Twenty four heroes of Manipur were deported to Kalapani to wage war against the British Empire on two occasions, one related to the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and another related to Anglo-Manipur War of 1891.
'Sana Chahi Ahum' alias Prince Narendrajit alias Prince Ranjit was transported in 1857 for involving in Sepoy Mutiny and twenty three Anglo-Manipur war heroes including Maharaja Kulachandra too was transported for life after the defeat of 1891. The Anglo-Manipur war heroes deported to Kalapani are not given their due importance so far. It is a recorded fact that the people of Manipur, including Maharaja Kullachandra who was declared guilty of waging war against the Queen Empress of India, were exiled to Andaman. When their terms of incarceration were over and set free they were not allowed to go to their motherland. Many of them, including Kullachandra, chose to remain at Radha Kunda and breathed their last. The sacrifice of these heroes transported to Kalapani should be treated equally to that of heroes martyred in Manipur.
It is a fact that there is no proper and authentic record about them of their life particularly during and after their Kalapani deportation among the researchers, archivist, and academicians. The only database which records the names of the Anglo-Manipur War heroes transported to Kalapani is the Manipur State Archives of Government of Manipur (GoM). However, except the names with some basic information, there are no details of the war heroes particularly their biographical background, during and after life of their deportation. Besides, there is also a name "Jodh Singh" documented by Andaman and Nicobar Administration, which is not listed in the names available with the Manipur State Archives or any other colonial documents related to Anglo-Manipur war heroes deported to Kalapani.
Besides the lack of information, the ritualistic nature of the two state level observations particularly related to Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, seem to have little relevance. Their sacrifices are not reflected in the observation on 13 August and 23 April as both the observations are dominated by the narratives of the specific events on hanging of Jubraj Tikendrajit, Thangal General and heroism of Paona Brajabashi and the battle of Khongjom. It needs to be made sure that their sacrifice for the motherland should come to public notice. The initiatives taken up by the Preservation Committee of Deported War heroes and All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) in tracing the missing link can be backed by the Government and pursued officially at the highest level. It is high time to pool together the resources and expertise in collaboration with the government and bring out an authentic official report. A memorial complex can be built for them in Imphal, Radha Kunda and at Andaman to commemorate their sacrifice and to rejuvenate the public memory of the deported war heroes at Kalapani.
A detailed report along the line of "Martyrs of India's Freedom Struggle (1857-1947)" commissioned by Ministry of Culture and Indian Council of Historical Research published in the year 2016 can be developed and brought out for the deported Manipur war heroes in particular and North Eastern States in general. The importance of such an official report and of the memorial complex built in Manipur for the heroes of Second World War by the British as well as Japanese. Despite the distance, they visit every year to pay homage to their heroes in Manipur, on the contrary, the names of those people of Manipur who were deported to Kalapani for fighting for the freedom of their motherland are not in public memory.
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