Rainbow resistance and freedom movement against British colonialism

Lt Gen (Dr) Konsam Himalay Singh
Contd from previous issue
 Discovery of tea and oil in the region further added to the colonization efforts of the Britishers. Coal industry and huge natural resources including teak in the region gave further impetus to their efforts. With the commercialization of the region, railways and other transport systems to sustain the commercial activities were brought in. Their policy of keeping a large tract of the land of the “Frontiers” largely unadministered  thereby facilitating the proselytization of the population residing in these areas also led to further alienation among the various ethnic groups in the region over a few centuries. The identity and the culture of hundreds of tribes were threatened with the arrival of Christianity. The legacy of various  laws to isolate most tribes from the regular administrations persists even today. The monarchs of Ahoms, the Meiteis, the Dimasas, Tripuris and other local chieftains in the region ruled with iron hand in the yesteryears to consolidate the ever divisive identity conscious  population in the region. The arrival of British in the region and the subjugation of  many  tribes and their territories by them further accelerated  the arrival of the modern era. The rise and fall of the kingdoms through the ages in the region tell the story of the ethnic cauldron in the region. The early history of British relations with the indigenous people of North East were one of perpetual conflict. To control the tribes the British had to undertake many expeditions to the tribal areas. The British coined the terms such as, Backward Tracts, Excluded and Partially Excluded tracts in order to extend their scheme of administration in these areas.
The British sooner than later consolidated their grip on the existing kingdoms of Ahoms, the Manipuris, Tripuris and Jaintias who were the rulers in their respective geographical regions through carrot and stick policies. Ahom kingdom was dismantled soon after the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826 and the entire kingdom was merged into the British India with little resistance. The Kingdom of Manipur fought the British in 1891 at Khongjom, a village about 34 Kms from the capital Imphal. The Manipuri army  was defeated thus bringing the kingdom under British suzernity. Similarly the other smaller kingdoms like Tripura and Jaintia were also brought under indirect control of the British. The frontiers of these kingdoms were inhabited by hundreds of tribes of whom  many were at some time or the other subjugated by these rulers and exacted tributes even though they were not fully integrated to the mainstream. The Britishers found that “civilizing”(?) and developing these tribes were best achieved through proselytization to Christianity. Today one finds that 95% of these tribes follow Christianity.
The resistance to the British hegemony and their administration began soon after their entry into the region. In 1832, the Khasis fought the British forces by a series of guerilla actions against the British to ensure that the British intrusion into the area was stopped. The Britishers wanted to occupy the Khasi Hills due to its salubrious climate akin to Scotland. The Jaintias, another tribal group who inhabited the eastern part of the present day Meghalaya fought the British against their taxation system and to protect the traditional customs. However they were defeated and British control was established in early 19th century.
During the 1857 rebellion or the First War of Independence, people of Assam offered resistance in the form of non-cooperation. Many leaders in Assam were executed for their role in the non-cooperation movement particularly in the Nagaon district of Assam. The winds oforganised resistance as part of overall Indian freedom movement  against the British were first felt in the Brahmaputra and the Surma valleys (Cachar district) of Assam.
British intrusion into the Angami village Khonoma, in present day Nagaland  during 1880  resulted in heavy losses of British infantry and of the Angamis by the swift retaliation of the British. The Angamis made treaty with the Britishers soon thereafter. This resistance is one of the fiercest episode in the Naga territory.
The Anglo-Manipuri war in 1891 is also manifestations of revolt against the British Govt policies when the latter tried to ensure extinction of the kingdom of Manipur. The Kingdom of Manipur was used as a buffer against the Burmese empire by the British during the early days of British arrival in the region. However after the British victory in  3rd Anglo-Burmese war in 1885, the British saw no reason to tolerate a strong Manipuri kingdom.  Hence, the British decided to annex Manipur by taking advantage of alleged palace in fighting and intrigues was reported. The British employed over 4000 troops against approximately 4000 Manipuri soldiers to protect the kingdom. Victoria Cross was awarded to Lt Grant of British Army during the campaign against the brave Manipur Army. The king of Manipur, Maharaja Kulachandra was imprisoned in Andaman island after the defeat of Manipur. Recently, Mount Harriet in the Andamans where the Maharaja was lodged in a jail was renamed as Mount Manipur by the Union Home Minister. The British is believed to have offered the throne to the same Maharaja in return for his allegiance to the British Empire. However, the king chose to remain in jail rather than be under the British rule in the kingdom. A few others like Maj Gen Thangal and the regent  Bir Tikendrajit who played a role in the killings of British officers in Kangla (Capital Fort) were hanged for waging war against the empire .
On the other hand resistance to the British were also building up in the Manipur hills. Rani Gaidinliu of Manipur Hills consolidated her followers to reject Christianity and challenge the British administration in the hills of Manipur and erstwhile Assam during 1930s. Armed resistance against the British were carried out under her leadership. Mr Nehru honored her after independence of India. Kukis and Lushais from Southern Hills carried out a number of raids against British expansion eastwards from Chittagong. These raids were against British expansion in the hills of the region. (To be contd)