Princess Kuranganayani a symbol of harmony between Assam and Manipur
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Dr Atul Borgohain
During the reign of the Ahom kings, there was never any conflict between Assam and Manipur. Neither had there been any incident of attack by each other; rather, the two States had been living in harmony through marriage and other means. Manipur is a State in the North Eastern part of India, with Nagaland to its north, Mizoram to its south, and the State of Assam to its west. To its east lies the Sagaing Region of Myanmar, and to its south lies the Chin State. The area of this State is approximately 8620.503 square miles. The main language spoken there is Meitei (Manipuri as per 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India).
In this article, I will discuss the cordial relationship between Assam and Mani-pur, particularly the story of Kuranganayani’s role in maintaining the harmonious relationship.
In 1751, during the reign of Ahom King Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha, his chief advisor was Gendhela Borbaruah, who had imprisoned Mohan Malak and exiled him to Namrup. Gendhela was very arrogant, ambitious, and stubborn. He was so stubborn that he had even conspired against his own father to become the Borbaruah. Due to his arrogance and ambition, there were many problems in the Ahom kingdom. As a result, the Moamoria rebellion began which lasted for about 20 years and it weakened the Ahom kingdom. Gendhela had become so powerful that he was disliked by the king’s officials and other nobles. Gendhela was aware of all the State’s affairs and politics. However, the king still respected him and by knowing this, Barbaruah’s servants disturb peoples in different ways by taking bribes from them. The time passed on.
That year, in the month of “Bhadra”, the king of Burma, ‘Alaungpaya’, invaded Manipur. After defeating the king of Manipur in a battle near ‘Pallel’, he captured the capital. Later, after hearing about the rebellion in “Maandesh”, that is, Myanmar, he left Manipur after staying for about 13 days. During this time, the king of Manipur, ‘Jai Singh’, had already sought the help of the East India Company, which had conquered India. Although the company’s soldiers came from Chittagong to Manipur, they returned due to political reasons. Jai Singh again captured the throne of Manipur. In 1765, the Burmese invaded Manipur again and captured it. King Jai Singh fled to Cachar. The Burmese tortured the Manipuris and installed a person named Iringba as the king and returned to their country. Meanwhile, Jai Singh returned and removed Iringba from the throne of Manipur and took over the responsibility of the kingdom himself again. Hearing that the Burmese were coming again; Jai Singh was defeated again in a battle at a place called ‘Langthabal’ and this time he fled to Assam. Meanwhile, the Bur- mese installed ‘Khairang’ as the king of Manipur and returned again. Immediately thereafter, Jai Singh, taking shelter with the king of Cachar, sought help from the Ahom king and sent a letter to him. After discussing with his Ministers, Swargadeo Rajeswar Singh called Jai Singh to Rangpur. Jai Singh came to Rangpur with 4,000 Paik guards and was given a place to stay near the Dikhow River. After discussions, Swargadeo appointed Harnath Borba-ruah, the grandson of Rangachila Borbaruah, as the commander and sent him to Manipur with 40,000 soldiers. The king of Manipur namely Jai Singh was also given the responsibility of showing the way to Manipur.
They decided to leave the old path of Nagaon Raha gate; so they had to take a different route via Diphu. This path was full of obstacles due to dense forest and creepers. It took sufficient time to clear the way, resulting in many soldiers falling ill and some of them died. Finally, on June 5, 1766, Harnath Borbaruah returned with a few soldiers. This was known as the ‘Lata Kata Ran’ in history. Meanwhile, the Ahom soldiers’ advance towards Manipur was reported to the “Maan”, who retreated from Mani-pur. Later on, when the Ahom soldiers retreated, the “Maan” king reoccupied Manipur, and Jai Singh had again sought help from the Ahom king. This time, Uma Khangia Phukan was appointed as the commander, and he was sent to Manipur via the usual route with 30,000 soldiers. He destroyed three forts, and the “Maan” king retreated again. Khangia Phukan did not trust the “Maan” king and sent Jai Singh with 10,000 Assamese soldiers, Nagas, and some Manipuri deserters to reoccupy the throne. He also instructed the Assamese soldiers not to return from Manipur until the timer Jai Singh settles there permanently. Meanwhile, Jai Singh drove away Kelemba, who had been made the king of Manipur by “Maan” and captured Manipur kingdom. Later, Jai Singh’s two sons, Madhusudan and Labanya-chandra, were captured in war and taken to Manipur, but Jai Singh cleverly rescued them and expelled the “Maan” from Manipur. After this, the Ahom king ordered Phukans to gather information about Manipur. Phukan sent Monmath Borah to Manipur with 200 soldiers.
(To be contd)
During the reign of the Ahom kings, there was never any conflict between Assam and Manipur. Neither had there been any incident of attack by each other; rather, the two States had been living in harmony through marriage and other means. Manipur is a State in the North Eastern part of India, with Nagaland to its north, Mizoram to its south, and the State of Assam to its west. To its east lies the Sagaing Region of Myanmar, and to its south lies the Chin State. The area of this State is approximately 8620.503 square miles. The main language spoken there is Meitei (Manipuri as per 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India).
In this article, I will discuss the cordial relationship between Assam and Mani-pur, particularly the story of Kuranganayani’s role in maintaining the harmonious relationship.
In 1751, during the reign of Ahom King Swargadeo Rajeswar Singha, his chief advisor was Gendhela Borbaruah, who had imprisoned Mohan Malak and exiled him to Namrup. Gendhela was very arrogant, ambitious, and stubborn. He was so stubborn that he had even conspired against his own father to become the Borbaruah. Due to his arrogance and ambition, there were many problems in the Ahom kingdom. As a result, the Moamoria rebellion began which lasted for about 20 years and it weakened the Ahom kingdom. Gendhela had become so powerful that he was disliked by the king’s officials and other nobles. Gendhela was aware of all the State’s affairs and politics. However, the king still respected him and by knowing this, Barbaruah’s servants disturb peoples in different ways by taking bribes from them. The time passed on.
That year, in the month of “Bhadra”, the king of Burma, ‘Alaungpaya’, invaded Manipur. After defeating the king of Manipur in a battle near ‘Pallel’, he captured the capital. Later, after hearing about the rebellion in “Maandesh”, that is, Myanmar, he left Manipur after staying for about 13 days. During this time, the king of Manipur, ‘Jai Singh’, had already sought the help of the East India Company, which had conquered India. Although the company’s soldiers came from Chittagong to Manipur, they returned due to political reasons. Jai Singh again captured the throne of Manipur. In 1765, the Burmese invaded Manipur again and captured it. King Jai Singh fled to Cachar. The Burmese tortured the Manipuris and installed a person named Iringba as the king and returned to their country. Meanwhile, Jai Singh returned and removed Iringba from the throne of Manipur and took over the responsibility of the kingdom himself again. Hearing that the Burmese were coming again; Jai Singh was defeated again in a battle at a place called ‘Langthabal’ and this time he fled to Assam. Meanwhile, the Bur- mese installed ‘Khairang’ as the king of Manipur and returned again. Immediately thereafter, Jai Singh, taking shelter with the king of Cachar, sought help from the Ahom king and sent a letter to him. After discussing with his Ministers, Swargadeo Rajeswar Singh called Jai Singh to Rangpur. Jai Singh came to Rangpur with 4,000 Paik guards and was given a place to stay near the Dikhow River. After discussions, Swargadeo appointed Harnath Borba-ruah, the grandson of Rangachila Borbaruah, as the commander and sent him to Manipur with 40,000 soldiers. The king of Manipur namely Jai Singh was also given the responsibility of showing the way to Manipur.
They decided to leave the old path of Nagaon Raha gate; so they had to take a different route via Diphu. This path was full of obstacles due to dense forest and creepers. It took sufficient time to clear the way, resulting in many soldiers falling ill and some of them died. Finally, on June 5, 1766, Harnath Borbaruah returned with a few soldiers. This was known as the ‘Lata Kata Ran’ in history. Meanwhile, the Ahom soldiers’ advance towards Manipur was reported to the “Maan”, who retreated from Mani-pur. Later on, when the Ahom soldiers retreated, the “Maan” king reoccupied Manipur, and Jai Singh had again sought help from the Ahom king. This time, Uma Khangia Phukan was appointed as the commander, and he was sent to Manipur via the usual route with 30,000 soldiers. He destroyed three forts, and the “Maan” king retreated again. Khangia Phukan did not trust the “Maan” king and sent Jai Singh with 10,000 Assamese soldiers, Nagas, and some Manipuri deserters to reoccupy the throne. He also instructed the Assamese soldiers not to return from Manipur until the timer Jai Singh settles there permanently. Meanwhile, Jai Singh drove away Kelemba, who had been made the king of Manipur by “Maan” and captured Manipur kingdom. Later, Jai Singh’s two sons, Madhusudan and Labanya-chandra, were captured in war and taken to Manipur, but Jai Singh cleverly rescued them and expelled the “Maan” from Manipur. After this, the Ahom king ordered Phukans to gather information about Manipur. Phukan sent Monmath Borah to Manipur with 200 soldiers.
(To be contd)
