THE ANGLO MANIPURI WAR, 1891

The Chief Commissioner of Assam opined that such dominant position would be more effectively asserted by refusing to accept the withdrawal of the abdication of the Maharaja Sura Chandra and by recognising the succession of the Jubraj Kulachandra on conditions imposed by the Government of India. One of the conditions should be to institute an enquiry into the conduct of the Senapati Tikendra and his punishment to the satisfaction of the Government of India.

In case the Maharaja Sura Chandra was restored, the Government of India would invite embarassments from his weakness. Whether the succession of the Jubraj Kulachandra was recognised or the restoration of the Maharaja Sura Chandra was made, in either case, the Government of India was to impose conditions.

In case of the restoration of the Maharaja Sura Chandra, the Government of India would have no grounds for assurance from the Maharaja that the conditions imposed would be fulfilled. In the absence of the assurance to fulfil the conditions from the Maharaja, the Government of India was to be compelled to increase the British force at Manipur in order to support him. But in case of the recognition of the Jubraj Kulachandra, the Government of India would not see any reason for increase of the force to support the Jubraj Kulachandra. What was required to be done in case of the recognition of Jubraj Kulachandra was to see that his position must be made dependent on his good conduct and his compliance with the wishes of the Government of India.

The Government of India accepted the opinion of the Chief Commissioner of Assam on the recognition of the sucession of the Jubraj Kulachandra. In doing so, they pointed out that the recognition of the sucession of Jubraj Kulachandra would be to the advantage of Manipur and to the furtherance of British interests rather than restoration of the Maharaja Sura Chandra. It was made clear to the Chief Commissioner of Assam that after the Maharaja Sura Chandra abdicated the gaddi, the Government of India was at liberty to select the form of Government which should give the greatest promise for the future in Manipur. The Government so selected was not to be based upon the successful issue of the Senapati Tikendra's revolt.

The Government of India also took the decision to remove the Senapati Tikendra mom Manipur and to punish him for his lawless conduct The reason for taking such decision was that the Government of India knew that the Jubraj Kulachandra was recognised as Regent consequent on the abdication of the gaddi by the Maharaj Sura Chandra. Jubraj Kulachandra attained the position of Regency more on account of the successful issue of his brothers action that the authority of the British Government. Because of this fact, so long as the Senapati Tikendra was in Manipur, the real power of the State would be in the hands of the Senapati Tikendra.

The Government of India was not to tolerate such state of affairs in Manipur. As that arrangement would neither bring a credit to the British power nor to the interests of the people of Manipur itself. Hence the Government of India took decision to remove the Senapati Tikendra from Manipur.

The Government of India directed the Chief Commissioner of Assam to visit Manipur in order to announce the decision of the Government in regard to the recognition of the succession of the Jubraj Kulachandra. The Government of India did not expect any opposition to the visit of the Chief Commissioner of Assam to Manipur. However, the Chief Commissioner was advised to take with him a sufficient force.

The Chief Commissioner was required to report to the Government of India for the orders to be passed by them on conditions to be attached to the recognition of the Jubraj Kulachandra as Maharaja. His opinion was also sought by the Government of India on the amount of restraint to be placed on the Senapati Tikendra and the allowance to be made for his maintenance. He was to say on the allowance to be paid to the Maharaja Sura Chandra and his brothers who would stay with him and the place of future residence of the Maharaja Sura Chandra.

The Chief Commissioner was to give his opinion whether Dollairoi Hanjaba and Zilla Singh who began the disturbances on the 21st September, 1890 would be sent away from Manipur or might be permitted to remain in Manipur. The Chief Commissioner was called upon to give his comment on whether the three brothers of the Maharaja Sura Chandra who were at that moment with him would voluntarily stay with him or whether it would be necessary to keep them in British India as Political detenus.

As regards the arrangements to be made by the Chief Commissioner during his visit at Manipur, he was to inform the Government of India that on his arrival at Manipur the Regent Kulachandra and the Darbar were to meet him. The Chief Commissioner was to announce the decision of the Government of India and was to arrest the Senapati Tikendra. The Chief Commissioner was to inform the Senapati Tikendra that the length of his exile and his return from exile depended on his conduct and the tranquility of Manipur.

The Maharaj Kulachandra was required to place a gun with the escort during the stay of the Chief Commissioner to prevent any disturbance. The Senapati Tikendra was to come with the Chief Commissioner on the 25th March, 1891. These arrangements of the Chief Commissioner had the approval of the Officer Commanding, Assam. The Senapati Tikendra was to be kept in detention not in Assam but in any other part of India. The cost of his detention would be Rs. 50/- per month.

On recognition of the Jubraj Kulachandra as Maharaj of Manipur, the Maharaja was to accept the advice of the Political Agent in Manipur. The Chief Commissioner informed the Government of India that 300 troops would be sufficient for his visit to Manipur. Brindaban was suggested by the Chief Commissioner as the place of residence for Maharaja Sura Chandra and an allowance of one hundred per month. Pucca Sana, younger brother of Maharaja Sura Chandra was not to return to Manipur and his cost of detention would be Rs. 40/- per month.

As for the younger brothers of the Jubraj Kulachandra, the Chief Commissioner opined that they might stay in Manipur.36 The Government of India approved all the proposals of the Chief Commissioner of Assam except that of the amount of allowance for Maharaja Sura Chandra. The question of allowance was kept as subject for reconsideration of the Government of India, if necessary.

The Chief Commissioner of Assam left Golaghat for Manipur on the 7th March, 1891. He took 200 men of the 42nd and 200 men of the 44th Regiments. Colonel Skene of 42nd Gurkha Regiment was the Commander of the escort party of the Chief Commissioner. The Chief Commissioner was received by Thangal Major, one of the highest officials in Manipur. Dollairoi Hanjaba, one of the brothers of the Regent received the Chief Commissioner at Sengmai on the 21st March, 1891.

Senapati Tikendra recieved the Chief Commissioner at a place 4 miles from Manipur on the 22nd March, 1891. A guard-of-honour was given by the Senapati to the Chief Commissioner. The Chief Commissioner and the Senapati Tikendra had a conversation in a shamiana. At about 10 O'Clock the Chief Commissioner arrived at Manipur. The streets were lined with Manipuri troops numbering about 500. As soon as the Chief Commissioner came to the vicinity of the Manipuri Fort, the usual salute was fired. Regent Kulachandra recieved Mr. Quinton outside the gate of the Manipuri Fort.

Mr Quinton, the Chief Commissioner of Assam and Regent Kulachandra had a brief talk. After this, Mr. Quinton announced that a Darbar would be held at 10 O'Clock of that day at the Residency. Regent Kulachandra, along with a number of Manipuri Officials, came to attend the Darbar.

Senapati Tikendra, Dollairoi Hanjaba and Zilla Singh did not come to the Darbar. On enquiry, the Regent informed the Political Agent that Senapati Tikendra and other princes were unable to attend the Darbar because of their illness. The Chief Commissioner announced that the Darbar could not be held without Senapti Tikendra. He also refused to see the Regent or his ministers. The Regent stayed there for two hours and later on left the Residency.

In the afternoon of 22nd March, 1891, Mr. Quinton, the Chief Commissioner of Assam sent Mr. Grimwood, the political Agent in Manipur to the Manipuri Fort to discuss with the Manipuri Officials. As a result of the discussion, a Darbar as fixed on the 23rd March, 1891 at 9 am. Manipuri princes again did not attend the Darbar. The chance of having a Darbar failed. Mr. Grimwood along with Lieutenant Simpson and Russick Lall Coondoo, clerk of the Residency made an attempt to have an interview with the Jubraj Tikendra at his house.

But this attempt also failed. The British Party met the Regent at the Darbar Hall of the Manipuri Fort. The Political Agent placed two conditions. The first condition was that the Regent Kulachandra must surrender the Jubraj Tikendra to the Chief Commissioner. If the Regent Kulachandra did not like to Surrender Jubraj Tikendra, he must permit the Chief commissioner to arrest the Jubraj Tikendra.

The Regent Kulachandra wanted to give his reply to the two conditions the next day. The Political Agent gave him only half an hour for the reply. The time given expired The Manipuri ministers on behalf of the Regent appeared before the Political Agent. The Manipuri Ministers conveyed the non-acceptance of the two conditions to the Political Agent.

The negotiations between the British and the Manipuri on the arrest of Jubraj Tikendra failed. Mr. Quinton, the Chief Commissioner was to arrest and deport the Jubraj Tikendra through military action. Colonel Skene summoned all the military officers after the dinner of 23rd March, 1891 to his room. He explained the plan for the military action which was to be kept a profound secret.

Colonel Skene ordered Lieutenant Brackenbury to proceed to the north entrence to the Palace enclosure with 30th rifles and he was to cut off the escape of the Jubraj Tikendra either through that entrance or into the palace itself. Captain Butcher was given the order to go to the Jubraj's house with 70 rifles and arrest the Jubraj. Lieutenant Lugard had the order to support Captain Batcher with 40 rifles. One hundred rifles were ordered to remain in reserve under Colonel Skene. The remaining force was to remain as guards to the compound and the Residency under Captain Bo-ileau.

Lieutenant Brackenbury and Captain Butcher moved for the action on the morning of the 24th March, 1891 at 4.45 a.m. and 5 a.m. respectively. As soon as Lt. Brakenbury halted opposite the Jubraj's house, he made enquiry about the whereabouts of the Jubraj, he was fired upon at close quarters. Thus the fighting between the British and the Manipuri began.

Next