Related Notes of Interest while on this topic

1.Synthesizing Role of History:

Although located in the northeast extremity, Manipur has been exhibiting a clear convergence to the pattern of freedom struggle in the all India spectrum. Time was when the kings of Manipur used to look eastward _ away from the mainland India _ and had been engaged in their serial battles with the kings of Burma, Siam or China although even then interspersed by cultural and military exchanges with Cachar, Tripura and Assam. No doubt, colonial rule formally reached Manipur only in 1891 almost a century behind its imposition in the national spectrum.

However, since the second quarter of the 19th century itself events in Manipur had been influenced by British advent in India. Hence its historicity and secular trends have also proceeded almost hand in hand, rather one seemingly interacting with the other and following it up. Hence not very surprisingly, Manipur had been in a way swimming along with, if not against, the mainstream events. In fact, since mid-19th century Manipur had perhaps been looking more westward towards the mainstream, and not at all eastward.

The war ended with the allied forces as the victor, but the empire was on the fast track of liquidation with Prime Minister Attlee announcing grant of independence well ahead of actual independence day. Nearer home, the polarization of political parties was apparent in Manipur. The mainland political change had reached remote Manipur. In 1946 Manipur State Congress joined hands with all the political parties for launching an agitation for constitutional reforms. But Hijam Irabot-led Manipur Kishan Sabha claimed its separate existence. The Maharaja of Manipur announced a Constitution-making committee to draft a constitution for Manipur. An interim ministry comprising the Congress and hill representatives was announced by the Maharaja on 15th August 1947 and the new constitution adopted in 1948. (See Chapter 11. Note 8: for the passage of the said Act; and Appendix thereto for Inaugural address of First Manipur Assembly on 15 October 1948)

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