Imphal, April 06: Fitting tributes have been paid to Sengoisana who sacrificed his life for the sake of safeguarding the independence of Manipur during the Anglo-Manipur war fought at Thoubal Athokpam on April 6, 1819. The commemorative function was organised under the aegis of MPP Youth Front as 12th Naharol-singee Numit (12th Youth's Day) at Thoubal Athokpam with MPP president Dr Ch Chandramani and MPP Youth Front president N Ojit as chief guest and functional president respectively.

Party MLA like Dr I Ibohanbi, Ex-MLAs S Gopal, L Jatra, N Sanajaoba, MPP vice president N Jayantakumar, president of the Women Wing of the party G Gunabati Devi and A Angousana Singh were also president at the occasion as guests of honour.

Offering Tarpon at Arong river, floral tribute to the photograph of Sengoisana and ThangTa demonstration were the main highlights of the commemorative function.

Sengoisana was the son of Yaiskullakpa, who led the Manipuri forces in the Athokpam battle.

Sengoisana was just 17-year of age and had not yet attained the age of Lallup Kaba when he fought against the British forces and made the supreme sacrifice along with his father in the same battlefield.

In his address as chief guest of the function, Dr Chandramani said the despite Manipur having lost its independence at various stages of its long and eventful history, the State has been existing still today.

In the history of the world, we have witnessed how powerful kingdoms located along Tigris and Euphrates have been wiped out and nearer home we have the instances of Ca-charis and Tripuris having reduced to minority in their own homeland.

However, in case of Manipur, despite having suffered various setbacks, the State has been able to make its mark in the world because of the energetic youths like Sengoisana who are ready to sacrifice their lives as and when required.

So it is in recognition of the contribution of the youths and to encourage them that MPP has been observing Narolshinggee Numit for the last 12 years, he said.

Recalling the genesis of the battle at Thoubal Athokpam, Dr Chandramani noted the war had broken out as the British started interfering in the fight for power between Surchandra and Kullachandra, both sons of King Chandrakirti but of different moths.

Consequent to the murdering of five British officers by the Manipuris in front of the Kangla Shas at Kangla, the British forces invaded Manipur from three different directions namely Thabomei (Kohima), Cachar and Tamu.

On receiving the news about the arrival of Major General Grant along with a large number of British soldiers from Tamu, Yaiskullakpa volunteered to face and repulse the invading British forces at Thoubal Athokpam.

Unfortunately, Yaiskullakpa and his son Sengoisana fell down while fighting against the British.

Dr Chandramani contended that the site which the people today considered as the spot where Sengoisana had laid down his life is not the exact spot.

The present site had been set up by Lt Col Maxwell who was the Political Agent of Manipur to show the power of Grant in 1901, he asserted.

There is nothing wrong in developing the present spot as an archeological site by the Govt, but it would be meaningless if it is being done in remembrance of one of the Army leader who had defeated the Manipuri in the battle, he added.

MPP would try to locate the exact spot where Sengoisana had laid down his life in consultation with other historical experts and scholars and would ensure that the commemorative function is held at the exact spot from the next year onwards, Dr Chandramani assured.

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