CorCom salutes martyrs ahead of Patriots' Day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 11, 2013: On the occasion of Patriots' Day (August 13), the CorCom has saluted the martyrs of Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. In their campaign of colonising sovereign kingdoms, British imperialists started hatching plots to colonise Manipur (Kangleipak) by the end of the 19th century.

In their efforts to colonise Manipur, British soldiers attacked Kangla with the objective taking prince Koireng into their custody resulting in a fierce battle with Manipuri force.

The British force suffered a humiliating defeat and five British officers were awarded capital punishment for waging war against the king and killing many innocent people.

Subsequently, British empire declared war against Manipur on the false charge of waging war against Queen Victoria of the British empire and killing five British officers, CorCom recounted in a press statement issued by its media coordinator H Poirei.

The last battle of Anglo-Manipur War was fought at Khongjom about 122 years ago.

After the defeat of Manipuri force, price Koireng and General Thangal were hung to death at Pheidabung on August 13, 1891. Later, Pukhramba Fingang (Kajao) was hung to death on May 25, Niranjan Subedar on June 8 and Chirai Thangal on October 13. People of Manipur have been paying their respects to all the martyrs of Anglo-Manipur on August 13 every year.

By virtue of being a powerful independent ally of the British empire before the two sides turned hostile, there were heated debates in the British Parliament in June 1891 between two sides on the issue of taking over Manipur and keeping it under British empire.

In addition, newspapers published in Australia, France, India, New Zealand, Singapore and USA gave their comments on the then Manipur.

In short, Manipur's sovereignty was respected by the international community.

After Manipur fell into the hands of British empire, the British rulers started destroying the unity and social fabric of Manipuri people.

The British rulers also modified the territory of Manipur.

After the British left Manipur, the former sovereign kingdom was forcibly merged into the Indian Union in 1949.This further aggravated the socio-political status of Manipur.

Social discipline, economy, culture, politics and traditions were slowly vitiated and people of Manipur, particularly youngsters were eventually made to give up the idea of a united Manipur.

In the meantime, the bond of fraternity and interdependence shared among the indigenous communities was strained and made loose.

Contrary to the past when Manipur was politically independent and economically self-sufficient, Manipuri people are now living like parasites as if they are born as such.

By deploying 60,000 Indian military personnel in the State apart from imposing AFSPA, the Government of India has been indulging in rampant human right violation, it alleged.

Manipur was never a part of British India before 1949.It would be sheer misinterpretation and betrayal if one tries to project the Anglo-Manipur War as a part of India's freedom struggle.

To sacrifice one's live rather than see one's country occupied by foreign forces was a lofty ideal held dear by Manipuri ancestors.

It was this ideal which awakened the present generation and sowed seeds of the liberation movement.

Observation of the Patriots Day would be meaningful only when the present generation share their due responsibility on national issues, it added.

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