Manipur flag was white : IPSA

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 29: The International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) has categorically stated that the National flag of the kingdom of Manipur was white in colour and it was embossed with Ibudhou Pakhangba’s Paphal (having nine knots) in the middle.
Speaking to media persons at their Keishamthong office this afternoon, IPSA president Joychandra Konthoujam said that the Union Jack was pulled down and the Manipuri National flag was hoisted at the Kangla in the morning of August 15, 1947 after the British paramountcy lapsed in the midnight of August 14 same year.
The flag hoisted on the historic day was the particular white flag embossed with Ibudhou Pakhangba’s Paphal in the middle (having nine knots), Joychandra asserted.
Maharaj Bodhchandra, queen Ishwori and the British Political Agent GP Stewart were present at the flag hoisting ceremony, he said.
The Manipuri National flag was also hoisted at the royal palace as well as the office of the Manipur State Council but there were no national functions, he continued.
Noting that some organisations have been preparing to commemorate the ‘Manipur Independence Day’ on August 14, Joychandra said IPSA supports the idea of informing the present generation that Manipur was once a sovereign State and it had its own National flag, language, culture and administration.
But it would be very unfortunate if the ‘Manipur Independence Day’ is commemorated using any flag, other than the original white one which is embossed with Ibudhou Pakhangba’s Paphal in the middle (having nine knots), Joychandra said.
He said that IPSA had published a book titled Firal      (flag) after holding a seminar where Manipuri National flags used by different kings from 33 AD to the reign of Maharaj Bodhchandra were identified.
The particular white flag is listed in page no 24 of the book. IPSA is not simply claiming that the particular white flag is the correct one but it was determined from different books written by many scholars, he added.