy war and geopolitics, and the people stood up firmly and collectively against the Government of India.

But the unity of the people was shattered by the electoral politics of India with the people divided on political lines, it said.

The CorCom asked if there is any difference between the present political leaders of Manipur and the then princes during the Seven Years' Devastation who acted subservient to the Burmese invaders by overlooking the suffering of their own people.

Offering tributes by such political leaders of Manipur in association with Indian leaders on Khongjom Day would amount to defiling the sacred memorials of the war heroes, it said.

When the British empire invaded Manipur in 1891, Manipuri soldiers fought the Silchar Column at Laimaton, Leimatak and Lamangdong, Kohima Column at Mayangkhang and Tamu Column at Tengnoupal, Thoubal Athokpam, Kakching Manaoching and Khongjom.

Many Manipuris laid down their lives at these battles for the cause of their motherland, and they did not surrender to the enemies.

The Khongjom War anniversary of April 23 always brings a message, "Unite, all the Manipuri people; unity is strength and learn from the history of defeats caused by disunity", it said.

The CorCom then called upon all the people to unite and fight collectively against the adversary to free Manipur (Kangleipak) .

Comment