By Dr. Syed Ahmed, for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Kangla fort, the ancient capital of Manipur, lies at the heart of Imphal city. The fort has numerous historical sites, associated with the Meitei rulers and the British, which includes royal palace, graveyards of kings, official residences of British officials, temples, etc. The British occupied the fort, after the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891. However, in 1915, 4th Assam Rifles was stationed at the fort. Assam Rifles vacated the fort on 20th November 2004 and was handed over to the Manipur government.
Among the numerous historical sites there is a graveyard of a distinguished Muslim. The Governor of Assam, Sir Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari (1894 – December 28, 1948). He was the last Governor of Assam appointed by the British Government, and thus the first Indian appointed as the Governor of Assam.
Sir Muhammad Saleh Akbar Hydari paid an official visit to Manipur in 1948. He had a sudden cardiac arrest while he was at Waikhong Dak Bungalow, at Waikhong, a village in Thoubal district on 28th December, and died.
His body was brought to Kangla for performing the last rites. The janazah namaz was led by Maulana Hafiz Ali of Yairipok Tulihal, who was then the pesh-imam of Sadr Bazaar Jamia Masjid at Imphal. The namaz was attended by some of the prominent Manipuri Muslims, including Mohd Amjad Ali, who was then a member of the State Legislative Assembly. The funeral function was managed by Mohd Amzad Ali at the residence of Mohd Basiruddin Ahmed, then a prominent Manipuri Muslim. Chief Minister and Prince Captain R.K. Priyobrata Singh were present for the funeral functions.
The graveyard lies at the northern side of the royal palace at Kangla fort. The grave is fenced by an iron rails. Due to lack of maintenance, the surroundings of the graveyard are now covered by thick bushes. The plate have cracked and fallen. The epitaphs are barely decipherable.
However, the state government has started renovation works of the Kangla to restore its past glory and also to promote the place and convert it into a popular tourist destination.
Muhammmad Saleh Akbar Hydari, KCIE, CSI, ICS, was the son of Sir Akbar Hyadri (1869–1941), who served as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad State from 18 March 1937 to September 1941. He entered the Indian Civil Service in 1919 and began his career in Madras Presidency. He held many administrative positions in the states and at the centre. He was appointed as CIE in 1934, a CSI in 1941 and was knighted with the KCIE in 1944. From May 1947 he served as governor of Assam until his death in 1948.
He is remembered for entering a historic accord with Nagas, known officially as Naga-Akbar Hydari Accord, of 1947. It was a 9-point accord signed between the Akbar Hydari and the representatives of the Naga National Council at after three days of deliberations on the 26th, 27th and 28th June, 1947 at Kohima.