IT News
Imphal, Mar 22:
A team of journalists from Manipur paid tribute to 23 heroes of Manipur today. These 23 heroes, including Maharaj Kulchandra Singh, were deported to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in connection with the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891. This occasion also marked the commemoration of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union’s (AMWJU) first tour to the Andaman Islands, which occurred 21 years ago in 2003. It was during this initial visit that the startling revelation surfaced: the 23 deported heroes of Manipur were not imprisoned but instead housed at Mount Harriet, which has since been renamed Mount Manipur.
This significant discovery, made possible through collaborative research with history enthusiasts and the Art & Culture Department of the Government of Manipur, led to Union Home Minister Amit Shah officially renaming Mount Harriet as Mount Manipur on October 17, 2021, as a tribute to the contributions of these freedom fighters.
The team of journalists embarked on a hike to Mount Manipur around 7 AM today, where they held a memorial event at the Mount Manipur National Park. Led by AMWJU President Bijoy Kakchingtabam, the team planted saplings, including the stink bean tree (Yongchak) and Jasmine (Kundo lei), brought specifically from Manipur, as a symbol of remembrance and rejuvenation. Additionally, they visited the remnants of the quarter believed to have housed Maharaj Kulachandra Singh and other deported heroes.
Comprising 28 members, including 18 women journalists and two officials from the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) of the Government of Manipur, the AMWJU delegation departed from Imphal for the Andaman Islands on March 16. Boarding the MV Nalanda ship on March 17 from Kolkata, they arrived in Port Blair yesterday afternoon. In the evening, the team had the opportunity to witness a light and sound event depicting the struggles of India’s freedom fighters who were imprisoned at the cellular jail by British rulers.
This tour, predominantly comprised of women journalists, is sponsored by DIPR Manipur, signifying a concerted effort to honor Manipur’s rich history and the sacrifices made by its brave sons and daughters in the fight for freedom.
