By Keishing Lenba
Introduction:
‘Manipur’ is the ancestral territory of the ‘Manipuri’ people. Manipur is presently under Indian rule. It is situated in the Northeast corner of India and bounded in the east by Myanmar (Burma). In the past, Manipur boundary extends up to Chindwin River (now Myanmar) in the east and Brahmaputra in the west. The present territorial area is 22,327 sq. km. It lies within 23.83°N to 25.68°E latitude and 93.03°E to 94.78°E longitude. A fertile alluvial valley extends north -south in the middle and it is surrounded on all sides by hill ranges forming a part of the eastern Himalayas. Though constituting only about 12 p.c. of the total geographical area, the valley is settled by more than 75 p.c. of the total population of 2.3 million (2001 Census).
The Royal Chronicle Cheitharol Khumbaba maintains an uninterrupted historical record of the land and its people since 33 A.D. Throughout the history, the valley was, and continues to be, the core region where the distinctive Manipuri culture and way of life took shape and where political developments having repercussions throughout the Indo-Burma Region often originated.
Annexation of Manipur by India:
After 56 years of British rule, Manipur once again became an independent country on the midnight of August 14, 1947. However, the then Maharaja of Manipur signed an "Instrument of Accession" with the Government of India on August 11, 1947 whereby it was agreed that defense, external affairs and communications would be looked after by India in order to safeguard mutual interests.
However, the agreement did not in any manner make Manipur a part of India. As such, the Independent status of Manipur was not affected by the said agreement, though its sovereignty over the three aforesaid subjects had become limited. As the Instrument of Accession was an agreement concluded between two countries still technically under British rule out of mutual trust, it could be abrogated or discontinued when they regained Independence or when the mutual trust became forfeited.
Soon after regaining independence from British rule, Maharaja Bodhachandra took steps to introduce democracy in Manipur under the ‘Manipur Constitution Act, 1947’. The Maharaja of Manipur had already become a constitutional ruler since July 1, 1947 when he devolved his powers to the newly established State Council. As provided in the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947, elections of 53 representatives of the people to the Manipur State Assembly were held in 1948. The then Manipur State Congress which shouted for ‘democracy’ could secure only 14 seats and could not muster sufficient strength to form a Government. The Praja Shanti formed by 12 independent representatives formed a coalition Government along with other parties of the hills and plains. Under the provisions of the Constitution, giving power to the Maharaja to appoint a non-member as Chief Minister, the Maharaja appointed his brother Priyobrata as the first Chief Minister of democratic Manipur.
The first ever elected Manipur State Assembly was inaugurated by the Maharaja on October 18, 1948. In his proclamation the Maharaja said, "….there were and there are now and there will never cease to be, beloved Manipuri names testifying to the fact that our people would rather die unsullied than outlive the disgrace of surrender to any measure that work prejudicial to the preservation of the separate of the entity of the State…..". With the formal inauguration of the Manipur State Assembly, Maharaja Bodhachandra became the first ‘Constitutional Ruler’ of democratic Manipur.
Meanwhile, however, India was already planning to annex the then three States of Assam, Tripura and Manipur so as to keep them as its "Great Eastern Wall" from strategic viewpoint. Therefore, India took speedy steps in this regard before these States could consolidate their newly achieved Independence. Besides, there was the apprehension of a possible movement for a united independent country in this region and also the possible link-up between the revolutionary struggle in Manipur led by the legendary Hijam Irabot and the Communist revolution as well as other ethnic struggles in newly independent Burma.
In regard to Manipur, the first move made by New Delhi was to have Maj. General Rawal Amar Singh appointed as the Dewan of Manipur by the Maharaja and sent him to Manipur in the early part of 1949 as India’s Trojan Horse. Secondly, the then Manipur State Congress was cultivated as their ‘fifth column’. On the one hand, Rawal Amar Singh did everything he could to irritate the Maharaja to go to Shillong for talks with India Government on the matter. On the other hand, the Fifth column - Manipur State Congress keeping aside their original demand for "abolition of monarchy" began to shout "Merge Manipur with India" on the prompting of New Delhi through the trouble shooter Dewan thereby creating the semblance of a "popular demand of the Manipuri people" for the possible annexation in the near future.
Thus, intended conditions having been created, India’s Governor in Assam, Prakasa invited Maharaja of Manipur, Bodhachandra to Shillong in September, 1949 for talks as per wishes of the Maharaja. The Maharaja, having full trust in the relationship with India, arrived in Shillong on September 17, 1949 accompanied with his ADC and Private Secretary and a few household staff members along with some bodyguards. But in Shillong the trap had been laid, waiting only for the Maharaja’s arrival. The trustworthy friend of India, which the Maharaja was, did not know that he was not going to return to Manipur as the same ‘Constitutional Ruler’ of independent Manipur.
On the first day of the meeting of September 18, 1949, the Assam Governor straight away placed before the Maharaja an already prepared ‘Merger Agreement’ whereby Manipur would be ‘merged’ with India and asked him to sign the same. This struck the Maharaja as a bolt from the blue. He did not even think of the matter and as such was not prepared. So, the Maharaja also straight away refused to sign the deceitful document. But the insistence of Prakasa was so strong that the Maharaja offered to discuss the matter with his council of Ministers back in Manipur. Even so Prakasa was firm in his insistence that the Maharaja sign the ‘agreement’ without going back to Manipur.
The Maharaja also stood firm that he couldn’t and would not sign the agreement without the prior consultation with the Council of Ministers. Knowing the Maharaja’s firm stand, Prakasa did not pursue the matter for the day. The Maharaja on return to his Redlands residence where he was staying found Indian Army personnel surrounding the compound of his premises. The house arrest had begun as pre-planned. Now, Prakasa and his young adviser, NK Rustom-ji would play their dirty Indian tricks to extract the Maharaja’s signature.
While under house-arrest, the Maharaja was not allowed to have any communication with the outside world, not to speak of Manipur. It was in such an atmosphere of isolation that Prakasa and Rustomji exerted psychological pressure on the Maharaja. They told him that if he remained adamant and didn't sign the document, a new king would be appointed by the Government of India and complete the process of ‘merger’ with the new King, or even the Army could be deployed to attain the objective. Sardar Patel, India’s ‘Iron Man’ had earlier given green signal to use force should it became necessary. Thus after making the Maharaja nervous about his future, the two Indian agents again consoled him by offering to modify the "agreement" giving more personal benefits to the Maharaja. They also tried to use the Maharaja’s staff to convince him to settle the matter on the line stated above. In short, the point the two Indian agents were making to the Maharaja was this - whether to sign or not, the "agreement" all the same, Manipur was about to be annexed by India, and as such it would be in your own interest to sign the "agreement" and secure your gaddi.
Thus, after resisting for three restless days and sleepless nights, the Maharaja could not see any escape. Ultimately, he signed the treacherous ‘Merger Agreement’ in a state of helplessness, while still under house-arrest, on September 21, 1949. Under the terms of the "agreement" Manipur comes under Indian rule from October 15, 1949. Since the day, Manipur lost her Independence and became part of India’s colonial rule.
Both the Maharaja and the Government of India agreed, though for different reasons, to keep the "agreement" as a secret until the stipulated date for taking over. The Maharaja strongly felt that he had ‘betrayed his people’ and as such wanted nobody to know about the ‘agreement’ before the said date. As for the Government of India, there was apprehension that making the "agreement" public might provoke strong reaction from the Manipur State Assembly which could spark off public revolt against the "agreement".
Therefore, in order to prompt any such reaction the announcement was made only on October 15, 1949 by M.K. Velody, Secretary in the Ministry of States, Government of India vide ‘Manipur (Administration) Order, 1949’ that the full powers and authority of the administration of Manipur had been taken over by the Government of India from that day and that a Chief Commissioner had been appointed to head the New Manipur administration. The Manipur State Assembly was abolished and also the Council of Ministers dissolved on the same day through an executive order.
This is how India annexed Manipur.
On the same day, the annexation of Assam and Tripura was also announced. Thus began Indian Colonial rule in the Indo-Burma region.
(The views expressed here are solely that of the writer)
Courtesy: The Sangai Express)
Introduction:
‘Manipur’ is the ancestral territory of the ‘Manipuri’ people. Manipur is presently under Indian rule. It is situated in the Northeast corner of India and bounded in the east by Myanmar (Burma). In the past, Manipur boundary extends up to Chindwin River (now Myanmar) in the east and Brahmaputra in the west. The present territorial area is 22,327 sq. km. It lies within 23.83°N to 25.68°E latitude and 93.03°E to 94.78°E longitude. A fertile alluvial valley extends north -south in the middle and it is surrounded on all sides by hill ranges forming a part of the eastern Himalayas. Though constituting only about 12 p.c. of the total geographical area, the valley is settled by more than 75 p.c. of the total population of 2.3 million (2001 Census).
The Royal Chronicle Cheitharol Khumbaba maintains an uninterrupted historical record of the land and its people since 33 A.D. Throughout the history, the valley was, and continues to be, the core region where the distinctive Manipuri culture and way of life took shape and where political developments having repercussions throughout the Indo-Burma Region often originated.
Annexation of Manipur by India:
After 56 years of British rule, Manipur once again became an independent country on the midnight of August 14, 1947. However, the then Maharaja of Manipur signed an "Instrument of Accession" with the Government of India on August 11, 1947 whereby it was agreed that defense, external affairs and communications would be looked after by India in order to safeguard mutual interests.
However, the agreement did not in any manner make Manipur a part of India. As such, the Independent status of Manipur was not affected by the said agreement, though its sovereignty over the three aforesaid subjects had become limited. As the Instrument of Accession was an agreement concluded between two countries still technically under British rule out of mutual trust, it could be abrogated or discontinued when they regained Independence or when the mutual trust became forfeited.
Soon after regaining independence from British rule, Maharaja Bodhachandra took steps to introduce democracy in Manipur under the ‘Manipur Constitution Act, 1947’. The Maharaja of Manipur had already become a constitutional ruler since July 1, 1947 when he devolved his powers to the newly established State Council. As provided in the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947, elections of 53 representatives of the people to the Manipur State Assembly were held in 1948. The then Manipur State Congress which shouted for ‘democracy’ could secure only 14 seats and could not muster sufficient strength to form a Government. The Praja Shanti formed by 12 independent representatives formed a coalition Government along with other parties of the hills and plains. Under the provisions of the Constitution, giving power to the Maharaja to appoint a non-member as Chief Minister, the Maharaja appointed his brother Priyobrata as the first Chief Minister of democratic Manipur.
The first ever elected Manipur State Assembly was inaugurated by the Maharaja on October 18, 1948. In his proclamation the Maharaja said, "….there were and there are now and there will never cease to be, beloved Manipuri names testifying to the fact that our people would rather die unsullied than outlive the disgrace of surrender to any measure that work prejudicial to the preservation of the separate of the entity of the State…..". With the formal inauguration of the Manipur State Assembly, Maharaja Bodhachandra became the first ‘Constitutional Ruler’ of democratic Manipur.
Meanwhile, however, India was already planning to annex the then three States of Assam, Tripura and Manipur so as to keep them as its "Great Eastern Wall" from strategic viewpoint. Therefore, India took speedy steps in this regard before these States could consolidate their newly achieved Independence. Besides, there was the apprehension of a possible movement for a united independent country in this region and also the possible link-up between the revolutionary struggle in Manipur led by the legendary Hijam Irabot and the Communist revolution as well as other ethnic struggles in newly independent Burma.
In regard to Manipur, the first move made by New Delhi was to have Maj. General Rawal Amar Singh appointed as the Dewan of Manipur by the Maharaja and sent him to Manipur in the early part of 1949 as India’s Trojan Horse. Secondly, the then Manipur State Congress was cultivated as their ‘fifth column’. On the one hand, Rawal Amar Singh did everything he could to irritate the Maharaja to go to Shillong for talks with India Government on the matter. On the other hand, the Fifth column - Manipur State Congress keeping aside their original demand for "abolition of monarchy" began to shout "Merge Manipur with India" on the prompting of New Delhi through the trouble shooter Dewan thereby creating the semblance of a "popular demand of the Manipuri people" for the possible annexation in the near future.
Thus, intended conditions having been created, India’s Governor in Assam, Prakasa invited Maharaja of Manipur, Bodhachandra to Shillong in September, 1949 for talks as per wishes of the Maharaja. The Maharaja, having full trust in the relationship with India, arrived in Shillong on September 17, 1949 accompanied with his ADC and Private Secretary and a few household staff members along with some bodyguards. But in Shillong the trap had been laid, waiting only for the Maharaja’s arrival. The trustworthy friend of India, which the Maharaja was, did not know that he was not going to return to Manipur as the same ‘Constitutional Ruler’ of independent Manipur.
On the first day of the meeting of September 18, 1949, the Assam Governor straight away placed before the Maharaja an already prepared ‘Merger Agreement’ whereby Manipur would be ‘merged’ with India and asked him to sign the same. This struck the Maharaja as a bolt from the blue. He did not even think of the matter and as such was not prepared. So, the Maharaja also straight away refused to sign the deceitful document. But the insistence of Prakasa was so strong that the Maharaja offered to discuss the matter with his council of Ministers back in Manipur. Even so Prakasa was firm in his insistence that the Maharaja sign the ‘agreement’ without going back to Manipur.
The Maharaja also stood firm that he couldn’t and would not sign the agreement without the prior consultation with the Council of Ministers. Knowing the Maharaja’s firm stand, Prakasa did not pursue the matter for the day. The Maharaja on return to his Redlands residence where he was staying found Indian Army personnel surrounding the compound of his premises. The house arrest had begun as pre-planned. Now, Prakasa and his young adviser, NK Rustom-ji would play their dirty Indian tricks to extract the Maharaja’s signature.
While under house-arrest, the Maharaja was not allowed to have any communication with the outside world, not to speak of Manipur. It was in such an atmosphere of isolation that Prakasa and Rustomji exerted psychological pressure on the Maharaja. They told him that if he remained adamant and didn't sign the document, a new king would be appointed by the Government of India and complete the process of ‘merger’ with the new King, or even the Army could be deployed to attain the objective. Sardar Patel, India’s ‘Iron Man’ had earlier given green signal to use force should it became necessary. Thus after making the Maharaja nervous about his future, the two Indian agents again consoled him by offering to modify the "agreement" giving more personal benefits to the Maharaja. They also tried to use the Maharaja’s staff to convince him to settle the matter on the line stated above. In short, the point the two Indian agents were making to the Maharaja was this - whether to sign or not, the "agreement" all the same, Manipur was about to be annexed by India, and as such it would be in your own interest to sign the "agreement" and secure your gaddi.
Thus, after resisting for three restless days and sleepless nights, the Maharaja could not see any escape. Ultimately, he signed the treacherous ‘Merger Agreement’ in a state of helplessness, while still under house-arrest, on September 21, 1949. Under the terms of the "agreement" Manipur comes under Indian rule from October 15, 1949. Since the day, Manipur lost her Independence and became part of India’s colonial rule.
Both the Maharaja and the Government of India agreed, though for different reasons, to keep the "agreement" as a secret until the stipulated date for taking over. The Maharaja strongly felt that he had ‘betrayed his people’ and as such wanted nobody to know about the ‘agreement’ before the said date. As for the Government of India, there was apprehension that making the "agreement" public might provoke strong reaction from the Manipur State Assembly which could spark off public revolt against the "agreement".
Therefore, in order to prompt any such reaction the announcement was made only on October 15, 1949 by M.K. Velody, Secretary in the Ministry of States, Government of India vide ‘Manipur (Administration) Order, 1949’ that the full powers and authority of the administration of Manipur had been taken over by the Government of India from that day and that a Chief Commissioner had been appointed to head the New Manipur administration. The Manipur State Assembly was abolished and also the Council of Ministers dissolved on the same day through an executive order.
This is how India annexed Manipur.
On the same day, the annexation of Assam and Tripura was also announced. Thus began Indian Colonial rule in the Indo-Burma region.
(The views expressed here are solely that of the writer)
Courtesy: The Sangai Express)
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