By Dr. Syed Ahmed for TwoCircles.net,
Imphal: Manipuris paid their homage to those valiant soldiers, who laid down their lives fighting against the British for the sake of safeguarding the independence of Manipur in the Anglo-Manipuri war of 1891, on Khongjom Day observed on 23 April, 2012. The day was observed at the Khongjom War Memorial site at Kheba Hills in Thoubal District, about 35 km from Imphal. Governor of Manipur Gurbachan Jagat, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, MLAs and other dignitaries of the State attended the function. They led the people in paying homage at the Khongjom War Memorial and offering tarpan (rituals for the deceased) at the nearby Khongjom river in remembrance of the martyrs. Thousands of people gathered to pay tribute.
Anglo-Manipur war 1891
After the death of the ruler of Manipur, Maharaj Chandrakriti in May 1886, his eldest son Surchandra Singh succeeded to the throne. After that the sons of Maharaj Chandrakriti were divided into two factions. Kulachandra Singh, Tikendrajit Singh, Angousana and Zilanamba were against the king. The enmity between the two groups grew day by day and it culminated in the ‘Palace Revolt’ of September 1890. Surchandra and his three brothers rushed to Calcutta and appealed to the British authorities for help. In the meantime Kulachandra became the king and Tikendrajit his Senapati. Taking advantage of the internal dissension of the royal family, the British authorities openly interfered in the administration of Manipur. The British knowing that the brave Tikendrajit would be a hurdle on their way for annexation of Manipur tried to arrest him by any means. When the plan to arrest Tikendrajit failed, the British raided his residence one night and killed many innocent Manipuris. As a consequence of the attack, 5 British officers including the Chief Commissioner of Assam and the Political Agent of Manipur were killed by excited Manipuris. The British officials killed were: (1) J.W. Quinton, C.S.I, I.C.S., Chief Commissioner of Assam, (2) Lt. Col. C. Mc D. Skene, D.S.O. Commanding Officer of 42nd Gurkha Rifles, (3) F.St.C. Grimwood, I.C.S., the Political Agent, Manipur, (4) W.H. Cossins, I.C.S., Assistant Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, and (5) Lt. W.H. Simpson, 43rd Gurkha Rifles accompanied by a Gurkha orderly. The Manipuris attacked the British residency. Mrs. Grimwood, Lt. Gordan with a group of people left Manipur or Cachar. The British Government declared war against Manipur on 31 March 1891.
Statue of Major General Paona Brajabasi, the hero of Khongjom War at Kheba hill
By the first week of April 1891, 3 columns of troops marched towards Imphal from three different directions i.e. Kohima, Silchar and Tamu. Manipuri forces met the British soldiers in all the three fronts. The last and most momentous battle of the war was fought between the Manipuri forces led by Major General Paona Brajabasi and the British forces at Khongjom from 23-25 April 1891. General Paona died on 23 April 1891 and became a martyr. Many more Manipuris laid down their lives. In spite of all the brave attempts to safeguard their independence the mighty British ultimately won the battles. Manipur was annexed to the British Empire on 27 April 1891.
After a nominal trial the British accused the then ruler of Manipur, Maharaj Kulachandra, Tikendrajit and others of waging war against Queen Victoria. Tikendrajit and General Thangal were hanged on August 13, 1891, while another 3 – Niranjan Subedar, Kajao and Chirai Naga – were also hanged soon after. Maharaj Kulachandra and 22 others were deported to Kalapani.
Renowned historian of Manipur, Gangmumei Kabui writes about the significance of the Anglo-Manipur war thus: “The Anglo-Manipur war of 1891 was a short but momentous contest between unequal powers, a struggle between a small land-locked Asiatic country and the mightiest empire in the world. The war of 1891 marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one in the history of Manipur; the era of sovereign and independent Manipur had been closed and that of the British rule in this kingdom started.”
Khongjom War Memorial
Manipuri Muslims in the war
Many of the Manipuri Muslims too fought gallantly along with other Manipuri soldiers in the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891. The names of the Muslim soldiers who took part in the war were:
1. Babu alias Sandrokpa (Ipham/name of his clan or lineage), son of Soda of Kairang, took part in the battle at Khongjom. After the war he became a member of the then Muslim Panchayat for about 40 years.
2. Singa Dewan alias Khomyan Chaoba (Singamayum) of Kairang Khabeisoi fought under the command of Major Paona Brajabasi at Khongjom. He returned home safely.
3. Niyamatullah (Ipham), son of Ijatullah of Khetri Awang Leikei also fought under the command of Major Paona Brajabasi. He succumbed to his bullet injuries.
4. Moni Amandar (Ipham), son of Khamba of Khetri Awang Leikei fought at Khongjom. He returned home safely.
5. Hamoon, younger brother of Moni Amandar also returned safely from the battle of Khongjom.
6. Naokon Tomba (Ipham), son of Najim Muhammad alias Nepali Major of Khetri Bengoon fought the battle at Khongjom.
7. Khamba alias Irong Taba (Ipham) of Keirao Makting fought against the Silchar Column.
8. Konsali Lallup Chingba alias Phingang Setpa (Ipham) of Keirao Makting was wounded in the British attack of the Palace on 24 March 1891. His son Ajijur Rahman alias Shamu fought the battle at Khongjom as a cavalry leader.
9. Khema (Ipham), father of Ahmed Ali of Keirao Makting returned home with bullet injuries in his armpit.
10. Chaodonpa from Kiyamgei was killed at the battlefield at Khongjom.
11. Sanaola Haji alias Keikhumacha Haji (Nongjeimayum) of Keikhu returned home with bullet injuries in his knee.
12. Sher Shah alias Chibando Koot (Makakmayum) of Lilong Leihoukhong died of bullet injuries at Kakching-Pallel border. His body was buried at the Leimanei Hills.
13. Koya Shah (Makakmayum) of Lilong returned home safely from Khongjom.
14. Yusuf Ali, younger brother of Chibando Koot, was posted as a Palace guard in the southern side of the Palace during the war.
15. Khela Koot (Makakmayum) of Lilong returned alive from Khongjom.
16. Tonjao (Yumkheibam), father of Khamba and Malik, of Lilong also returned alive from Khongjom.
17. Angou Lamboiba Havildar (Makakmayum), father of Chaobi of Lilong, also returned alive from Khongjom.
18. Tolando Subehdar (Buyamayum), father of Khamba Haji of Lilong Khong also fought at Khongjom and returned home alive.
19. Pheira Jamadar (Thongkhongmayum), father of Umo and Munshi of Haoreibi Awang Leikai also fought at Khonjom.
20. Sangai Subehdar (Makakmayum), father of Abu Haji of Lilong Haoreibi returned alive from Khongjom.
21. Joy Jatra (Makakmayum), father of Abdul of Haoreibi Leihaokhong, returned home safely from Khongjom.
22. Angou, younger brother of Joy Jatra and father of Abdul Hamid also returned home safely.
23. Melei (Singga), a bugler and father of Abdul Ghafur of Haoreibi Chingkham returned alive from Khongjom.
24. Abdul Karim (Merai) also a bugler and father of Amir Ali of Lilong returned alive from Khongjom.
25. Asghar Ali alias Rupo Mia (Phundreimayum), father of Maulvi Yusuf Ali from Sangaiyumfam served under Major Paona. He returned home safely.
26. Rahamatullah alias Oraoba (Makakmayum), father of Janal of Yairipok Tulihal returned home alive.
27. Uno Nongsaiba (Nongsaimayum) from Yairipok Tulihal took part in the battle at Khongjom.
28. Haji Abungton (Khullakpam), grandfather of Haji Rahimuddin Macha of Yairipok Tulihal returned alive from the battle at Khongjom.
29. Sadhu (Makak Angouba), grandfather of Maulvi Majhar Ali of Yairipok returned alive from Khongjom.
30. Yusuf Ali alias Kena (Makakmayum), father of Tamiz Haji of Yairipok Ningthounei returned from Khongjom.
Gate of the Khongjom War Memorial
As there is no official document which records the names of the ordinary Manipuri soldiers who took part in the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891 the names of these Muslim soldiers were gathered by Manipur Muslim Historical Society. A Muslim research scholar, M.A. Janab Khan published the list of names in his paper titled, “Muslim Fighters in the war of 1891,” published in Ch. Manihar Singh’s 100 years of Manipur’s Last War of Independence, a souvenir released by Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Government of Manipur in 1991.
Many Muslim inhabited areas suffered the attacks and atrocities of the British. Britishers had burned down many of the villages in and around the Kangla fort, which housed the royal palace, in March 24, 1891 during their attempt to capture Tikendrajit. Dasu Sardar, a Muslim photographer of the royal court and a close associate of Maharaj Kulachandra and Tikendrajit, was brutally killed along with his 2 daughters on the night of March 24. It is recorded that 7 sepoys of the British crossed Minuthong Bridge and entered the house of Dasu Sardar. The sepoys killed Dasu Sardar and his 2 daughters brutally. The wife of Dasu Sardar survived with injuries in the leg. Many other houses in the locality were burnt down. For his service in the royal court Dasu Sardar was settled by offering land near Minuthong Bridge, which came to be known as Mana Ingkhol (awarded land).