PPAM Manipur calls for solemn observance of August 13 Patriots’ Day

The People’s Progressive Alliance Manipur (PPAM) has urged the people of Manipur to observe August 13 — Patriots’ Day — with solemnity, honoring the sacrifices made in defence of the state’s freedom and integrity.
In a statement, PPAM convenor M.C. Meetei said, “If a nation forgets its history, that nation will eventually disappear from the face of the earth. No nation in the world that has forgotten its history has ever been able to rise to greatness again. History is justice for all. Therefore, it is important to preserve and remember it—so that people will know their roots and the struggles they have faced.”
The organisation cautioned that a people ignorant of their own history risk losing their identity and, ultimately, their existence. It recalled that Manipur has faced repeated invasions throughout its history but has stood firm in defending its sovereignty.
One of the darkest chapters was the “Chahi Taret Khuntakpa” (Seven Years’ Devastation) between 1819 and 1826, when Burmese forces occupied Manipur. Historical accounts estimate that more than 50,000 Manipuris were taken captive to Burma and over 30,000 women and children were killed. The Manipur Levy later drove out the Burmese and reclaimed the Kabaw Valley.
The last major armed resistance was the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, culminating in the Battle of Khongjom. After defeat by the British, Yubaraj Tikendrajit Singh and Thangal General were publicly executed at Feidabung (Mapal Kangjeibung) on August 13, 1891 — a day now commemorated annually as “Athoubasinggi Numit” (Patriots’ Day) across the state.
Manipur regained its sovereignty from British rule on August 14, 1947, one day before India’s independence. Under the Manipur Constitution Act of July 26, 1947, elections were held on June 11 and July 28, 1948, electing 53 representatives to the State Legislative Assembly — the first parliamentary democracy in the entire Northeast.
However, sovereignty was brought to an abrupt end on October 15, 1949, when Manipur was merged into the Indian Union without public consensus — a development that remains one of the most contested issues in the state’s political history.
PPAM emphasised that the Anglo-Manipur War was not merely a contest between two powers but a collective resistance involving all sections of Manipuri society. It warned that, over time, much of Manipur’s land and resources — including hills, rivers, roads, forests, and fertile plains — have been lost. Drawing parallels with the Palestinian experience, the organisation claimed that around 70% of Manipur’s territory has been settled by outsiders, significantly altering its demographic makeup.