Prof Amar Yumnam must apologize for distorting historical facts of Manipur-YPPM

Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by SPN Editor

The Ph.D. thesis entitled, “Socio-economic roots of insurgency in North East India”, guided by Prof Amar Yumnam of MU and Dr. Sadananda Sahoo of IGNOU has attempted to nullify all the efforts and sacrifices of our forefathers to build the great Kingdom of Manipur. As against the all evident historical facts, the author tried to distort that the Merger of Manipur to Dominion of India was only 700 Square miles, and the Maharaja of Manipur had no Suzerainty over Tribal Chiefs of hill areas in Manipur.

Youth for Peace and Progress Manipur (YPPM) held a press conference demanding a public apology from Prof Amar Yumnam for distorting historical facts about Manipur.

YPPM concludes that the author Sushil Kumar Sharma has committed a crime against the people of Manipur for distorting the history using half-backed truth. Prof Amar Yumnam and Dr. Sadananda Sahoo are accessories to the crime as being guides. They owe a public apology for their crime. Unfortunately, it is learned that Sushil Kumar Shama expired. So the onus for undoing the mistake lies with Prof Amar Yumnam and Dr. Sadananda Sahoo.

The civilizational journey of the people of Manipur and the accompanying kingdom is reflected in the proclamation by His Highness Maharaja Budhachandra at the inauguration of the First Manipur Assembly on October 18, 1948 “She had her domination over a wide area extending as far as Southern portion of China in the North, the gold mines in the Sibasagar valley, the river Chindwin in the East and South, and Chandrapore (Cachar) in the West. Her present area is 8650 square miles plus 7000 square miles of Kabaw valley including 7900 square miles of the hills”. This was declared when Manipur became independent from the Colonial yoke of British rule and yet to be merged into the Dominion of India. The list of members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly of 1948 as well as the composition of the Council of Ministers proves this inclusivity.

All these clearly show that Manipur during the pre-merger was not at all just the valley of 700 square miles but 8650 square miles at least which included 7900 square miles of the hill areas. Referring to the “White Paper on the Indian States” published in 1950 by the Government of India It has been confirmed that the total area of Manipur that have been merged with the Dominion of India on 15-10-1949 was 8620 sq. miles with a total population of 5,12,000 (page 295).

Looking at the history of Manipur before she came under British Paramountcy in 1891 after Manipur lost in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, the kingdom of Manipur was the protector of various people inhabiting in Imphal Valley, surrounding hills, Kabaw Valley, and Cachar. We are proud to be a horse riding nation, skilled in warfare using Arambai riding on ponies. Combined with skills of making and using boats to travel far and wide through our river courses undertaking surprise attacks and unparalleled martial skills of Thang-ta which included spiritual training, the kingdom with Kangla as capital could expand her influence far and wide in West Asia.

This is quite obvious from various Thanas (Police Posts) of i) Chakpi post ii) Chatrick post ii) Jiri post iv) Kala Naga v) Kangkhum Post vii) Kongal post vii) Mao post ix) Moreh post x) Nasinga post xi) Namfow post xii) Paowi Post etc., spread throughout the geographical areas of Manipur. Cheitharol Kumpapa has also recorded many events which clearly show the extension of the Administration of Manipur Rajah over the hill villages.

The conviction of 2 Shirui, 19 Lunghar, 27 Nungbi, and 2 Khamason villagers and putting them into jail by Chandrakriti Maharaj in 1884 AD for their inter-tribal village feuds leading to killing amongst themselves would not have been possible if the Maharaja did not have suzerainty over village chiefs in hill areas. Cheitharol Kumpapa has also recorded punishing a villager of Choithar village for spearing a woman of Phadang village in 1846 AD during the reign of Narasing Maharaja.

In fact, the civilizational journey starting from the Old Stone Age when we lived in caves and survived by gathering foods and hunting, then to the New stone age more than 10,000 years ago when people started settling in the valley practicing agriculture, then back to hills when the valley was submerged with blocking of river course most likely due to landslide triggered by natural calamity and again back to valley settlement when water was drained out leading to the establishment of a great Kingdom which Britishers themselves described as an Asiatic Power would not have been possible without the participation of all those people who stayed back in the hills surrounding the valley. They were equal partners in this eventful history even though there had been friction on some occasions which is normal in any situation.

Let us also remember that our people residing in the hills became tribals only when British came. The division into hills and valleys was started only by the British colonists after Manipur was defeated in the Anglo Manipur War of 1891. Even under this scheme under British paramountcy where the British divided Manipur into two administrations Hill and Valley, the Maharaja was responsible for the administration of the State assisted by a Darbar. The Hil Tribes were administered on His Highness’s behalf by the president of the Darbar assisted by one or more officers.

The Manipur State Gazette dated July 23, 1947, whereby the order for the abolition of POTHANG (Beggar) and Forced Labour on hill subjects was signed by Maharaja Budhachandra just strengthens the assertion that even under British rule where dual administration was adopted, Maharaja was still the head.

YPPM concludes that the present government of Manipur takes up legal action against such individuals for their attempt to distort history thereby misleading and poisoning the minds of people so as to create a schism in the symbiotic harmonious relationships among various communities living together in the state.

Therefore, YPPM demands Prof Amar Yumnam and Dr. Sadananda Sahoo tender a public apology on this matter and take necessary steps to delete the portions distorting the history of Manipur.