Manipur I-Day observed fittingly CIRCA unfurls Pakhangba embossed flag

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 14: The Manipur Independence Day was observed today at Mana Ching, Keibi, Imphal East under the aegis of the Coalition for Indigenes Right Campaign (CIRCA).
The observation began with unfurling of a flag embossed with Ebudhou Pakhangba by CIRCA president Somorendro Thokchom who was one of the presidium members.
The other presidium members were HERICOUN president Longjam Ratan, IKAL president Oinam Bimola, KIMACS president Ningthoujam Ajit, UKAL vice-president Moirangthem Jillangamba and Irabot Memorial Trust vice-president A Shidam.
Speaking on the occasion, Somorendro Thokchom opined that observation of Manipur Independence Day (August 14), signing of Instrument of Accession (August 11), Manipur Repentance Day (September 21) and Manipur National Day (October 18) is driven by a strong belief that this historical events would help in restoring the pre-merger political status of Manipur and also in resolving the Manipur-India political conflict.
Remembering these events would also go a long way in resolving all internal differences and discord among different communities of the State.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, all the colonised countries and regions were decolonised under the supervision of the United Nations.
A large number of British colonies such as India, Pakistan and a number of princely States including Manipur were granted independence on August 14, 1947.
Soon after the lapse of British paramountcy, a democratically elected Government was established in Manipur for the first time in the entire South East Asia and thus Manipur existed as a sovereign country for two years and a half.
However, Government of India invited Maharaja Bodhchandra to Shillong and there the king, who was just a Constitutional head was forced to sign the Manipur Merger Agreement under duress on September 21, 1949. The merger agreement came into effect from October 15 same year.
Apart from abolishing the democratically elected Government, Manipur was reduced to the ignominious status of Part C State soon after it became a part of the Indian Union, Somorendro said.
Manipur people challenged the might of British empire and thousands of people laid down their lives in the Anglo-Manipur War 1891 for the cause of freedom. This is something well documented in the history of the world, he said.
However, following the merger of Manipur into the Indian Union, Manipur has degenerated completely in all aspects and it has lost the character of being a Nation.  Dependence has become a way of life, he continued.
With majority of people preoccupied with the struggle for their own survival, the spirit of Nationalism has disappeared from the society. This is testified by the titular king’s decision to go to the Indian Parliament (Rajya Sabha) as a Member after overlooking the fact he is the symbol of Manipur’s erstwhile sovereignty, said the CIRCA president.