CorCom salutes heroes’ sacrificial spirit
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 22 : On the occasion of the 134th anniversary of the Battle of Khongjom, better known as Khongjom War, the CorCom has saluted the sacrificial spirit of the Manipuri forefathers.
By engaging the mighty British forces in fierce battles even after knowing that the defeat of Manipur was a foregone conclusion, the Manipuri forefathers created a glorious legacy based on the lofty idea that one should be ever ready to make the supreme sacrifice to defend the freedom of one’s motherland.
Ingrained with this lofty ideal, Manipuri people do not have the slightest intention to live at the mercy of bigger or more powerful Nations, the CorCom said in a statement issued by its Publicity Committee.
It said that the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 was a war fought to defend the independence and territorial boundary of Manipur (Kangleipak) and its narrative is filled with innumerable supreme sacrifices.
Apart from the males who fought the war with an indomitable spirit, many Manipuri women were courageous to send their immature sons like Sengoisana, Heirangkhongja and Chinglensana to the battlefields even though they knew well that defeat was certain and their sons would never come back alive, it said.
After the fall of Major Paona together with many other heroes in the battle of Khongjom, Lt Col RHF Rennick who led the Silchar Column occupied Kangla on April 27, 1891. Soon after, the Kohima Column as well as the Tamu Column reached Kangla.
Even though Manipur (Kangleipak) was defeated at the battle, the Manipuri people’s spirit of freedom could not be suppressed.
By demonstrating their strong sense of sacrifice for the cause of freedom and sovereignty, the Anglo-Manipuri War ended in victory for the heroism of Manipuri people, the CorCom said.
The war of 1891 gave a clear message to the whole world that sacrifice for freedom is a bounden duty for every man and woman. It is for this very reason that Manipuri ethics and civilisation are respected across the world, it asserted.
“Our forefathers’ belief that one day of freedom is far more desirable than many years of life in bondage is indeed a lofty ideal”, it said.
Understanding this ideal and putting it into practice would be the most befitting tributes to the heroes, it continued.
Saying that Manipur (Kangleipak) is now facing total annihilation, the CorCom called upon all the people to understand the fact that nothing is more important or valuable than freedom.
One major factor for the defeat of Manipur in Khongjom War was the inability of the different communities of Manipur form a united front and this is an invaluable historical lesson for the present liberation movement, it said.
If there is no unity, and the hill people and plain people do not unite to fight inimical external forces, Manipuri will not be able to determine their own future.
The Khongjom War anniversary is a day of introspection and retrospection in order to rectify the failures and loopholes of the ongoing liberation movement, it said.
It then called upon all the people to recall the indomitable spirit and sense of supreme sacrifice of those brave mothers and forefathers, and prepare for the final war of liberation.
IMPHAL, Apr 22 : On the occasion of the 134th anniversary of the Battle of Khongjom, better known as Khongjom War, the CorCom has saluted the sacrificial spirit of the Manipuri forefathers.
By engaging the mighty British forces in fierce battles even after knowing that the defeat of Manipur was a foregone conclusion, the Manipuri forefathers created a glorious legacy based on the lofty idea that one should be ever ready to make the supreme sacrifice to defend the freedom of one’s motherland.
Ingrained with this lofty ideal, Manipuri people do not have the slightest intention to live at the mercy of bigger or more powerful Nations, the CorCom said in a statement issued by its Publicity Committee.
It said that the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 was a war fought to defend the independence and territorial boundary of Manipur (Kangleipak) and its narrative is filled with innumerable supreme sacrifices.
Apart from the males who fought the war with an indomitable spirit, many Manipuri women were courageous to send their immature sons like Sengoisana, Heirangkhongja and Chinglensana to the battlefields even though they knew well that defeat was certain and their sons would never come back alive, it said.
After the fall of Major Paona together with many other heroes in the battle of Khongjom, Lt Col RHF Rennick who led the Silchar Column occupied Kangla on April 27, 1891. Soon after, the Kohima Column as well as the Tamu Column reached Kangla.
Even though Manipur (Kangleipak) was defeated at the battle, the Manipuri people’s spirit of freedom could not be suppressed.
By demonstrating their strong sense of sacrifice for the cause of freedom and sovereignty, the Anglo-Manipuri War ended in victory for the heroism of Manipuri people, the CorCom said.
The war of 1891 gave a clear message to the whole world that sacrifice for freedom is a bounden duty for every man and woman. It is for this very reason that Manipuri ethics and civilisation are respected across the world, it asserted.
“Our forefathers’ belief that one day of freedom is far more desirable than many years of life in bondage is indeed a lofty ideal”, it said.
Understanding this ideal and putting it into practice would be the most befitting tributes to the heroes, it continued.
Saying that Manipur (Kangleipak) is now facing total annihilation, the CorCom called upon all the people to understand the fact that nothing is more important or valuable than freedom.
One major factor for the defeat of Manipur in Khongjom War was the inability of the different communities of Manipur form a united front and this is an invaluable historical lesson for the present liberation movement, it said.
If there is no unity, and the hill people and plain people do not unite to fight inimical external forces, Manipuri will not be able to determine their own future.
The Khongjom War anniversary is a day of introspection and retrospection in order to rectify the failures and loopholes of the ongoing liberation movement, it said.
It then called upon all the people to recall the indomitable spirit and sense of supreme sacrifice of those brave mothers and forefathers, and prepare for the final war of liberation.