CorCom explicates Khongjom War message

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 22 : On the occasion of the 129th anniversary of the Anglo-Manipur War aka Khongjom War (April 23), the CorCom has called upon  all the people to study the underlying spirit and messages of the war whose outcome was a forgone conclusion.
While offering revolutionary salute to all the martyrs and heroes of the war, the CorCom recalled that Manipur (Kangleipak), though small in terms of population and territory, existed as an independent Nation in western South East Asia throughout history.
Compared to the then sprawling British empire, Manipuris were quite inferior in terms of weapons and manpower. Yet, Manipuris fought against the invading British forces to protect the dignity and independence of the Nation, conveyed a statement issued by CorCom publicity committee.
“It is our obligation to study and decode the messages embedded in the Anglo-Manipur War which our forefathers fought valiantly even though they knew very well that they stood no chance”, the CorCom asserted.
Manipur was a tiny but proud independent kingdom and it successfully defended its sovereignty from all external aggressions until the Anglo-Manipur War.
Independence was the ultimate religion of all the hill and plain people of Kangleipak. Manipuris abhorred bondage more than anything else. Manipuris always preferred death to bondage and it was one predominant National character, asserted the committee.
This National character was moulded over centuries      out of the common tradition of hard labour, straight forwardness, magnanimity, truthfulness to one’s words and independent livelihood, it said.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, several Nations colonised by the British empire became independent.
However, Manipur was allegedly annexed by India on October 15, 1949, not long after it got independence from the British empire.
On account of continuous subjugation by India during the past 70 years, the whole population of Manipur has been living under extreme misery.
In addition to subjugating the people in all aspects of life, the Government of India has been scheming to annihilate all the indigenous people, it alleged.
Over the years, the National character and identity of Manipur people have been obliterated almost beyond redemption.
Nowadays, personal interests always precede community or National interest. Most people have no qualms in sacrificing all National or community interests in pursuit of personal interests, the CorCom said.
Disunity among the Manipuri princes is often cited as the immediate cause of the Anglo-Manipuri War but the people of Manipur fought against the invading British forces. However, the present generation, even after getting modern education, seems not fully aware of the alleged colonial policies of India, it remarked.
It said that the Indian electoral politics has deeply polarised the masses. Many people are now unable to differentiate between freedom and bondage, and they have little concern over the imminent distortion of National identity.
As a result of such newly imbibed character, Ministers and MLAs (both Opposition and ruling) have been treating the current critical situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic as an election turf.
In the name of distributing relief items, politicians and their workers have been stoking violent confrontations among the masses, it decried.   
Asserting that a collective determination of the present generation would determine the future of Manipur, the CorCom claimed that only a victorious liberation movement can protect the  identity of Manipuri people.
It then called upon all the people to join and take the liberation movement to a higher trajectory.