The Archives of Manipur The seven years devastation (Chahi Taret Khuntakpa 1819-1826)
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Nicholas Khundrakpam
In the long and turbulent history of Manipur, also known as Sanaleipak, Kangleipak, or Meitrabak, many wars, conflicts, and invasions have left deep marks on the land and its people. Among these, the most devastating is the Chahi Taret Khuntakpa, or the Seven Years Devastation (1819–1826). Even today, the Meitei community, the primary inhabitants of the valley, continues to carry psychological scars from this period.
Before this catastrophe, internal conflicts among the Manipuri princes weakened the kingdom. After Maharaja Meidingu Pamheiba (Garibniwaz) (1690–1751) burned the ancient Meitei Puyas and converted the Meitei religion into Hinduism, the community became divided along religious lines. Administrative systems deteriorated, making Manipur vulnerable. Sensing an opportunity, neigh- boring powers prepared to strike. At this time, the Burmese king Alaungpaya (1752–1760) of the powerful Konbaung Dynasty had already laid the foundation for Burma’s expansion.
Internal Discord and the Drift Toward Invasion
To avoid further conflict, the princes of Manipur agreed to rule the kingdom in rotation. However, King Chourajit refused to relinquish the throne after his designated term, angering his brother Marjit, who fled to Burma seeking the support of the Burmese king Badaupaya. In 1813, Marjit returned with Burmese forces, dethroned Chourajit, and proclaimed himself king. Chourajit and his younger brother Gambhir Singh took refuge in Cachar (Assam).
Marjit’s alliance with Burma came with a price : he surrendered Kabaw Valley and accepted partial Burmese control over Mani-pur. But once he ascended the throne, Marjit defied the agreement, asserting full independence. His exploi- tation of Kabaw’s teak forests further angered King Badaupaya. After Badau-paya’s death in 1819, his grandson Bagyidaw ascended the throne. When Marjit ignored Bagyidaw’s invitation to the coronation, Bagyidaw-ordered the renowned Burmese general Maha Bandula to march to Manipur.
The Start of the Seven Years Devastation (1819)
In 1819, Burmese forces invaded Manipur. Marjit fled to Cachar after warning his people to escape for their lives. Countless civilians fled to neighbouring States; many hid in hills and forests. What followed was one of the darkest chapters in Manipuri history.
The Burmese army burned houses, Temples, and sacred structures. Precious artifacts were looted. Innocent men, women, and children were subjected to unimaginable brutality. Women were raped, children were smashed against stones, and people were tortured and killed in horrifying ways. Strong men were bound with iron wires, known as “Yairi Lengba,” and transported to Burma as slaves. Villages were emptied, and the population of Manipur dwindled from around 5–6 lakh to barely 2,000 survivors, scattered and suffering.
The princes fled to Cachar, where Chourjit, Marjit, and Gambhir Singh overthrew Cachar’s ruler, Govindachandra Singh, and divided the territory among themselves. Many Meitei Pangals and other displaced Meitei groups settled near the Barak River, Tripura, and even areas of present-day Bangladesh. Some captives remained in Burma permanently, forming today’s Kathe community.
The three brothers in Cachar soon clashed over land and power. When Chourajit denied Gambhir Singh’s request for more territory, conflict erupted. In 1823, Gambhir Singh defeated Chourajit and became the ruler of Cachar. The two elder brothers fled to Sylhet (Bangladesh), where they later died.
Resistance Within Manipur: The Rise of Local Heroes
While the princes were in exile, brave Manipuri warriors rose from the forests and mountains to resist Burmese rule. Heerachandra, son of Labanyachandra, emerged as the most determined among them. Refu- sing to abandon his motherland, Heerachandra fought relentlessly using guerrilla warfare. He earned the title “Daku Ningthou” (Bandit King) and became a symbol of unwavering patriotism.
From Sajibu (1820), many youths joined his cause. Together with warriors such as Yumjaotaba, Angom Subhanath Mani, Akoijam Khamba, Elang-bam Amu, and Moirang- them Labanga, they dealt significant blows to the Burmese.
When Burmese troops ventured out in search of food because of shortages in their camps, the Manipuri warriors seized the opportunity. In Kalen (May) 1820, they killed over 200 Burmese soldiers near Moirang. Yumjaotaba later infiltrated Burmese camps disguised as an unarmed civilian, slowly gaining the trust of their General. He then lured a Burmese force to Haiyen village and annihilated nearly 200 soldiers, seizing valuable weapons.
Heerachandra also devised a bold plan: disguised as a mad beggar, he coordinated with Meitei women who had been forced into marriages with Burmese soldiers. On a full-moon night, upon hearing the sound of a Moibung (a ritual instrument), these women killed their sleeping Burmese husbands simultaneously.
Over a series of operations in 1820, Heerachandra and Yumjaotaba captured strategic locations such as Kakching, Singjamei, Kho-midok, and Moirangkhom, killing Burmese commanders and seizing arms and ammunition. But despite their success, they were eventually forced back into the forests when 10,000 Burmese reinforcements arrived under General Pa- khanlun. After two months and 18 days, the Burmese withdrew temporarily, but the valley remained under their control.
The Anglo–Burmese War and Gambhir Singh’s Return
By 1824, under King Bagyidaw, Burma sought to expand into Assam. On March 5, 1824, Burmese forces invaded Cachar, where Gambhir Singh was ruler. This event triggered the First Anglo–Burmese War. The British recognized Gambhir Singh’s military prowess and allied with him. They trained Manipuri soldiers and formed the Manipur Levy, commanded by Nara Singh, supplying them with modern arms.
On 17 May 1825, Gambhir Singh marched from Sylhet toward devastated Manipur. On 10 June 1825, he reached Manipur, capturing Nungga and Mayang Keinou. The Burmese fled Imphal, leaving it deserted. On 12 June 1825, Gambhir Singh re-established Manipuri rule and restored order.
He then launched campaigns into Kabaw Valley, Tamu, and Sanjok, defeating Burmese forces, recovering wealth, and rescuing enslaved Meiteis. By February 1826, Kabaw Valley was reclaimed, and the Manipuri flag was hoisted near the Ningthi (Chindwin) River, marking the end of the Seven Years Devastation. On 24 February 1826, the Treaty of Yandabo ended the Anglo–Burmese War and led to the collapse of the Burmese empire.
Aftermath and Long-Term Impact
During the Seven Years Devastation, an estimated 4–5 lakh Manipuris perished. The survivors faced famine, displacement, and economic ruin. Many Temples, homes, and cultural structures were destroyed. Numerous families permanently settled in Tripura, Bangladesh, and Assam, while others remained in Burma as captives. Though Gambhir Singh restored the monarchy, British influence had deeply penetrated Manipur’s administration, eventually leading to the Anglo–Manipur War of 1891 (Khongjom Lan).
According to historian GE Harvey, the devastation can also be seen as Burma’s retaliation for earlier Manipuri invasions during the reign of Garibniwaj, indicating that both sides had suffered greatly over centuries of conflict.
A Shattered Society
The Seven Years Devastation altered Manipur forever. Entire bloodlines disappeared; clan structures weakened; communities dispersed. Cultural traditions, rituals, and artistic practices were disrupted or lost. Population imbalances reshaped society, and economic hardship gripped the land. Intermixing of bloodlines with Burmese soldiers during the war created traces that cannot be separated today. The internal disunity and greed for power displayed by the princes mirror, to some extent, the political divisions seen even today. The devastation left behind not only physical ruins but a wounded society struggling to restore its identity and soul. The writer may be reached at [email protected]
The article is adapted from the book 2nd edition of “A Short History of Manipur” by RK Jhaljit in 1992
In the long and turbulent history of Manipur, also known as Sanaleipak, Kangleipak, or Meitrabak, many wars, conflicts, and invasions have left deep marks on the land and its people. Among these, the most devastating is the Chahi Taret Khuntakpa, or the Seven Years Devastation (1819–1826). Even today, the Meitei community, the primary inhabitants of the valley, continues to carry psychological scars from this period.
Before this catastrophe, internal conflicts among the Manipuri princes weakened the kingdom. After Maharaja Meidingu Pamheiba (Garibniwaz) (1690–1751) burned the ancient Meitei Puyas and converted the Meitei religion into Hinduism, the community became divided along religious lines. Administrative systems deteriorated, making Manipur vulnerable. Sensing an opportunity, neigh- boring powers prepared to strike. At this time, the Burmese king Alaungpaya (1752–1760) of the powerful Konbaung Dynasty had already laid the foundation for Burma’s expansion.
Internal Discord and the Drift Toward Invasion
To avoid further conflict, the princes of Manipur agreed to rule the kingdom in rotation. However, King Chourajit refused to relinquish the throne after his designated term, angering his brother Marjit, who fled to Burma seeking the support of the Burmese king Badaupaya. In 1813, Marjit returned with Burmese forces, dethroned Chourajit, and proclaimed himself king. Chourajit and his younger brother Gambhir Singh took refuge in Cachar (Assam).
Marjit’s alliance with Burma came with a price : he surrendered Kabaw Valley and accepted partial Burmese control over Mani-pur. But once he ascended the throne, Marjit defied the agreement, asserting full independence. His exploi- tation of Kabaw’s teak forests further angered King Badaupaya. After Badau-paya’s death in 1819, his grandson Bagyidaw ascended the throne. When Marjit ignored Bagyidaw’s invitation to the coronation, Bagyidaw-ordered the renowned Burmese general Maha Bandula to march to Manipur.
The Start of the Seven Years Devastation (1819)
In 1819, Burmese forces invaded Manipur. Marjit fled to Cachar after warning his people to escape for their lives. Countless civilians fled to neighbouring States; many hid in hills and forests. What followed was one of the darkest chapters in Manipuri history.
The Burmese army burned houses, Temples, and sacred structures. Precious artifacts were looted. Innocent men, women, and children were subjected to unimaginable brutality. Women were raped, children were smashed against stones, and people were tortured and killed in horrifying ways. Strong men were bound with iron wires, known as “Yairi Lengba,” and transported to Burma as slaves. Villages were emptied, and the population of Manipur dwindled from around 5–6 lakh to barely 2,000 survivors, scattered and suffering.
The princes fled to Cachar, where Chourjit, Marjit, and Gambhir Singh overthrew Cachar’s ruler, Govindachandra Singh, and divided the territory among themselves. Many Meitei Pangals and other displaced Meitei groups settled near the Barak River, Tripura, and even areas of present-day Bangladesh. Some captives remained in Burma permanently, forming today’s Kathe community.
The three brothers in Cachar soon clashed over land and power. When Chourajit denied Gambhir Singh’s request for more territory, conflict erupted. In 1823, Gambhir Singh defeated Chourajit and became the ruler of Cachar. The two elder brothers fled to Sylhet (Bangladesh), where they later died.
Resistance Within Manipur: The Rise of Local Heroes
While the princes were in exile, brave Manipuri warriors rose from the forests and mountains to resist Burmese rule. Heerachandra, son of Labanyachandra, emerged as the most determined among them. Refu- sing to abandon his motherland, Heerachandra fought relentlessly using guerrilla warfare. He earned the title “Daku Ningthou” (Bandit King) and became a symbol of unwavering patriotism.
From Sajibu (1820), many youths joined his cause. Together with warriors such as Yumjaotaba, Angom Subhanath Mani, Akoijam Khamba, Elang-bam Amu, and Moirang- them Labanga, they dealt significant blows to the Burmese.
When Burmese troops ventured out in search of food because of shortages in their camps, the Manipuri warriors seized the opportunity. In Kalen (May) 1820, they killed over 200 Burmese soldiers near Moirang. Yumjaotaba later infiltrated Burmese camps disguised as an unarmed civilian, slowly gaining the trust of their General. He then lured a Burmese force to Haiyen village and annihilated nearly 200 soldiers, seizing valuable weapons.
Heerachandra also devised a bold plan: disguised as a mad beggar, he coordinated with Meitei women who had been forced into marriages with Burmese soldiers. On a full-moon night, upon hearing the sound of a Moibung (a ritual instrument), these women killed their sleeping Burmese husbands simultaneously.
Over a series of operations in 1820, Heerachandra and Yumjaotaba captured strategic locations such as Kakching, Singjamei, Kho-midok, and Moirangkhom, killing Burmese commanders and seizing arms and ammunition. But despite their success, they were eventually forced back into the forests when 10,000 Burmese reinforcements arrived under General Pa- khanlun. After two months and 18 days, the Burmese withdrew temporarily, but the valley remained under their control.
The Anglo–Burmese War and Gambhir Singh’s Return
By 1824, under King Bagyidaw, Burma sought to expand into Assam. On March 5, 1824, Burmese forces invaded Cachar, where Gambhir Singh was ruler. This event triggered the First Anglo–Burmese War. The British recognized Gambhir Singh’s military prowess and allied with him. They trained Manipuri soldiers and formed the Manipur Levy, commanded by Nara Singh, supplying them with modern arms.
On 17 May 1825, Gambhir Singh marched from Sylhet toward devastated Manipur. On 10 June 1825, he reached Manipur, capturing Nungga and Mayang Keinou. The Burmese fled Imphal, leaving it deserted. On 12 June 1825, Gambhir Singh re-established Manipuri rule and restored order.
He then launched campaigns into Kabaw Valley, Tamu, and Sanjok, defeating Burmese forces, recovering wealth, and rescuing enslaved Meiteis. By February 1826, Kabaw Valley was reclaimed, and the Manipuri flag was hoisted near the Ningthi (Chindwin) River, marking the end of the Seven Years Devastation. On 24 February 1826, the Treaty of Yandabo ended the Anglo–Burmese War and led to the collapse of the Burmese empire.
Aftermath and Long-Term Impact
During the Seven Years Devastation, an estimated 4–5 lakh Manipuris perished. The survivors faced famine, displacement, and economic ruin. Many Temples, homes, and cultural structures were destroyed. Numerous families permanently settled in Tripura, Bangladesh, and Assam, while others remained in Burma as captives. Though Gambhir Singh restored the monarchy, British influence had deeply penetrated Manipur’s administration, eventually leading to the Anglo–Manipur War of 1891 (Khongjom Lan).
According to historian GE Harvey, the devastation can also be seen as Burma’s retaliation for earlier Manipuri invasions during the reign of Garibniwaj, indicating that both sides had suffered greatly over centuries of conflict.
A Shattered Society
The Seven Years Devastation altered Manipur forever. Entire bloodlines disappeared; clan structures weakened; communities dispersed. Cultural traditions, rituals, and artistic practices were disrupted or lost. Population imbalances reshaped society, and economic hardship gripped the land. Intermixing of bloodlines with Burmese soldiers during the war created traces that cannot be separated today. The internal disunity and greed for power displayed by the princes mirror, to some extent, the political divisions seen even today. The devastation left behind not only physical ruins but a wounded society struggling to restore its identity and soul. The writer may be reached at [email protected]
The article is adapted from the book 2nd edition of “A Short History of Manipur” by RK Jhaljit in 1992