CHAPTER 1

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Manipur remained i n hidden i s o l a t i o n f o r a pretlgr lo n g

tim e from the r e s t o f th e w orld e x c e p tin g f o r h er immediate

neighbours* T h is was m ainly due to her t y p ic a l g eo g ra p h ic a l

lo c a t io n and p h y s ic a l fe a tu r e s ? surrounded by high ranges

o f h i l l s and r i v e r s . These were supplemented by the absence

o f any good road worthy o f even c a r t t r a f f i c . The n a tiv e s

o f the s t a te rwere a ls o r e s p o n s ib le f o r keep in g the area

unexplored by o th e r s a s they s tr o n g ly opposed any move f o r

survey works. Maharaja C h an drakirti Singh even o b je c te d to

the id e a o f growing some te a p la n ts in the P o l i t i c a l A g e n t's

garden f o r p erson a l consumption. The reason fo r such a lle r g y

was th a t the Maharaja was a fr a id l e s t Manipur, w ith the tea

growing a re a s , should prove an a t t r a c t io n to the o u ts id e rs

i n v i t i n g annexation o f the s ta te .^

Viewed under the circum stances, a few r e le v a n t remarks

in t h is rega rd may be c i t e d . I t i s recorded in a minute by

Lord W illia m B entinck, the G overnor-G en eral, th a t p r io r to

the f i r s t Anglo-Burmese War o f 182i+-26, the B r it is h E a s t

In d ia Company Government possessed no knowledge o f the

2
passes con n ectin g Manipur w ith the B r it is h t e r r i t o r i e s .

1. Johnstone, M ajor General S ir James, M a n - in n r And The Naga

H i l l s . V ivek P u b lis h in g House, New D e lh i, 1971, p.73*

2. P o l i t i c a l C o n s u lta tio n s , 30 May 1833* No. 109,

( Minute on 25 March 1833»)
 2

S i r W illia m Lee Warner a ls o observed th a t Manipur S tate

was a co m p ara tively unknown member o f the fa m ily o f the

x
In d ia n S o v e re ig n s .

I t w i l l n ot be out o f p la c e to mention here how and

when Manipur S ta te fig u r e d in the B r it is h r e c o rd s . In 1806

under the o rd e rs o f the B r it is h East In d ia Company Govern­

ment a survey o f the d i s t r i c t s o f ea stern In d ia was c a r r ie d

out under F ran cis Buchanan. In h is r e p o r t on ly a casual

mention was made about Manipur w h ile g iv in g the boundary

o f Assam; and i t ran : " Beyond Nara and Kamti towards the

south ( o f Assam) i s the p r i n c i p a l i t y o f Manipur which the

p eop le o f Ava c a lle d K a th e ." **

I t i s worthy o f n o te , however, th a t the B r it is h East

In d ia Company Government had en tered in t o p o l i t i c a l a l l i a ­

n ces w ith Manipur b e fo r e 1806. A trade and d e fe n s iv e a l l i a ­

nce was sign ed between Manipur and the Company Government

i n the y ea r 1?62 and some d e t a i l s o f these p roceed in gs

w i l l fo llo w .

Manipur a t t r a c t e d a t t e n t io n a f t e r the advent o f the

Company Government i n the e a s te rn r e g io n s o f In d ia . Her

prominence in c re a s e d s p e c ia lly w ith the outbreak o f the

f i r s t Anglo-Burmese War and the s ig n in g o f the T re a ty o f

3. W a rn er,S ir W illia m L ee, The N a tiv e S ta te s O f In d ia ,

M acm illan & Company, 1910, p .1 ? 9 .
M a rtin , Montgomery, E astern In d ia , (t h e H is to r y . A n ti­
q u i t i e s . Topography and S t a t i s t i c s ) . Y o l. V. id . '664.
 3
Yandaboo on 24 February 1826 a ft e r the conclusion o f the
war** Such atten tion was evid en tly in te n s ifie d because o f
the tr a g ic events in Manipur in 1891 wherein fiv e B ritish
*
o ffic e r s were executed, which culminated in the Anglo -
Manipuri War o f 1891.

In sp ite o f her is o la tio n , a chronological study o f

the Treaty Map showing the dates o f the B ritis h a llia n ces
with the N ative States o f India rev e a ls that Manipur stood
seventh among the sixhundred and eigh ty states o f India
under native ru le . 5 Manipur established, as already stated,
her p o lit ic a l rela tio n s with the B ritis h as early as 1762
( Treaty Map on page 3 a )•

P o lit ic a l Events In Manipur

Leading To The Anglo-Mani nu ri
Treaty o f 1762

I t w ill be in te re s tin g to make a reference to the p o li­

t ic a l situ ation in Manipur which led to the f i r s t Anglo -
Manipuri Treaty in 1762*

Garibniwaz, the reign in g king o f Manipur, and his eld est

son, Sham. Sai, were murdered in 1751 , on th e ir return from
Burma, by the meUwiarids* o f Aj i t S ai, the second son o f
Garibniwaz*^* On the death o f the reignin g king and his
eld est son, the next h eir to the throne, A j i t Sai succeeded

5* Warner , S ir William Lee, o p .c it. p*l89*

6* Aitchison, C.U., T reaties. Engagements and Saaads e tc .»
Craus Thomson Organisation, V o l*X II, 1931» p.102.
* Mr.Quinton, Mr.Grimwood, Mr.Cossins, Colonel Skene
and Lieu tenant" Simpson*
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 4

to the throne o f Manipur, A ft e r some years o f his reign i t

came to lig h t that A j i t Sai was. im plicated in the murder

o f h is fath er and h is brother,. The people, th erefore, be­

came averse to the ru le o f Aj i t Sai.,

Bhorot S a i, the brother o f A j i t S a i, taking advantage

o f the situ a tio n , gathered h is men and forced A j i t Sai to

abdicate the throne* A j i t Sai fle d the country and took

sh e lte r a t Tippera (now T rip u ra )* Bhorot Sai ascended the

throne*

The new king, Bhorot S a i, hatched a conspiracy against

Gourasham and Jai Singh, the two sons o f la te Sham S a i, The

p lo t , however, was exposed before i t could be launched,

Ananta S a i, another brother o f Sham Sai and Baramantri,

c ollected h is fo llo w e rs and planned a re v o lt again st the

reignin g k in g , Bhorot S a i* Having smelled danger, Bhorot

Sai l e f t the country without any attempt to fig h t .

Ananta S a i, with the consent o f the nobles and the peo­

p le , made Sham Sad’ s eld e st son, Gourasham, King and the

younger son,Jad Singh, Yuvaraja in 1753» As Ananta Sai had

arranged fo r altern ate kingship fo r the two brothers fo r a

period o f fiv e years each, Jai Singh became king and Goura-
7
sham Yutorala in 1759*

In 1762 A j i t S ai, the deposed king who was taking refuge

at Tippera, complained to the B r itis h a u th o ritie s saying

7. Singh, Mangi and Singh, M an i,L ., Vi .jay Panchali (Manipur

It ih a s ) Dwitiya Khanda, 1967*. p. 17,
 5
that he had been fo rc ib ly expelled from the state; and he

sought B r itis h assistan ce fo r regain in g the throne o f the

Q
sta te .

Having le a rn t o f the situ a tio n , Jai Singh sent his

V a k il. Haridas Gossain, to Mr. V erelh st, the Chief o f the

Chittagong fa c to r y , (who had been requested by A j i t Sai fo r

support)to convince o f the d eceitfu ln ess and the g u ilt o f

A j i t S a i. B esides, Haridas Gossain a ls o requested fo r B ri­

tis h assistance in g ettin g redress o f the grievances the

state had su ffered in the hands o f the Burmese. The V a k il,

in h is anxiety to secure B r it is h favour, a ls o held out that

there could be an extensive B r itis h trade from In dia to

China through Manipur and Burma when the two states were

on good terms. To serve both ends, the Vakil proposed a

trade and defensive a llia n c e between the B r itis h and

Q
Manipur S t a t e .'

The B r it is h , a t that time, also su ffered equal d i f f i ­

c u lt ie s in dealin g with the Burmese. The Burmese auth ori­

t ie s , helped by France, harassed con sisten tly the B ritis h

i n the p o rts o f N egrais and Pegu. Taking th is chance to be

an opportune moment, Mr. Verelhst recommended acceptance d f

8. Abdul A l i , F.M., Motes on the Early History o f Manipur

( a Paper read i n the f i f t h meeting o f the Indian Histo­
r i c a l Records Commission, Calcutta, January, 1923), p . 7 .

9. i b i d . p .8 .
 6

the above proposal to M r.Vansittart, the Governor-General

o f Bengal and. President o f the Board o f D irectors. The
Board, a ft e r a discussion on the matter, expressed i t s e l f
in favour o f a v a ilin g themselves o f the opportunity fo r a
vengeance upon the Burmese. I t was resolved that a force
consisting o f s ix companies o f sepoys commanded by three
o f f ic e r s should be despatched to take a post in Manipur.10
Such a decision was taken in consideration o f the p oten tia l
prospects o f extensive trade and also in the hope that the
B ritish and the Manipuris might jo in t ly fig h t o f f the common
fo e , the Burmese.

The expedition l e f t fo r Manipur under Mr. Verelhst in

January,1763 and reached Kashipur in Cachar in A p r i l , 1763.
The troops, however, suffered much hardship because o f ince­
ssant rain , disease, the p e s t ile n tia l swamps, e tc . The rem­
nants f e l l back and returned to Bengal being unable to pro­
ceed to Manipur.^ Since then no attempt,on the part o f the
B ritis h , followed to send troops to Manipur in fu lfilm en t
o f the Treaty o f 1762.

The above treaty was confirmed by Gourasham in 1763

12
i t s e l f a ft e r he became king; but i t was o f no a v a il t i l l
1823-2/+. In that year the Burmese forces dominated over

10. S eth i, R.R., Indian Record S eries. Fort Iffii 111am Tndi«
House Correspondences. V o l . I I I , 1760-63*1968, p.z+z+1.
11. Home Public Proceedings, 7 November 1763, July to
December Volume, p p .1330-1332.
12. Pemberton, R.B., Report on the Eastern Frontier o f
B ritis h In dia, Gauhati, 1966, p.Z+3.
 7

Assam and Manipur and sent t h e i r army to C achar,thereby

th re a te n in g the B r it is h f r o n t i e r o f S y lh e t. This a ffo r d e d

a chance to r e v iv e the o ld t i e between the B r it is h and

Manipur S ta te * I t w as,to be tru e , the combined e f f o r t o f

the two th a t succeeded i n r e p e l l i n g th e Burmese from Assam

and Manipur by d e fe a t in g the Burmese i n the f i r s t Anglo-

Burmese War, 182if-26.

Man!pur Levy

A t t h is p o in t some r e fe r e n c e to the Manipur Levy and i t s

r o le du ring the above mentioned war may be made* The r a is in g

o f the Manipur Levy was the r e s u lt o f co m p ellin g circum stan­

ces under which the B r it is h and the M anipuris had to con­

fr o n t t h e ir common enemy, the Burmese.

I n the Jrear 1819* the Burmese fo r c e s , as mentioned above,

dominated o v e r Manipur and the Manijjruri. P rin c e s f l e d fo r

s h e lt e r to Cachar and S y lh e t. But l a t e r on, the th ree Mani-

p u ri P rin c e s , Choura j i t Singh, Mar j i t Singh and Gambhir

Singh, had usurped power in Cachar by d e fe a tin g and deposing

Govindachandra, the r u le r o f C ach ar.1^ Meanwhile, they a lso

t r ie d t h e ir b e s t to r e g a in Ifenipur from the Burmese.

The B r it is h East In d ia Company Government, on the o th e r

hand, had been asked by the Burmese to su rrender the f u g i t i v e

P rin c e s o f Manipur and Assam (Purandhar and Chandrakanta) who

13 - B h a tta c h a rje e, J .B ., Cachar Under the B r it i s h Rule in

the North East I n d ia . Radient P u b lis h e rs , D e lh i, 1977,
p . 28.
 8

were taking sh elter in B ritis h t e r r it o r ie s . The Burmese

warned the B ritis h even to the extent that i f they fa ile d
to surrender the fu g itiv e s the Burmese forces would capture
them from, wherever they were to be found and would not hesi­
tate to fig h t the B ritis h i f they r e s is te d * 1^ The B ritis h ,
however, did not hand them, over saying that i t was contrary
to the B ritis h custom to d e liv e r up any person who had sou-
ght th e ir p ro tection . v

Govindachandra requested fo r B ritis h help to regain his

power. But, being desperate at the slow response o f the B ri­
tis h , he turned towards the Burmese fo r help. The la t t e r
quickly responded and sent a force to Cachar to restore the
deposed Govindachandra to the throne o f C a c h a r . T h e B ritish
had expressed th e ir unanimity with the Burmese p o lic y in sofar
as rein sta tin g o f Govindachandra was concerned. However,the
Burmese in terven tion in the eastern Indian a ffa ir s was con­
sidered undesirable. Thus, the B ritis h opposed the entry o f
17
the Burmese forces in Cachar. As a re s u lt, there ensued
skirmishes between the B ritish and the Burmese forces on the
Cachar-Manipur border.

14. White, Captain W.A..A P o lit ic a l History o f the Extra-

Ordinary Events Which Led to the Burmese War.London.
182?, p 150.
15. Crawfurd, Journal Of An Ambassy From Governor-Genera!
Of India to the Court o f Ava, London, 1827, P.39(Appendix).
16. Bhattacharjee, J .B ., op. c i t . p.33*
17 . ib id . p . 36 .
 9

In Burma by May 1823, the Burmese a u t h o r it ie s made a

form al demand fo r the Company's sepoys to be withdrawn from

18
Shahpuree a s the Burmese claim ed th a t i t belonged to them*

The Burmese even h o is te d t h e ir f l a g th ere a t Shahpuree on

18 January 1824. ^

Gambhir Singh, the most prominent among the Manipuri

P rin c e s a t Cachar, was g iv e n due r e c o g n itio n by the B r i­

t is h f o r h is a s s is ta n c e to them* In the meantime, the B ri­

t is h a u th o r itie s , a ls o f e l t th a t I t would be in d isp e n sa b le

to r a is e a corps o f M anipuris o r o th e r b o rd erers f o r s e r-

v ic e on the S y lh e t f r o n t i e r and Cachar* David S c o tt, the

Agent to the G overnor-G eneral i n Assam, decided to employ

Gambhir Singh to r e s i s t the Burmese* Taking t h is advantage,

Gambhir Singh sought B r it is h perm ission to r a is e an army*

David S c o tt proposed to the B r it is h East In d ia Company

Government f o r e n te r ta in in g 50 Manipuri horsemen and 300

fo o t s o ld ie rs , to be k e p t under the p erson a l command o f

21
Gambhir Singh a t a monthly expen ditu re o f 2200 rupees.

Regarding the o b je c t iv e s o f r a is in g such a fo r c e , David

S c o tt s ta te d th a t the establish m en t o f an independent gove­

rnment in Manipur in a llia n c e w ith the B r it is h would prove

18* W hite, Captain W*A., op . c i t . p.132.

19* Harve, G.E*, B r it is h Rule I n Burma 1824-1942. ^
London, p.18*
20* Assam S e c r e t a r ia t Record Room, L e t t e r s R eceived From
Government. V o l*2 . l e t t e r from J.W. Swinton, Secy, to
Govt* o f In d ia to David S c o tt dated 10 February 1824*
21* F o r e ig n S e c re t C o n su lta tion s, February 1824, N o s .17-80.
 10

the b io st e ffe c tu a l check on. the Burmese* He further viewed

that Manipur, as a frie n d ly m ilita ry power* w n jfcemliy o f um

at the time o f need* I t may also he pointed out that

David Scott had a great relian ce on Gambhir Singh and his
men* Admiring th e ir s o ld ie rly courage and s k ill he reported
to the Government that excepting the Manipurls none o f the
N atives or Tribes on the eastern fr o n tie r could be re lie d
27
upon to defend th e ir sta te* v

The Company Government, being s a tis fie d with the rep ort,
approved the scheme o f g iv in g assistance to Gambhir Singh*
I t may be mentioned here that S ir Edward Paget, the Comman-
d er-in -C h ief in In d ia, had instructed General Waldham and
Colonel RLchard, the m ilita ry o f f ic e r s in eastern India,
that the eastern fr o n tie r was to be a system o f f o r t i f i e d
B ritish m ilita ry posts thereby keeping the whole o f the
north eastern In d ia under B ritis h control**^ But in the
case o f Manipur there was a d evia tion from the e a r lie r
p olicy * Gambhir Singh had been given a l l possible B ritish
assistance, in cash and kind, in his attempt to regain his
lo s t kingdom from the Burmese* With th is B ritis h assistance
Gambhir Singh raised h is troops consisting o f purely Mani-
puris and Cacharis o f 500 strong; i t was called the Manipur
Levy* The B ritis h , thus, made f u ll use o f the advantage in

22. Foreign Secret Consultations, February 1824, Nos.5-8*

23* i b i d . ^26 November 1825, l e t t e r o f 9 November 1825
from David Scott to Swinton*
24* ib id . 14 January 1825, No.1, Minutes o f S ir Edward
Paget dated 15 December 1824.
hand by making frie n d s h ip w ith the enemy's enemy which had

proved i t s worth i n the days o f need*. The Manipur Levy had

p la y ed a g re a t r o le i n d r iv in g away the Burmese from Assam

and Manipur i n the f i r s t Anglo-Burmese War*

A f t e r the T rea ty o f Yandaboo between the B r it is h and

the Burmese Governments* the B r it is h Government had changed

t h e ir p o lic y s in ce February 1826, the date o f the T re a ty . In

the changed circum stances the Company Government thought o f

w ithdraw ing B r it is h support to the Manipur Levy* On 7 Feb­

ruary 1835 Lord W illiam Bentinck, the G overnor-G eneral,

w rote " **.*» I propose f o r c o n s id e r a tio n o f the Council

the discon tinu ance o f the B r it is h superintendence o v e r the

body denominated the Manipur Levy le a v in g i t o p tio n a l w ith

the Government o f the country to m aintain th a t fo r c e o r not

25
a s i t p le a s e s * " ^ Thus, i n s p ite o f fa vo u ra b le recommenda­

t io n s from B r it is h o f f i c e r s i n the f i e l d l i k e M r.C.Tucker,

the Commissioner o f S ilc h a r , and M r.T.C *R obertson , the Agent

to the Governor-General i n Assam f o r co n tin u a tio n o f the

26
a s s is ta n c e to the Manipur Levy* the Government o f In d ia

d ecid ed on discon tinu ance o f the s a id a s s is ta n c e le a v in g i t

o p tio n a l w ith the Government o f Manipur to m aintain that

27
fo r c e o r n o t* f

25. F oreign P o l i t i c a l C o n s u lta tio n s , 11 February 1835, N o .101*

26* F oreign S e c re t C o n su lta tio n s, 15 September 1826,Nos.

57-59.
27* F oreign P o l i t i c a l C o n s u lta tio n s , 11 February 1835,
op . c i t * No* 105*
 In viathdrawing th e ir support to the Manipur Levy, the
B ritis h Government was, apparently, influenced by such
considerations a s (i)w ith the conclusion o f the Treaty o f
Yandaboo in 1826 and the Kabo Valley Treaty o f 1834 (wnich
w ill be discussed la t e r ) the B ritis h Government was elated
with the b e lie f that the Burmese would not venture a war
with the B ritis h , and as such, extra spending fo r security
from the Burmese was uncalled f o r ; ( i i ) the Special Committee
constituted to examine the increase in the Company's expen­
diture recommended reduction o f expenditure by cutting down
the number o f irre g u la r m ilita ry forces and Lord Bentinck
o O
sailed fo r India with instru ctions to implement the same ; °
( i i i ) as the B ritis h Government had assured the Burmese
Government that such a withdrawal o f assistance would oe
e ffe c te d from 1826 i t s e l f , i t was a necessary step to pro­
long the peace and friendship between the B ritish and the
Burmese ; 7 and ( i v ) the B ritis h press strongly commented
against such Native forces because o f the lurking apprehen­
sion that such a force could be turned against B ritish
in te re s ts .

The Maharaja o f Manipur retained the Manipur Levy as

the primary defence force of. the s ta te . I t had a strength

28. Thomson,E. and Garratt, G.T., Rise and Fulfilm ent o f

B ritis h Rule In In d ia . Allahabad, 1973, p.319.
29. Crawfurd, op. c i t . p.210.
 13

of 3000 foot soldiers, 100 cavalry and 100 Golandung

attached to the pounder at the time when the British

withdrew their support in 1835* After the Maharaja took

over the management of the Levy, it returned to the old

**
style of functioning under the Lalup system.

Anglo-Manipuri Relations
1826-1891

While considering the principles of British frontier

policy, Lord Lytton wrote in 1876 that the British polj cy

so far consisted in leaving events to take their course

unguided and uncontrolled by the British Government. Such

a policy, according to Lytton, was " unsound in theory and

mischievous in p r a c t i c e . T h e above remark deserves careful

study for a thorough appreciation of the British role in the

political situation of the north eastern frontier of Indi,;..

Though the opinion was expressed in the Afghan context, it

is evidently vindicated by the political developments of the

states in the north-east region produced by such a policy.

The British East India Company Government pursued for ;;

long time period a policy of non-intervention into the poli­

tical affairs of other states. Since April 1792 the Britisn

30. Shakespear, Lt.Col.J., Manipur Under British

Management , Shillong, 1907» Chapter V, p.5-
31. Phillips, C..H., et. al., The Evolution of India Ana
Pakistan. 18§8-1947. London, 1962, p.449•
** A practice wherein every able male adult had to contri­
bute 10 days labour for every 40 days to the Stare.
 14

adm inistrators in In d ia were forbidden, by a reso lu tion o f

the B r itis h Parliament, to enter in to any p o l i t i c a l a l l i a ­

nce, defensive or o ffe n siv e , so as not to get involved in

x?
the n ation al q u a rre ls. I t was fo r th is reason that the

Government o f In d ia, despite favourable reports from David

Scott, the Agent to the Governor-General in Assam, turned

down an a p p licatio n from Purandhar Singh o f Assam reques-

xx
tin g fo r sa le o f arms to the s ta te . v The same decision

o f the B r itis h Government was repeated in the case o f

Ba dan chan dr a ’ s request fo r arms assistance to A ssam .^ In

the case o f Manipur as w e ll, a s already mentioned, the

B r itis h did not send any troops to Manipur a ft e r 1763 in

sp ite o f the Anglo-Manipuri Treaty o f 1762.

The p o l i t i c a l situ a tio n o f the states in north-eastern

In d ia lik e , Assam, Cachar and Manipur, show v iv id ly the

developments in those-- a re a s consequent upon the B ritis h

p o lic y o f n on -in terferen ce. Badanchandra, disappointed

with the B r it is h response, turned to the Burmese fo r help.

55
The Burmese sent a la rg e army to Assam and occupied i t . v

Govindaehandra, the Raja o f Cachar, f a i l i n g to get B ritis h

36
support, requested fo r Burmese a ssista n c e . The Burmese

32. White, Captain, W.A., o p .c it . p .116.

33* ib i d . p. 113*
34. Bhuyan, S .K ., Tungkhungia Buranji (H istory o f ASSAM) ,
Gauhati, 1968, p.198.
35* i b i d , p.205*
36. G ait, Edward, History o f Assam s Thacker Spink &Co. Cal*
1963, p*310.
 15

army was sent to Cachar a ls o . The r e s u lt was p h y s ic a l

c o n fro n ta tio n between the B r it is h and the Burmese fo r c e s

le a d in g e v e n tu a lly to the f i r s t Anglo-Burmese War o f

1824-26.

Under the impact o f the changing circum stances, the

B r it is h e n te re d in to n e g o tia tio n s w ith Gambhir Singh. The

B r it is h Government;, on recommendation from David S c o tt,

extended arms and fin a n c ia l a s s is ta n c e f o r r a is in g the

Manipur L e v y . Lord H a stin g s, i n v i o l a t i o n o f the P a r l i a ­

mentary r e g u la tio n mentioned b e fo r e , had to perm it tra n s-

zn
p o r ta tio n o f gunpowder and m il i t a r y s to r e s in t o Assam.

These developm ents marked an end to the p o lic y o f n on -in ­

t e r v e n tio n by the B r it is h a u t h o r it ie s .

T re a ty O f Yandaboo

. The T re a ty o f Yandaboo was s ig n e d between the B r it is h

East In d ia Company Government and the Burmese Government

i n February 1826. Manipur was n o t a p a rty to the t r e a t y .

However, the t r e a t y made a r e fe r e n c e So the p o l i t i c a l

s ta tu s o f Manipur by in s e r t in g an a r t i c l e .

A r t i c l e 2 o f the t r e a t y p ro v id e d , among o th e rs , that

" With rega rd to Manipur i t i s s t ip u la te d that should

Gambhir Singh d e s ir e to retu rn to th a t country he s h a ll

2 C
be rec o g n ise d by the k in g o f Ava as the Raja t h e r e o f." D

37► Crawfurd, op. c i t . Appendix, p .3 9 .

38. A itc h is o n , C .U ., o p . c i t . p .2 3 0 .
The e a r lie r B ritis h p o lic y towards Gambhir Singh's ro le
sind the above provision o£ the trea ty, read together, nece­
s s a rily leads to the inference that a fte r the date o f signing
the t r e a t y , i. e . , 2k February,1826, Manipur became an indepen­
dent state without any room fo r in terferen ce by any foreign
power** The B ritis h also had to accept i t as a necessary e v il
because o f the fa ct that Manipur was used by the Burmese as
a screen fo r m olestation o f B ritis h t e r r it o r ie s * 59 Mainte­
nance o f a b u ffer state lik e Manipur, whose kings and people
were hardcore enemies o f the Burmese by then, was a dire
necessity to p rotect B ritis h in te r e s ts against the b e l l i ­
gerent Burmese who were qu ite envious o f the r is in g B ritish
power over the north- eastern India*

Later developments showed that since the signing o f the

Treaty o f Yandaboo and the Kabo Valley Treaty in 183^1 the
B ritis h a u th o rities took Manipur, quite contrary to the
terms o f the Treaty o f Yandaboo, as an in s ig n ific a n t power
and neglected her. The B ritis h attitu d e was guided mainly by
a wrong assessment o f the Burmese p olicy towards the B ritish
b e liev in g that the Burmese would not wage a war with the
B ritish * But the B ritis h rea lised th e ir f o l l y only a f t e r
*
the second and the th ird Anglo-Burmese wars.

39* Foreign Secret Consultations, 15 October 1833>No.11k»

* B ritis h annexed Burma only a f t e r the defeat o f the
Burmese in the th ird Anglo-Burmese War o f 1886.
 17

J i r i T r e a t y O f 1853

In. 1833 R a ja Gambhir S in g h s ig n e d a t r e a t y w ith th e

B r i t i s h G overnm ent known a s th e J i r i T r e a t y . The T r e a ty

p r o v id e d f o r : (a ) T r a n s f e r o f J ir ib a m ( J i r i in sh ort ;

a p o r t io n , o f B r i t i s h te r r ito r y in C ach a r, to M anipur;

(b ) W ith d ra w a l o f R a ja Gambhir S i n g h 's th an a from Chan­

d ra p u r i n C ach ar; (c ) S u pp ly o f p o r t e r s by th e R a ja f o r

th e B r it is h t r o o p s g o in g th ro u g h M anipur ( e i t h e r f o r th e

p r o t e c t i o n o f M an ipu r o r a w ar w it h Burm a); (d ) No o b s ­

t r u c t i o n by th e R a ja to th e B r i t i s h t r a d e and no im p o s i­

t i o n o f h eavy d u t i e s and no m onopoly w it h any a r t i c l e ;

(e ) R e p a ir in g o f th e C ach a r-M an ip u r b r i d d l e p a th by th e

R a ja ; ( f ) A s s is t a n c e by th e R a ja w it h h i s t r o o p s i n ca se

o f d is t u r b a n c e s i n t h e e a s t e r n f r o n t i e r o f B r i t i s h I n d ia ;

and ( g ) The R a ja w ould be r e s p o n s ib le fo r th e arms and

40
a m m u n ition s r e c e i v e d from, th e G overnm ent o f I n d i a . ^

The J i r i T re a ty , th u s , r e p r e s e n t e d an in s tru m e n t f o r

exch an ge o f J ir ib a m w it h C h an drapu r,an d s id e by s id e w ith

t h i s , a t r a d e and d e f e n s i v e a l l i a n c e b e tw ee n th e two g o v ­

e rn m e n ts . H ow ever, th e c la u s e o n arm s and am m unitions be­

came v i r t u a l l y n u l l i f i e d o w in g t o th e w ith d r a w a l o f B r i t i s h

s u p p o r t t o M anipur i n 1835* I t may be n o te d t h a t though J i r i ­

bam b e lo n g e d t o M a n ip u r, th e i n h a b it a n t s w ere C ach a r-M an i-

p u r i s and B r i t i s h I n d ia n s u b je c t s from th e a d j o i n i n g . B r i ­

tis h t e r r i t o r i e s * The a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f J ir ib a m u n der th e

R a ja w i l l be d is c u s s e d i n a s u c c e e d in g c h a p te r *

4-0* A itc h is o n , C .U ., o p . c i t . , Volume 1 ,1 8 6 2 , p .1 2 2 .

 18

Kabo Valley Treaty of 1854

Kabo Valley, a small valley between Burma and Manipur,

became a part of Manipur State after the epochal year, 1826

by right of conquest as Gambhir Singh succeeded in driving

away the Burmese from Manipur and beyond the Ningthee r i v e r

(Chindwin) in Burma.^ Kabo Valley had been a bone of con­

tention between Burma and Manipur. The Burmese had nursed

her desire to possess the Kabo Valley even after her d e fe a t

in 1826 and did not stop the pursuit.

The British East India Company Government wanted to

make the eastern frontier of British India and the British

ports of Pegu and Shahpuree in Burma safe from Burmese

belligerency. In 1833-3^, therefore, the British thougnt

of restoring the Kabo Valley to Burma as a distinct act of

appeasing the Burmese. The Governor-General in Council,

under the influence of Colonel Burney, the British Commi­

ssioner at Ava, decided on handing over Kabo Valley to

Burma as a mark of " expediency and gratification " The

Government of Manipur was to be given, as a consolation for

the loss, a compensation of 300 rupees per month. The then

Governor-General accordingly instructed Captain Grant and

Liimtenant Pemberton to proceed towards Kabo Valley with a

deputy from Gambhir Singh representing Manipur.^

1+1. Bhattacharjee J.B. op.cit. p .1+1.

1+2. Aitchison, C.U., op. cit. p»12i+, (annually 6270 rupees)
43» ASRR.Letters Received From Government.. Series I , V o L . i ,
letter from W. Macnaghten to Captain Grant dated i ,. . I t 85•
 20

to the Raja o f Manipur fo r con sid era tion o f the matter,

the Raja was asked to sign the document with undue haste.
But the document, a© a v a ila b le now, show that the Raja
d id not sign the document probably due to h is death
sh o rtly a f t e r the document was brought to Manipur. The
agreement bears the signature o f Major F.J.Grant and
Captain R.B.Pemberton a s the Commissioners a t Manipur.

Ever sin ce the sign in g o f the tre a ty , Manipur Govern­

ment had been g ettin g the Kabo V alley compensation. But
a ft e r Indian independence and the subsequent merger o f
Manipur with India the payment o f the compensation ceased.
Many attempts were made by the Rajas o f Manipur fo r r e tr o ­
cession o f the Kabo V alley to Manipur (b e fo re and a ft e r
Indian independence); but without e f f e c t .

Opening o f P o l i t i c a l Agency

In 1835 Lord William Bentinck decided to withdraw

B r itis h support to Manipur* Though the B r itis h o f f i c e r s
i n the n orth -eastern India resented such a d e cision in
a p p reciation o f the dangers to B r itis h in t e r e s t s in the
re g io n , a l l were i n vain.. But the B r itis h au th ority did
n o t e n tir e ly withdraw from the s ta te i n the sense that a
P o l i t i c a l Agency was esta b lish ed to p ro te ct Imperial
in t e r e s t s in the re g io n , and a P o l i t i c a l Agent in Manipur

was appointed.
 The P o li t ic a l Agent in Manipur was to serve as a

communicating lin k between the Government o f Manipur ana

the Government o f Burma. I t was Also h is business to prevent

a l l border feuds between the two states. Thus, the P o l i t i c s - '

Agency in Manipur was establish ed in 1835 during the reign

Of Maharaja Chandrakirti Singh. Major Gordon was appointee:

the f i r s t P o li t i c a l Agent in Manipur S t a t e . ^

The P o li t i c a l Agent was, as usual, a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of

the B r itis h Government o f In dia in Manipur. His rank, as ti­

the order o f procedure, was that o f a Major or a Colonel in

the B r itis h a rm y .^ However, the P o li t i c a l Agent exerci =eri

immense power in the subsequent years consequent upon Lne

tightening o f the B r itis h control over the Native S t at es .

In 1861 a time came when the P o li t i c a l Agency i n Me ni . i . r

was considered uneconomical and the Government o f India

thought o f abolish in g i t . I t was calculated that such

a b o litio n would mean a saving o f 14,000 rupees per y ear. I t

was also considered that the whole work o f the P o l i t i c a l

Agency could be conveniently entrusted to the care o f tne

Superintendent o f Cachar.^® Captain McCullock ( l a t e r Co! or<

the P o li t i c a l Agent in Manipur, however, pleaded f o r r e t e n ­

tion o f the P o li t ic a l Agency in the in te re s t o f peace in

the neighbouring a r e a s . ^

46. Foreign P o li t i c a l Consultations, 11 Feb.l835> No.1 'I.

47. F.D.P. Foreign A, A p ril 1896, Nos. 6-7.
48. Mackenzie, A .Z ., The North East Front ie r o f India,
D elhi, 1981. p.155.
49. ib id . pp. 155-156.
 22

Captain S tew art, the Superintendent o f Cachar, expre­

ssed h is d i f f i c u l t i e s to take up the a d d itio n a l res p o n s i­

b i l i t y in. view, o f the d is ta n c e , the rugged h i l l s and the

50
r i v e r s unbridged to cro s s in between Cachar and Manipur.

C on siderin g a l l the p o in ts r a is e d , the Government o f

51
In d ia decid ed to r e t a in the P o l i t i c a l Agency in Manipur.

I t was a ls o decided th at s t r i c t in s tr u c tio n should be

g iv e n to l i m i t in t e r fe r e n c e by the P o l i t i c a l Agent in the

a d m in is tra tio n o f the s t a te on ly to the prom otion o f good

52
government i n the s t a t e .

The Manipur P o l i t i c a l Agency was p laced under the Gove­

rnment o f Bengal f o r correspondence r e la t in g to the m atters

o£ odt the s t a te and f o r r e c e iv in g in s tr u c tio n s from the

Government o f In d ia .
55 I n 1836 i t was tra n s fe r r e d to the

Government o f In d ia k eep in g i t under t h e ir immediate con­

t r o l * However, the C h ie f Commissioner o f Assam recommended

in 1879 the a d v is a b ilit y o f keep in g the Manipur P o l i t i c a l

Agency under the Government o f A s s a m .^ The Government o f

In d ia approved o f the scheme in c o n s id e ra tio n o f the in t e r -

C-
r e la t e d is s u e s betwVen Manipur and the a d jo in in g h i l l areas

o f Assam and the B r it is h r e la t io n w ith Burma in p a r t i c u l a r . ^

50. i b i d , p.158.
51. F .D .P . P o l i t i c a l A, A p r il 1864, N o .110.
52. A itc h is o n , C.U ., o p . c i t . p.106.
53* P o l i t i c a l C o n s u lta tio n s ,11 February 1835,N o s .101-105.
54. F .D .P ., 18-25 A p r il 1836, N o.1.
55. F .D .P. F oreign A , Home Department, A p r il 1880,N o .13.
 23

Manipur t A Protectorate

Gamtohir Singh's in fan t son, Chandrakirti Singh, ascended

the throne as a minor Raja in 1834- Nara Singh, a cousin
brother o f Gambhir Singh, was made the Regent. In 1844
Nara Singh was seriously injured follow in g an attempt to
murder him. by one Nobin Singh, a servant o f the widow,
Maharani Kumudini. The murder attempt having fa ile d and
apprehending danger, Kumudini l e f t the state fo r Cachar
along with her in fan t son, Chandrakirti, the reigning king.

Nara Singh, in the absence o f Chandrakirti Singh, became

the Raja. The B ritish Government recognised him as the Raja.
On the death o f Nara Singh in 1850, his brother,Devendra,
succeeded Nara Singh as the Raja. This time also the B ritish
Government, recognised Devendra as the Raja. But, before the
P o lit ic a l Agent in Manipur could announce the decision o f
recognising Devendra Singh, an abnormal p o lit ic a l situ ation
developed.

The ex-Raja, Chandrakirti Singh, attain in g m ajority by

that time, appeared in Manipur and claimed the throne. The
B ritis h Government, on the recommendation o f the P o lit ic a l
Agent, Colonel McCullock, removed Chandrakirti Singh ond
his mother to Dacca (now cap ital o f Bangladesh). But they
managed to escape somehow. Chandrakirti Singh came again to

56. P o lit ic a l Consultations, 3 A p r il 1834, N o.127. (Major

Grant's le t t e r to T.C.Robertson dated 2 Feb.1834.)
Manipur and. claimed the throne* But, he came th is time with
a force* The Mamipuri so ld ie rs showed th eir lo y a lty to
Chandrakirti Singh as the ex.-Raja happened to be the rig h t­
fu l h eir to the throne* Thus, the supporters o f Chandra­
k i r t i mustered strength while that o f Devendra dwindled.
Chandrakirti defeated Devendra and became the Raja.

Colonel MeCullock informed the Government o f India that

B ritis h influence could be e ffe c t iv e ly exercised i f troops
were posted at Manipur. However, he simply recommended a
formal announcement recognising the Raja and a declaration
that the B ritis h would p rotect him against any attack. This,
MeCullock considered, would s u ffic e to deter others from
attempting a r e v o lt against the Raja. 57

The Government o f India, in rep ly , informed that i t had

decided to re fra in from. in te r fe r in g in the succession issue
in Manipur. However, the Government authorised the P o lit ic a l
C Q

Agent to announce the B ritis h p o lic y o f upholding the Raja.

This Colonel MeCullock f u l f i l l e d in a public avowal. This
was how Manipur came to be treated as a B ritis h p rotectorate.

I t may be noted here that the Raja him self did not ask
fo r B ritis h protection ; and i t was purely a B ritish i n i t ia ­
t iv e . In sofar as contests from other princes were concerned,

57 * Mackenzie, A .Z ., op. c i t . p.154*

58. ib id * p . 155 *
 25

Chandrakirti was not afraid o f any such trouble as he

knew that the people were with him. When Keifa Singh was
arrested by the B ritish for an attempted revolt against
Chandrakirti, the la tte r was asked to pay the maintenance
charge for the detention o f Keifa Singh. The Raja replied
that he would not pay anything as the arrest was not made
at his request. He further expressed the view that Keifa
Singh be set at lib e rty . 59

The fact was that the B ritish Government was afraid

le s t the Burmese should exert greater influence on Manipur
and thus threaten B ritish interests in eastern India . ^
Therefore, the declaration o f the British making Manipur
as a protectorate state was solely motivated by imperia­
l i s t in terests.

A fte r a lon g p eriod o f fr ie n d ly and c o r d ia l r e la tio n s

between the two Governments t i l l 1890, unhappy events came
to p a ss. In September 1890 a fig h t took p la ce between two
groups o f the Manipuri p rin ce s. Mr.Grimwood, the P o l it ic a l
Agent tr ie d to bring about a compromise; but fa ile d . The
ru lin g Raja, Surchandra Singh, abdicated the throne in
favour o f h is brother Kulachandra Singh, Yuvaraja, and
e ld e s t in the lin e from the oth er group. T ik en d rajit Singh,
Kulachandra*s broth er in the same group and leader o f the
r e v o lt , was appointed Yuvara ,ja. Surchandra along with his

59. F .D .P ., P o l i t i c a l B, 1876 ( l e t t e r No.91 o f 5 July 1875

from Dr.Brown to Captain H .S .P eet.)
60. Mackenzie, a .Z. op. c i t . p.15^.
 26

61
brothers in. the same group, l e f t for Brindavan. A fte r

reaching C alcutta, Surchandra made a representation to the

B r it is h Government s ta tin g that he had been forcibly de­

throned. He further requested for B r it is h assistance to

regain the throne.

62

A ft e r c o lle c tin g reports the B r it is h Government d e c i­

ded that Surchandra was not worthy o f reinstatem ent. The

r u lin g R a ja , Kulachandra, was recognised a s the Raja; while

T ik e n d r a jit , the Y u b a ra ja . was to be d e p o r t e d .^ The B r it is h

Government in structed M r.Q uinton, the C hief Commissioner o f

Assam, to proceed to Manipur with a force and settle the

m atter. M r. Quinton arriv ed i n Manipur in March 1891•

The Government o f Manipur took such B r it is h actio n as

an unwarranted in te rfere n ce in the adm inistration o f the

s t a t e . The B r it is h attempt to fo rcibly arrest T ik e n d ra jit

by attacking the palace was a severe provocation. Therefore,

the Manipuri troops re s is t e d the B r i t i s h . Five B r it is h

o f f ic e r s : Mr. Quinton, Mr.Grimwood, M r.C o ssin s, Colonel

Skene and Lieutenant Simpson, were executed. Two B r it is h

o f f i c i a l s working in the Telegraph department were also

murdered at Mayangkfcang. As a re su lt the Anglo-Manipuri

War o f 1891 b ro k e o u t. Three B r it is h columns from Kohima,

S ilc h a r and Tamu advanced to Manipur; defeated the state

forces and took over Manipur administration in April 1891.

6 1. F . D . P . , Foreign A , July 1891, N o .6 .

62 . ibid. No.13*
63» ibid. No.23.
 27

It w ill be clear from th e a b o v e circu m stan ces that th e

entry o f th e B r i t i s h fo rces to th e state o f M a n ip u r was

m a in l y due to th e f e u d s a n d d i s s e n t i o n s b e tw e e n the r i v a l

p rin c es i n th eir lu st fo r pow er. At the same tim e i t is

also a fa c t that, but fo r th e h e lp o f the B r i t i s h , it w ould

h av e b e e n v e ry d i f f i c u l t on the p a r t o f the M a n ip u r ! p rin c es

to fre e t h e m s e lv e s from th e B urm ese y o k e . It was a good

chance f o r the M a n i p u r i s t h a t e n m ity b e t w e e n the B r i t i s h an d

th e B urm ese gre w a t such a tim e when th ey n e e d e d B ritis h

a ssista n c e to fig h t o ff th e B u r m e s e . It was d ue to B r i t i s h

support and a lso Burm ese e n t a n g le m e n t w it h th e B r i t i s h in

Burma d u r i n g the f i r s t A n g lo - B u rm ese W ar t h a t M a n i p u r i s

co u ld r e g a i n th eir state from th e B u r m e s e .

O n th e p a r t o f th e B r i t i s h , it was a n i m p e r a t i v e n e c e ­

ssity , in th e c o n t e x t o f the p o l i t i c a l situ a tio n in tne

B ritish f r o n t i e r o f th e n o r t h - e a s t I n d i a , that a sta te like

M an ip u r, h o stile to th e B u r m e s e , s h o u l d be strengthened to

make th e B r i t i s h fro n tier i n eastern In d ia secure from

Burm ese h o s t i l i t y . The B r i t i s h p o l i c y of s u p p o r t i n g G a m bh ir

Sing h turned out fru itfu l in d e a l i n g w ith th e B u r m e s e . T h is

show s t h a t B r i t i s h a p p e a s e m e n t p o l i c y t o w a r d s th e Burm ese

p r o v e d to be a t o t a l fa ilu re .

S tra te g ic Im p o r t a n c e O f M a n ip u r

A study o f the B r i t i s h p o lic y as to why th e y w ere k e e n

on e x e r c i s i n g i n f l u e n c e o v e r M a n ip u r b r i n g s o u t the stra­

t e g i c im p o r t a n c e o f th e s t a t e . The l o c a t i o n o f th e state
 28

was o f s t r a t e g i c im portan ce i s th e c o n tex t o f the Government

o f In d ia :1& r e l a t i o n s w ith th e p ow ers i n the e a s t e r n A s ia ,

s p e c i a l l y B u rsa and China*

M anipur S t a t e , p a r t i c u l a r l y the M anipur v a ll e y w ith more

th an 700 sq u are m ile s , s t a n d s o u t a s an o a s i s i n the m idst o f

th e d e s e r t s o f m ountains and f o r e s t s i n the n o r t h -e a s t I n d i a .

I t had been r i g h t l y commented th a t the c lim a te o f M anipur was

s u p e r io r to th a t o f any p a r t i n the r e g i o n . 4 P le n t y o f R ic e ,

P o t a t o , a lo n g w ith o t h e r a g r i c u l t u r a l p ro d u c e , a r e grown in

s u f f i c i e n t q u a n tity f o r e x p o r t . Added to a l l th e s e , Manipur

o c c u p ie d a c e n t r a l p o s i t i o n among the t r i b e s o f the Naga H i l l s ,

the Lush ai H i l l s , and the K u k is and the Naga t r i b e s i n the

w e ste rn h i l l s o f M an ip u r. I t i s lo c a t e d i n a commanding p o s i ­

t io n on th e ro u te from Assam to Burma and from Cachar to

Burma and o c c u p ie s a s t r a t e g i c m i l i t a r y p o s i t i o n . ^

M r. Tucker, the Com m issioner o f S y lh e t, o b s e rv e d th at

M anipur gave the o p p o rtu n ity to th e Burmese o f a sse m b lin g

t h e i r f o r c e s f o r a n a t t a c k on th e B r i t i s h e a s te r n f r o n t i e r .

He, t h e r e f o r e , c a u tio n e d the B r i t i s h a u t h o r i t i e s o f the f a c t

th at the p o s s e s s io n o f M an ipur by the Burmese would g iv e the

6^. F .D .P . P o l i t i c a l A , A u gu st 1862, N o .207, R eport on

M anipur by D r. D a lto n , d ated 8 J u ly 1862.

65* F .D .P . E x te rn a l A , Septem ber 1892, N o s .9 -6 2 , Note by

G en eral H. B rac k e n b u ry .
 29

greatest ad-wantage to the l a t t e r in th e ir invasion o f

Cachar and that the Burmese might contemplate any action

towards e ith e r Cachar o r Assam. In 1833 Mr.T.C.Robertson,

the Agent to the Governor-General in Assam, also observed

that 11 Manipur proved a screen to the Burmese fo r molesta-

67
tion o f B r it is h t e r r it o r y .” ' Captain F.Jenkins noted in

1832 that the most valuable point o f B r itis h fro n tie r

appeared to be Manipur. In the event o f an attack from

the Burmese towards the B r it is h t e r r it o r ie s in In dia tne

Burmese would have to cross Manipur which would provide

68
strong opposition to the Burmese. °

By 1886 the p o sitio n o f Manipur became a l l the more

important to the B r it is h as they had annexed Burma. By then

Manipur was surrounded by B r itis h t e r r it o r ie s : Burma in the

east; Naga H i lls and Assam in the north; Cachar in the west

and the Lushai and Garo H i lls in the south. To have a proper

lin k among a l l these B r it is h t e r r it o r ie s a passage through

Manipur would be the most convenient one provided that a

good road was prepared through the state o f Manipur,with

Kohima as the centre,connecting Cachar, Naga Hills and Tamu

in Burma.

Dr.Thomas Dalton, the P o li t i c a l Agent in Manipur, had

stressed the importance o f improving communication f a c i l i t i e s

o f Assam and Cachar with Burma v ia Manipur. In 1862 he had

66. F .S .C ., 15 December 1826, o p .c it . Nos.57-59*

67. ib id . 15 October 1833* No. 114, l o c . c i t .
68. A .S .R .R ., Letters Issued to Govt. S e rie s II,V o l.1 8 ,N o .5 0 .
 30

dreamt a dream o f e f f e c t i n g a communication by ra ilw a y s

from Cachar to Manipur which would continue to the N ingthee

69
r i v e r in. Burma and then, proceed to China. But, t i l l th is

day i t remains a dream**

R e a s s e rtin g the s t r a t e g i c im portance o f Manipur,General

J.J.H .G ordon, Commandant Eastern F r o n tie r , observed that

p la c in g a g a rris o n a t Manipur would f a c i l i t a t e c o n tro l on

the t r ib e s from a c e n tr a l p o s it io n ; and th ere would be no

need f o r tro op s a t Cachar* He suggested fu r th e r th a t the

70
tro o p s a t Manipur be su pp lied w ith f u l l tra n s p o rt. Major

General H. Brackenbury a ls o shared the same view and had

expressed the n e c e s s ity f o r b e t t e r roads between Manipur

71
and Chindwin in Burma. r

In flu e n c e d by these o b s e rv a tio n s , the Government o f

In d ia made arrangements, a s e a r ly as 1891» to s t a r t work

f o r c o n s tru c tio n o f a road from Hichuguard to Manipur via

Kohima which was to be continued to Chindwin in Burma. The

n-

Kohima-Manapur road was open as a c a r t road in 1896. ^ The

opening o f the roa d , to be tru e , had made Manipur a cen tre

o f the tra d e c i r c l e o f Assam and Burma. But, the Cachar-

Manipur road remained a b r id d le p ath . Though i t was s h o rte r,

the road was n o t improved because o f the r is e and f a l l o f
*
the h i l l s and the unhealthy p la c e s i t had to pass through.

69. F .D .P. P o l i t i c a l A,August 1862, N o .207, l o c . c i t .

70. i b i d . September 1892,Nos.9-62, l o c . c i t .
71. ib id .(N o t e by General Brackenbury dated 13.9.1891.)
?2 . R eid, R obert, H is to ry O f The F r o n tie r A reas B orderin g
On Assam. 1883-1941. S h illo n g 1942, p .4 8 .
* F .D .P .E x tern a l A ,S e p t .1892,N o s.9-62 (N ote by G en .C o llin s)
 -’ 1

T h e B r i t i s h G o v e rn m e n t a ls o d e c id e d to c a r r y th e T e le g r a p h

l i n e b e tw e e n . I n d ia a n d B u rm a th r o u g h th e K o h im a - M a n ip u r

r o a d * * ^

T h e B r i t i s h G o v e rn m e n t o f I n d ia h a d t e s t e d th e s t r a t e g i c

im p o r t a n c e o f M a n ip u r i n t h e i r d e a lin g s w it h th e t r i b e s o f

th e a d jo in in g a r e a s i n q u e l l i n g a n d r e p e l l i n g th e t r i b a l

r e b e l l i o n s . T h e y h a d a ls o t e s t e d i t d u r in g th e A n g lo - B u r m e s e

w a r s * T h e sam e t r i a l cam e i n 1 9 4 0 s. d u r in g th e s e c o n d W o r ld

W a r. T h e A l l i e d f o r c e s h a d t a k e n th e b e s t a d v a n ta g e o f th e

s t r a t e g i c p o s i t i o n o f M a n ip u r i n d r i v i n g a w a y th e J a p a n e s e

fr o m B u rm a . T h e In d o -B u r m a r o a d (N a t io n a l H ig h w a y N o . 39) h a d

s e r v e d to s a v e th e l i v e s o f h u n d r e d s o f th o u s a n d s o f r e fu g e e s

b o t h N a t iv e s a n d E u r o p e a n s , i n t h e i r f l i g h t fr o m B u rm a

to w a r d s I n d ia d u r in g th e w a r . ^

S o v e r e ig n S t a t u s O f M a n ip u r

I n th e l i g h t o f th e f a c t s s t a t e d a b o v e , i t w o u ld b e o n ly

p r o p e r t o a s s e s s th e p o l i t i c a l s t a t u s o f M a n ip u r . R e g a r d in g

th e p e r io d b e fo r e 1 8 2 6 t h e r e i s l i t t l e d is p u t e a b o u t th e

f a c t t h a t M a n ip u r w a s a n in d e p e n d e n t s o v e r e ig n s t a t e e x c e p t

f o r th e i n t e r m it t e n t p e r io d w h e n th e B u rm e s e in v a d e d th e

s t a t e a n d f o r c i b l y o c c u p ie d i t * s p e c i a l l y b e tw e e n 1819 a n d

1 8 2 6 k n o w n i n th e h is t o r y o f M a n ip u r a s th e C h a h i T a r e t

K h u n ta k p a (s e v e n y e a r s * d e v a s t a t io n ).

73 - F .D .P . E x t e r n a l A , S e p te m b e r 1 8 9 2 ,N o s .9 - 6 2 , l o c . c i t .

74- * E v a n , L ie u t e n a n t G e n e r a l S i r G e o ffe r y a n d J a m e s ,A n to n y ,

Im p h a l : ( A F lo w e r O n L o f t y H e ig h t s ). M a c m illa n & C o .

L o n d o n , 1 9 6 2 , p .1 0 3 .
 32

There seem to be a c o n tro v ersy o v e r the p o l i t i c a l

sta tu s o f Manipuri du rin g the p e r io d from February 1826

to A p r il 1891• Such a co n tro v ersy c e n tre s round two con­

f l i c t i n g view s as under

A cco rd in g to one view , advocated by Manamohan Ghose

during the t r i a l o f the Manipuri p rin c e s i n 1891, Manipur

was a s o v e re ig n and independent s ta te .7 ^ The Government o f

Manipur, rep resen ted by the K in g and the Darbar, e x e r c is e d

t h e ir powers a s a s o v e re ig n s t a te ; n o t s u b je c t to the autho­

r i t y o f any fo r e ig n power*

The o th e r v ie w , shown by the Government o f I n d i a 's

d e c is io n on the q u e s tio n o f Manipur R e b e llio n in 1891,

s ta te d th a t Manipur was a su bordinate N a tiv e S t a t e . ^ S ir

W illia m Lee Warner c a l l s the N a tiv e S ta te s as ' the semi

s o v e re ig n s t a te s in su bordinate a l l i a n c e * . ^ These N a tiv e

S ta tes were under the s u zera ig n ty o f the B r it is h Paramountcy.

The p o s it io n may be examined w ith r e fe r e n c e to recorded

fa c t s and the background o f the Anglo-M anipuri r e la t io n s

du ring the p e rio d under r e v ie w .

De Jure Status The B r it is h n e ver acqu ired Manipur by

conquest o r oth erw ise du rin g the p e r io d under d is c u s s io n .

B esides t h is , Manipur was n e ver a tr ib u ta r y s t a te under the

75• Ghose, Manamohan, Did the Manipuri P rin c e s Obtain A

F a ir T r i a l . London, 1891, pp.15-24*
76. Warner, S ir W illia m L ee , o p . c i t p .5 (quoting d ec isio n ).
77. i b i d . p .3 .
 no
B r it is h a s was Cachar under Govindachandra, to and Assam
79
under Purandhar Singlu Manipur had h er o m S ta te -la w s

and R u les, though n o t i n a w r it te n form , based m ainly on

s o c ia l customs and usages* I t was n e v e r su b je cted to any law

o r A c t o f th e B r it is h P a rlia m en t i n London o r any ordinance

is s u e d by the Governor G eneral i n Council i n In d ia * The

s u b je c ts o f Manipur S ta te p a id t h e i r a lle g ia n c e to the S ta te

o f Manipur a lo n e; n o t to any o th e r a u th o r ity *

A r t i c l e 2L o f th e T re a ty o f Yandaboo, a s s ta te d above,

r e c o g p is e d Gambhir Singh a s th e Raja o f Manipur* Th is a lso

marked the end o f Burmese o ccu p a tio n o f Manipur. Thus, both

the B r it is h and the Burmese rec o g n ise d the independence o f

Manipur. I t may be n o ted th a t the in s e r t io n o f the above

a r t i c l e i n the T rea ty o f Yandaboo, to which Manipur S ta te

was n o t a p a r ty , was i n fu lfilm e n t o f the B r it is h prom ises

made to Gambhir Singh f o r the r o le he p la y ed du ring the f i r s t

Anglo-Burmese War c o n tr ib u tin g to B r it is h v i c t o r y . B esides

t h is , i t was an ard en t d e s ir e o f the B r it is h Government, a t

le a s t i n those days, to e s t a b lis h Manipur as an. independent

b u ffe r s t a t e between Burma and, the B r it is h e a s t-In d ia n t e r r i ­

t o r ie s * T h is i s c le a r ly s t a t e d i n a l e t t e r o f Mr* G.W* Swin-

ton, the S e c re ta ry to the Governor G eneral, to David S c o tt

w herein Swinton w rote th a t M The Government o f In d ia had

d ecid ed th a t the fa vo u ra b le o p p o rtu n ity should n o t be l o s t

78* L a h ir i,R * M ., A nnexation O f Assam. Gauhatf,1975* p*A9.

79* Bose M*L. H is t o r ic a l And C o n s titu tio n a l Documents Of
N orth East I n d ia . ( ed ).C on cep t P u b lis h in g Co*1979,p*65.
o f e n a b lin g a f r i e n d l y C h ie f l i k e Gambhir Singh to e s t a b lis h

an in dependent government between the B r i t i s h and the Burm ese."

The same l e t t e r f u r t h e r s t a t e d th at by a s s i s t i n g Gambhir Singh

to re c o v e r M anipur the B r i t i s h Government sh ou ld impose most

O -I

p o w e rfu l and e f f e c t u a l check on the Burmese.

M anipur was r e f e r r e d to in the B r i t i s h r e c o rd s a s an A s i a -

32
t i c Power i n A l l i a n c e w ith the Queen. The d e c la r a t io n mao;

by C o lo n e l M cC ullock, the P o l i t i c a l A g e n t ,in the y e a r It; : t

p u n ish any r e v o l t a g a in s t the R aja o f M anipur may be tre a te d

a s o n ly a r e i t e r a t i o n o f the e a r l i e r B r i t i s h p o lic y towards

M anipur S ta t e which, f o r lo n g , rem ained subdued because o f tne

u
B r i t i s h p o lic y o f n o n -in t e r v e n t io n . T h is ^ c le a r from the c sc-
r e c o r d s o f K e ifa Singh who was sentenced f o r seven y e a r s '

t r a n s p o r t a t io n in 1865 under S e c tio n 125 o f the Pen al Ccce in

con nection w ith an attem pted r e v o l t a g a in s t C h a n d ra k irti Singh';

The Government o f M anipur e n fo rc e d some S t a t e -R u le s wnich

imposed r e s t r i c t i o n s on the en try o f f o r e i g n e r s , in c lu s iv e of

the B r i t i s h European s u b je c t s , in t o M anipur. No fo r e ig n e r ,vas

a llo w e d to e n te r and r e s id e i n the S ta te w ith ou t a form al and

p r
e x p re sse d p e rm iss io n from the k in g and the D a r b a r .°

80. A . S . R . R . , L e t t e r s R eceived From Government, V o l.2 , o p .c it .

le t t e r from Swinton to D avid S c o t t .
81. ib id .
82. F .D .P . P o l i t i c a l A , January 1875» K .W .,N o .l1 b .
83. ib id .
8i+. J oh n sto n e,M ajor G en eral S i r James, o p . c i t . p. 275*
 Raja Gambhir Singh concluded with the B ritis h the J ir i
Treaty in 1833. The use o f the term*Treaty* was a r e a f f ir -
nation o f the B ritis h recogn ition o f Manipur as an indepen­
dent. state.. In the case o f agreements with the states o f
lower status, the tern *Sanad* was preferred to the tern
‘ Treaty*. This i s clear from the decision o f the Government
o f Tndi a on the n a tter o f r e in s ta lla tio n o f Purandhar Singh
in power in Assam.®^

The Government o f Manipur had close and intim ate r e la ­

tion s with the B ritis h Government o f India* I t s diplomatic
Agent was posted at Calcutta* the then seat o f B ritish power
or
in In dia. Major Gulap Singh held the post in 1886.° Since
1835 the B ritis h Government appointed a P o lit ic a l Agent in
Manipur alone with, p len ipoten tiary powers. The B ritish Agent
had no powers to d ic ta te terms; h is ro le was to be a pursua-
QO
siv.e one. 1 For h is undue attachment, to the Maharaja of
Manipur, the P o lit ic a l Agent in Manipur had been accused o f
" not being mindful to watch o ver and to p rotect B ritish
in te r e s ts " and he had acted as the counsel advocate and
defender o f the Raja.®®

The B ritis h records given below would show that the B ri­
tish a u th o ritie s treated Manipur as an independent state
t i l l 1891

85* P o lit ic a l Consultations, 30 May 1833* N o.110.

86. Foreign Department Proceedings, August 1886, No.812.
87. Johnstone, Maj.Gen.Sir James, o p .c it* p*2?3*
88. A.S.R.R* L e tte rs Issmed to Government, Series I I ,
op. c i t . L e tte r from Hopkinson to the Secy to the Govt,
o f India dated ? December 1872.
 (a ) Mr. Crawfurd who was sen t to the Court o f Ava

to s e t t l e m atters w ith the Burmese Government

a f t e r the T re a ty o f Yandaboo d e c la re d in. 1827

th a t Gambhir Singh was d e cla red by the T reaty

89
to be the s o v e re ig n th e r e o f*

(b ) L ieu ten a n t C olon el McCullock w rote th at Gambhir

Singh having ob ta in ed p o ssession o f Manipur w ith

B r it is h a s s is ta n c e was d e cla red independent under

90
the T reaty o f Yandaboo.

(c ) C .U .A itch iso n w rote i n 1862 th a t *on the outbreak

o f the f i r s t Burmese War n e g o tia tio n s were opened

w ith Gambhir Singh who was d e cla red independent by

the T re a ty o f Yandaboo. f
91
(d ) Dr.Brown, the P o l i t i c a l Agent i n Manipur w rote In

1873 th at on. the con clu sion o f the Burmese War by

the T rea ty o f Yandaboo i n 1826 Manipur was d e c la -

92
red in d epen d en t*'

(e ) In 1881 Dr*George Watt w rote in a l e t t e r to the

D ir e c to r o f P u b lic In s tr u c tio n s ,B e n g a l, sa yin g

"..... I n r e q u e s tin g your a id the P o l i t i c a l Agent

i s aware th a t (Manipur b ein g an independent s t a te )

1)
t h is .............. m ight be con sid ered beyond your pow er."

89- Crawfurd, op. c it* . p »191 •

90. M cCullock, L t.C o l.M , The V a lle y o f Manipur. D elh i,
1980, p*9.
91* A itc h is o n , C .U ., o p . c i t * p*121.
92. Dr ..Brown, R, S t a t i s t i c a l Account o f the V a lle y o f Manipur
And The H i l l T e r r it o r y Under I t s R u le. D e lh i, 1973> P*6%
93- A *S *P *, A p r il 1882, No*1, ( l e t t e r dated 22 November, 1881.).
 zn
{

(f) In 1937,on the question o f Salute Guns, the old

records on the subject were consulted* A fte r a
thorough inquiry i t was found, that the Raja o f
Manipur was not included in the table o f Salute
Guns to the Native States o f India before 1891.
Refering to le t t e r No*329 I dated 16 A p ril 1888**
from the Chief Commissioner o f Assam to the
Government o f In dia, i t was noted that ’ Manipur
State was treated as independent before 1891 A p r i l . ^

The facts stated above and the documents cited conclu­

s iv e ly estab lish the De. Jure sovereignty o f Manipur during
the period 1826-189K I t i s evident that the Treaty o f Y.anda-
boo i i , the historical, landmark to aeknowlwdge the independent
status o f Manipur. Since that time nothing had happened to
rebut the evidence. Mr. Manamohan Ghose r ig h tly observed
that no appeal to the B ritis h power fo r assistance, nor any
acquiescence in any in terferen ce by the B ritis h in the in te r ­
nal management o f the sta te, nor in any claim asserted to
recognise a successor to the throne o f Manipur should have
the e ffe c t o f a lte r in g the status o f M anipur.^

De Facto P o s itio n :- The importance o f Manipur as a

b u ffer state between Burma and B ritis h India lo s t much o f
i t s sign ifican ce a fte r the Treaty o f Yandaboo. The position
became worse a fte r the handing over o f the Kabo Valley to
the Burmese fo r the loss o f which Manipur received 500rupees

** The l e t t e r could not be traced.

9*f. M.S.L.,Cabin lf9 ,F ile 11 (Note by Dutta, A s s tt.to P o lit ic a l
Agent in Manipur)*
95» Ghose Manamohan, o p .e it* p*22*
 38

as compensation per month* Though not a fu ll-proof device

to end Burmese h o s tilitie s towards the Bmitish, the Govern­
ment o f India, at the beginning, was credulous about the
future o f such a policy. The Governor-General and the
Secretary o f State for India, therefore, neglected their
obligations towards Manipur. On the other hand, the p o lit i­
cal in sta b ility , marked by frequent armed rebellions led by
Manipuri princes aspiring to occupy the throne, compelled
the Maharaja o f Manipur to rely on British support for
repulsing the attack o f such rebels* To part with British
friendship and assistance in the midst o f the p o litic a l
turmoil meant to the Maharaja taking hazardous risk. Such a
situation contributed muck to opening o f opportune ties to
the British to interfere into the a c tiv itie s o f the state.
The Maharaja had tolerated such interference with bitterness,
while the B ritisk construed it. to be that the Maharaja had
accepted the dominant status.

There are some other views in support o f the idea that

Manipur was a subordinate state. Some such views are stated
and discussed below :-
(i) I t had been contended that Manipur became a subor­
dinate a lly and British protectorate since 182
But, i t may be noted that such a view had been
formed out o f ignorance or negligence of the fact
that a l l British assistance to Manipur had been
withdrawn since 1835.

96. Warner, Sir William Lee, o p .cit. p*179

(ii) To vindicate the subordinate status o f Manipur i t

had been viewed that such steps a s B r itis h recogni­

tion. o f the successor to the throne o f Manipur, decla­

ra tio n o f Manipur by the B r it is h a s a protectorate

s ta te , con ferrin g o f B r it is h royal t i t l e s to the

Maharaja o f Manipur; and the l a t t e r 's acceptance o f

the t i t l e s , e t c ., were the evidences o f accepting the

dependent sta tu s. I t might be noted, however, that the

announcement made by Colonel McCullock in 1851,by

which Manipur was declared to be under B r it is h protec­

to ra te , was uncalled fo r . I t was purely in B ritis h in te ­

r e s t s that such a d ec laratio n was made with a view to

guarding a gain st p o ssib le Burmese designs on Manipur

97
State* " Regarding the B r it is h recogn ition o f the succe­

ssor to the throne o f Manipur, such recognition made,

undoubtedly, the Raja stronger i n the eyes o f the enemy.

But, i t could in no way be construed as deciding the

future r u le r o f the s t a t e . The most f a t a l consequence

in the absence o f the B r itis h recogn ition would be

simply the withdrawal o f B r it is h assistan ce to the

r u le r a s was made c le a r in the case o f Saja Govinda -

98
chandra o f Cachar. Such withdrawal o f support,

per se . could not jeopardise the independent status

o f a state u n til such actio n s follow ed as might compel

the w illin g acceptance o f the subordinate status by

97. Mackenzie, A .Z ., op. c i t . p. 154.

98. Bhattacharjee, J .B ., op. c i t . p.50.
 uo

the state* As regards the Royal t i t l e s , i t was

prim arily ca lcu la ted to promote a c lo s e and frien d ly
relation*. I t was a sign o f intim acy; and not nece­
s s a r ily a stamp to s ig n ify B r itis h domination over
the s ta te s which re ce iv e d the t i t l e s * These were
t i t l e s which could be con ferred even on
the fo r e ig n e r s * ^

While a l l these may be conceded, the fa c t remained'

that Manipur, lik e oth er Native S ta tes, came in crea sin g ly
under the umbrella o f the B r it is h Paramountcy desp ite her1
formal independent status*

The r e la t io n between the Government o f Manipur and

the Government o f In d ia , i t i s true, may be ch aracterised
to be that o f a small and weak power v is - a - v is a great and
mighty power* In some phases o f the r e la tio n s , th e re fo re ,
the B r itis h Government took advantage o f the r e la t iv e ly
weaker p o s it io n o f Manipur State and in te r fe r e d in the
adm inistration o f the sta te* There had been in stan ces when
the Government o f Manipur y ie ld e d to such in te r fe r e n c e , and
a lso oth ers when such in te rfe r e n c e met with stubborn r e s is ­
tance from, the Manipuris* Some such in stan ces may be noted
a s given below : -

99* M*S.L* Cabin 29, F ile N o.6, (E nglish honours and

Indian honours).
 41

(a ) The B r it is h Government handed o v e r Kabo V a lle y o f

Manipur to Burma w ith ou t ta k in g p rop er consent

from the Raja o f Manipur. But, the Government o f

Manipur, probably consoled by the compensation ,

y ie ld e d to i t .

(b ) M ajor General S ir James Johnstone, the P o l i t i c a l

Agent in. Manipur, demanded the replacem ent o f

General Thangal by General Balaram as the Ayapnrel

(M in is te r i n charge o f Burmese a f f a i r s ) f o r an

a lle g e d in s u lt o f the P o l i t i c a l Agent in presence

o f Burmese em issary. The Government o f Manipur did

1
a c c o rd in g ly ; General Balaram was made A va p u rel.

(c ) The B r it is h Government, i n her turn, was pressed by

the Government o f Manipur to re p la c e D r.T .D al ton,

the P o l i t i c a l Agent in Manipur, as he was decla red

persona non grata by the Government o f Manipur, '"’he

B r it is h Government y ie ld e d to i t and rep laced Dr.

D alton.

On the o th e r hand, th ere were a ls o in s ta n ce s when the

k in g o f Manipur refu sed to abide by B r it is h p o l i c i e s and

o f fe r e d stubborn r e s is ta n c e as s ta te d below

(i) Maharaja C handrakirti Singh refu sed to pay the

maintenance charges demanded by the B r it is h fo r

102
d e te n tio n o f K e ifa Singh.

100. F .D .P . O ctober 1885, N o .48.

101. P o l i t i c a l A, November 1863, N o .6-51.
102. F .D .P. P o l i t i c a l B 18?6, l e t t e r N o .91 o f 5 July 1875,
lo c .c it.
 42

(ii) In 1890 Maharaja Surchandra Singh refused to imple­

ment the B ritis h scheme o f establish in g Imperial
10^
Service Corps in Manipur. ^
(iii) In 1891 the Government o f Manipur refused to abide
by the decision o f the Government o f India to hand
over T ik en d rajit Singh, the Yuvara la . to the B ritish
fo r deporting him* When the B ritish forces trie d to
a rrest him, the Manipuri forces res is te d . This
action o f the Mamipuris resulted in the outbreak o f
the Anglo-Manipuri War in 1891. The B ritish victory
in the war erected a milestone o f B ritish domination
over Manipur State.

j Under the above circumstances, despite the de lure

sovereign p osition o f Manipur, the B ritis h Government had
in te rfe re d quite often in. the administration o f the state.
A l l these were made possible because o f the superior power
o f the B ritis h Government o f In dia. The Government o f
Manipur, more often than not, had to y ie ld to the in te r ­
ference because o f her in fe r io r strength. Thus, the de facto
sovereignty o f Manipur was le s s f e l t . U ltim ately, this made
the people more prone to b e lie v e in the dependent status o f
Manipur. I t was to p rotect her sovereignty that the Govern­
ment and the people o f Manipur had to stake th e ir own
independence in the Anglo- Manipuri War o f 1891. The war

103. Foreign A, 1892, Bo.25

culm inated in. the com plete su bord in ation o f Manipur to the

B r itis h .. Lord Landsdowne observed : " The im putation o f

tre a c h ery a r is e s from m isconception o f S e n a p a ti's p o s it io n

and th at o f Manipur S t a t e * ”

To summarise the fa c t s sta te d b e fo r e , Manipur remained

segrega ted p o l i t i c a l l y from the r e s t o f In d ia ex c e p tin g fo r

her neign bou rs. I t was the in t e r n a l r i v a l r i e s among the

p rin c e s o f the s ta te f o r t h e ir crave fo r power th at they

in v it e d B r it is h h e lp , which l a t e r on, meant a d is a s tro u s

p o lic y r e s u lt in g in the lo s s o f the so vereign sta tu s o f the

s t a te * A t f i r s t Anglo-M anipuri r e la t io n was e s ta b lis h e d in

1762 in the form o f a tra d e and d e fe n s iv e a llia n c e . But, i t

remained i n e f f e c t i v e t i l l 1823-24, when both the Government

o f Manipur and the Government o f In d ia were fo rc ed to face

a common enemy, the Burmese* Gambhir Singh, a courageous

p rin c e o f Manipur, was extended B r it is h support in cash and

kin d* They succeeded in d r iv in g away the Burmese from Assam

and Manipur.

In 1833 Raja Gambhir Singh signed w ith the B r it is h Bast

In d ia Company Government the J i r i T re a ty ; and sin ce then

Jiribam became a p a rt o f Manipur. I n 1834 the B r it is h signed

the Kabo V a lle y T re a ty w ith Burma which p rovid ed f o r handing

o v e r o f the Kabo V a lle y , a p a r t o f Manipur t e r r i t o r y , to the

Burmese* In l i e u o f the t r a n s fe r o f the Kabo V a lle y , Manipur

104* F .D .P. S e cret E, June 1891, N o.3 3*( Telegram N o.954 E

dated 11 May 1891 from V ic e ro y to S e c re ta ry o f S tate
f o r I n d ia . )
was to be given, by the B r it is h Government a sum of 500

rupees p er month as compensation* The s ig n in g o f the tr e a ty

marked a sharp tu rn in s o fa r as the B r it is h p o lic y towards

Manipur and Burma was concerned* The B r it is h support to

Manipur was withdrawn in 1835*- Manipur was l e f t to stand

on hear own. I n th e sane y e a r a P o l i t i c a l Agency was e s ta ­

b lis h e d * The P o l i t i c a l A gen t i n Manipur was r e s p o n s ib le fo r

ta k in g care o f the a f f a i r s i n Manipur i n r e l a t i o n to the

Government o f Manipur and the Government o f Burma* In U 51,

w ith the a p p roval o f the Government o f In d ia , the P o l i t i cal

A gent d e cla red Manipur as a B r it is h p r o t e c t o r a t e . T i l l lo90

the r e la t io n between the Government o f Manipur and the

Government o f In d ia was q u ite fr ie n d ly and c o - o p e r a t iv e .

j In 1891 the B r it is h Government took a f a t a l d e c is io n ,

in t e r fe r in g , in the in t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f the s t a t e , to deport

T ik e n d r a jit , the Y u b a ra ja, f o r h is a c t iv e r o l e i n the palace

r e v o lu t io n o f 1890 i n Manipur* The Government o f Manipur

re fu s e d to ab id e by the d e c is io n o f the B r it is h Government;

and d id n o t hand o v e r T ik e n d r a jit to the B r it is h . As the

B r it is h fo r c e s t r ie d to capture T ik e n d r a jit , the Manipuri

fo r c e s r e s is t e d the attem pt o f the B r it is h * Th is u ltim a te ly

r e s u lte d i n the outbreak o f the Anglo-M anipu ri War o f 1591.

The war ended w ith a v ic t o r y to the B r it is h fo r c e s * The

S ta te o f Manipur was conquered by the B r it is h army; and the

Government o f In d ia took o v e r the a d m in is tra tio n o f the

 45

State in April 1691. Thus, since 1891 Manipur became a subo­

rdinate state to the British; and Manipur suffered the

pains of. an. alien rule. In the absence of a clear cut rela­

tionship between the two Governments the British took toe

State of Manipur to be a Native State like others,and thus,

interfered in the internal administration of the State.

Manipur, on the other hand, continued to aspire for the

freedom they had lost*