Historical background: The credit for preparing a set of proposals for reforms in Manipur from the side of the Darbar goes to a rather impetuous Mr. MacDonald who was President of that ineffectual body upto 31.7. 1939. Mr. MacDonald’s temperament is best illustrated by a Memo he sent to Darbar members on 23-5-1939 (reproduced below).
But the fate of any sort of reform depended upon the availability or otherwise of additional resources which is the circumstances could not be had except by a reduction in tie Maharaja’s Civil List. This the Maharaja was naturally most reluctant to do. However, the Maharaja outwardly expressed his reservations about reforms either by blaming the ‘younger generation’ in the Darbar or by referring to the proposed Indian Federation. The Political Agent also felt that what was needed in Manipur was an improvement in the general standard of Administration, not the constitutional reforms.
The people of Manipur however did not wait for the much-talked-about reforms. The long feudal colonial exploitation needed only a spark to explode, and it exploded with the Nupi Lan. Though spearheaded in the beginning by women, the upheaval gradually became a well-organized political movement of mass civil disobedience under the leadership of Mr. Hijam Irabot who had earlier resigned from the opportunist Nikhil Manipuri Mahasobha and formed the militant Praja Sanmilani. The Administration was a helpless spectator to this eruption of the suppressed energy of an exploited people.
Memo No. 4166-11 G dated 23.5.1939 from Mr. MacDonald to all Darbar Members
In discussing a vitally important official matter, I thought it my duty (that is to say my duty to Manipur, not to you personally) to say that I had not yet met a single Manipuri who could efficiently perform the functions of an Indian Extra Assistant Commissioner.
In reply to this, after some aspersions on my predecessors, most of whom are able men who have worked extremely hard for the welfare of your country, you make the following comment on myself:
“Last but not the least we should say that it is still doubtful whether Mr. MacDonald’s administrative experience and reliability entitle him to pass such a sweeping remark against the whole vocal Manipur. The young civilian Presidents must understand that it is the power conferred upon them by the rules and the backings which make them competent to be the guide of Manipur State administration, but not his knowledge and capacity.”
The notorious philosopher Kaunhai tells the following tale:
Once upon a time there was a man who was very forgetful; sometimes he would beg his friends to come to help him in some work and forget to be present at the appointed time himself; sometimes he would even bury his money and forget where he had buried it; and one day, when the Prince was coming to visit his village, he was going out to watch the reception, but had forgotten to put on his dhuti.
Now this man had a servant, a hideous cross-eyed bandy-legged fellow. And when the servant saw his master going out half naked, he said “Sir, forgive me for saying such a thing, but you are not wearing your dhuti.”
Hearing this, this man became very angry. “What !” he shouted “Is my appearance to be criticised by a hideous, cross-eyed, bandy-legged fellow like you ? Get back to your sweeping 1” And, after striking the servant with his stick, he swaggered out into the street. For in his anger he had forgotten exactly what the servant had said.
So, when he reached the street, the village boys gathered behind him and mocked him and pelted him with dirt. And when he reached the reception place, there was a great uproar, some laughing and some jeering and some abusing him for lowering the dignity of the village. And in the end he was hustled off by a constable and locked up on a charge of indecent behavior.
The sting of this story ought to be that the servant laughed too; but I would not really laugh if you ruined this State. I have loved it much more sincerely than you seem to be generous enough to believe.
Excerpts of a letter from the Maharaja, who was then camping at Tarapur, Silchar, to Mr. Gimson on 20. 6. 1939.
I regret to see that there is no agreement between the President on one side and the rest of the Darbar on the other. All the members now serving on the Darbar with the exception of the J. M. are of younger generation. If such state of affairs goes on, I am afraid, the State may suffer in the long run.
Letter from Mr. Gimson to the Maharaja on 30.11. 1939.
I shall be grateful if you will let me know whether you intend to pass any order soon on the proposals of the members of the Darbar for reforms in Manipur.
Letter from the Maharaja who was then camping at Manipur Rajbari, Nabadwip, to Mr. Gimson on 5.12 1939.
Your letter of 30.11.39 about the reforms in Manipur.
If any scheme of reforms be introduced now, I fear, it may require amendments, modifications and the like every now and then to suit the changing conditions of the State. I should, therefore, like to have the reforms introduced when the administrative rules of the State are settled with the inauguration of the proposed Federation now in suspense.
Letter from the Maharaja to Mr. Gimson on 4. 2. 1940.
I shall be very thankful if you kindly ascertain from the Govt. who will be the President of the Manipur Council in case Council system is introduced in Manipur.
What I want to know is whether an I.C.S. will be the President or any other elected or nominated here.
Letter from Mr. Gimson to the Maharaja on 4. 2.1940. With reference to your letter of today
I do not think that H.E. the Governor will be able to express an opinion unless a fairly definite scheme is laid before him. If the idea is to have a Legislative Council, whether elected or nominated, the President of such a body would not ordinarily have any Executive functions, such as the President of the Darbar now exercises, as he is in charge ( for example ) of the Finance & the Land Revenue Dept. of the State. If you will give me a more detailed about it to H.E. the Governor’s Secretary. Any such plan will have to go up to the Government of India, & I do not expect that they will commit themselves to an opinion unless full details are given.
Darbar Resolution No. 5 of 24. 1.1940
5. To consider sanctioning employment of 10 temporary Warders @ Rs. 8/- each for 6 months and one permanent office Chaprasi at Rs. 8/- with effect from 1. 12. 39 in the Jail Department (Memo No. 220 Jail dated 21. 11. 39 from the Jail Member).
Sanctioned 10 temporary Warders at Rs. 8/- each for 4 months from 1st February. Payment will be paid by reappropriation of Rs. 320 from the head Manufacture to Temporary establishment.
Darbar Resolution No. 11 of 24.1.1940 11. To consider Police Member’s Memo No. 1124 C. P. of 18. 1. 40 regarding taking some more extra temporary constables.
Sanctioned the appointment of 61 temporary constables for 15 days with effect from 14th January. P. M. to arrange the necessary appropriations.
Darbar Resolution No. 16 of 24. 1. 1940
16. To consider Memo No. 755 P. I-I dated ’24. 1. 40 from the P. S. to H. H. forwarding copy of P. A.’s letter dated 23. 1. 40 to H. H. and that of H. H.s reply dated 23. 1. 40.
The Darbar has already expressed its opinion in D. R. No. 12 of 10. 1. 40 and D. R. No. 8 of 17. 1. 40. The Darbar sincerely regret that the Assam authorities should be put to any inconvenience but the Darbar have no alternative but to recommend a complete ban on export to be enforced within the minimum space of time.
Darbar Resolution No. 17 of 24.1.1940.
17. From recent events it has been clearly shown that the State Military Police are hopelessly ill-trained and are useless for the purpose for which Military Police are intended. The Darbar deeply regret that over a third lakh of
rupees has been annually spent on a force which hasn’t in the past and cannot at present justify its existence. This state of affairs is even more deplorable in view of the present state of unrest in Manipur. At any time it might be necessary for the P. M. to face situations in which only a well-trained force under his charge can be of any use.
The Darbar therefore resolve :
(1) that the State Military Police should at the earliest possible time be taken over by P. M.
(2) that when H. H. has approved of this resolution P. M. should then take immediate steps to make the force fit for the job for which it was intended and make it worthy of the name of Military Police.
The Darbar feel confident that when this resolution is put into effect the State Military Police can be made into a force of which Manipur will be justly proud.
If this resolution is not approved by His Highness then the Darbar will have no alternative but [to greatly strengthen the Civil Police force and put an additional drain on the already pitiable resources of the State.
His Highness is requested to pass early orders on this resolution.
Darbar Resolution No. 18 of 24. 1. 1940
18. To consider a report of H. H.’s speech in the Manipuri Matam dated 18. 1. 40 under the heading:-
“ Maharaja amasung parja nupi sing | and Maharaja amasung parja sanmee | Reform”
The Darbar request His Highness to inform them whether the reports are true reports of His Highness’s declarations.
Memo No. 899 P I-I dated Imphal, the 20th$ February, 1940 from the Maharaja to the Darbar.
I have gone through the proceedings of a meeting of the Manipur State Darbar held on the 24th January, 1940 and approved of all resolutions except D. R. No, 17.
D. R. No. 17-The Civil Police force may be increased temporarily when necessity arises for it as is now at present.
As regards D. R. No. 18, the articles referred to in the resolution contain some false statements and some of which were pointed out in my Memo No. 786 P. I-I dt. 27. 1.40 addressed to the Darbar M. S. I , clearly informed Tompok Singh of the Praja Sanmilani of my views about the introduction of Reforms when I saw him on 16. 1. 40. I told the women to do marketing as usual and remain peacefully and that the question of redressing the grievances will be considered later. It was a false statement that I would reduce the water tax.
Statement showing the actual -Expenditure for the year 1939-40.
1. Administration – Rs. 72,730- 9-11
2. Land Revenue – Rs. 59,935- 8- 2
3. Foreigner’s Revenue – Rs. 4,014-10- 3
4. Forest – Rs. 14,365-14- 4
5. Law and Justice – Rs. 21,074-10- 6
6. Maharajah’s Civil List – Rs. 1,43,371- 3- 2
7. State Works – Rs. 2,10,348- 9-10
8. Military Police – Rs. 34,796- 6- 6
9. Civil Police – Rs. 27,295- 8- 4
10. Jail – Rs. 19,208- 2- 5
11. Medical – Rs. 37,267- 8- 0
12. Education – Rs. 58,499- 5- 2
13. Property in British India, – Rs. 2,514-14- 0
14. Payment – Rs. 56,202- 0- 0
15. Registration – Rs. 4,643- 7- 6
16. Veterinary – Rs. 5,149-15- 0
17. State Press – Rs. 5,155-11- 0
18. Pension and Gratuity – Rs. 18,398,- 2- 0
19. Arts and Crafts – Rs.14,271-15-11
20. Advance – Rs.4,636 0 0
Grand Total of state Budget head Rs 8,14,870-2-0
This article was first published in the weekly journal “Resistance” in late 70s. Imphal Times reproduced this in the interest of our readers
