British Relation with the State of Manipur
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SSRG International Journal of Humanities and Social Science ( SSRG – IJHSS ) – Volume 5 Issue 6 Nov to Dec 2018 Changing Pattern of Policies: British Relation with the State of Manipur Suhail Ahmin Mir PhD Research Scholar, Centre of Advanced Study, Department of History Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh,India-202002 Abstract affirmation of supremacy2. This political superiority British policies towards the princely states of was acquired either through wars-which resulted in India has changed from time to time, beginning from the complete territorial gains3 or diplomacy-which the policy of “Non-intervention” in all matters conferred the British political hegemony upon the outside its own “Ring-fence” to the policy of princely states of India by the conclusion of treaties “subordinate isolation” commenced by Lord and alliances. As prof. Ruthnaswamy put it, “war and Hastings; which transformed the approach of diplomacy were the twin spheres of activity of the relation between the princes and the British. Within a early period.”4 The legal character of the Indian span of less than one hundred years, the East India states and their rights and duties are chiefly founded Company progressed from the position of “Primus on the network of treaties, engagements and Sanads5, Inter Pares” to an affirmation of supremacy. This the other source which led to the foundation of political domination was acquired either through British paramountcy in India and its relation with the wars or diplomacy. The British conquered Manipur Native states, are the intermittently decisions about in 1891; and the colonial era in the history of the succession, intervention and the dispute with the Manipur was started but Manipur had more than a ruler. According to Sir William Warner, “the customs century of relation with the British since 1762. The or usage, constantly adapting itself to the growth of set put of political agency in 1835 opened a new society, which may be observed in their intercourse chapter in the body politic of Manipur and the later are the source from which the rules or principles that period witnessed the establishment of direct govern British relations with the Natives states of administrative control over the entire Naga India6. Hills.After some theoretical and historical Changing its character from a trading background, the paper looks at different kinds of corporation, the east India Company gradually interferences of British observed during princely became the supreme political power in India. India. The aim of this paper is to give readers an Through the medium of treaties, only the larger states overview of the British policies and their relations became associated with the British directly. Supposed with the state of Manipur. by K.R.R Sastry, the British had concluded treaties with about forty princely states7. The rest of the Keywords - British, Princes, Manipur, Treaties, states, as said by Ian Copland, were brought in almost Policies. accidentally by virtue of their diplomatic or feudal ties with the „country‟ powers.8 It is historically I. INTRODUCTION important to ascertain the position of the states before they negotiated with the British government. Manipurasana-leimayol, ChingnaKoynaPansaba, HaonaKoynaPanngakpa! II. BRITISH RELATION WITH MANIPUR My Manipur, prime of the mainland of the land of Gold, How bulwarked thou art by the ranges of thine Manipur, a native state presently lies at the north- hills all round, and sentinelled by the children of east of the Republic of India. It is confined on the nature on their round!1 north by a series of hills called Naga Hills The inception of the East India Company (Nagaland); on the north-east, east and south by was purely a trading organization. The political Burma; on the south-west by Mizoram; on the west disorder and internal disturbances of the time gave and north-west by the present state of Assam. The them an opportunity to intervene in the body politic state comprises of a wide valley, evaluated at 650 sq. of India. By the period from 1818-1857 they have m., and an extensive encompassing tract of hilly almost accomplished the task of conquering the entire nation. This does not, nonetheless, seem, by all India. Part of the entire sub-continent was directly accounts, to be the original boundary. Its boundaries ruled by the British and the rest was ruled by their fluctuated by the quality and shortcoming of its respective rulers over whom British exercised rulers. The boundary of Manipur is partly the paramount power. Within a span of less than one international boundary between India and Burma. In hundred years, the East India Company progressed some cases they held a significant domain east of the from the position of “Primus Inter Pares” to an Chindwin River in subjection; at different occasions ISSN: 2394 – 2703 http://www.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 25 SSRG International Journal of Humanities and Social Science ( SSRG – IJHSS ) – Volume 5 Issue 6 Nov to Dec 2018 their influence broadened just over the Kabaw Valley, under the control of the Burmese. Thus the British a portion of an area lying between Manipur proper were unable to implement the terms of the treaty. The and the Chindwin, and, when steered they were treaty was confirmed by Guru Sham15 in the driven back to Manipur proper9.The boundaries of following year with some modifications that both the ancient Manipur, in this way, can't be resolved with coutries will not execute any treaty with the Burma accuracy. Colonel McCullock articulates, "To the east without the consent of each other.16It has been seen and south the boundary is not well defined and would that after the signing of treaty all the correspondence much depend upon the extent to which the Manipur among Manipur and the British have been stopped Government might spread its influence amongst the from that point. Pemberton rightly observes, hill tribes in these directions.”10 “Fromthis period until. 1809, we have no trace of any Manipur has a long history before the further intercourse with this petty state.”17 coming of British; it dates back to the ancient times. The British followed the policy of non- Capt. Dun, writing in the Gazetteer of Manipur, intervention in the internal affairs of Manipur. observes "There can be no reasonable doubt that a Nevertheless, With respect to period before 1826 great Aryan wave of very pure blood passed through there is little debate about the certainty that Manipur Manipur into Burma in prehistoric times.11 It has was a free sovereign state with the exception of the been called by different names Manipuris called it discontinuous period when the Burmese attacked the with “Meitheileipak”, it was also called “Kathe” by state and persuasively possessed it. Even before the the Burmese, it was known to Bengali‟s by „Moglai‟ First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-26), the English and was called „Mekle‟ by the Assamese.12 It is East India Company came into contact with various therefore pertinent to enquire regarding how the name semi-independent chiefs and tribes of the North- of Manipur came to be related with this hilly track. Eastern Frontier areas. The penetration of the British Some researchers are of the view that the land was into the interior and frontier parts of the Northeast given the name of Manipur in or about the eighteenth India was partly their (British) desire to explore trade century A.D. Be that as it may, this view isn't potentialities as well as expansion of their trade substantial in light of the fact that references to the relations with China and Burma (Myanmar), and also name 'Manipur' are found in ancient writings.T.C. partly due to the invitation for defence by the local Hodson is of the opinion that the name 'Manipur' was native people",18 which could be seen in the case of in existence before the birth of Bubrabahan.13Pursued Ahom rulers.The natives of the state were likewise in in the middle of Assam and Burma, Manipur has an charge of keeping the zone unexplored by others as incredible vital significance. The history of Manipur, they firmly contradicted any move for study works. nevertheless, before the closing of the 17th century Maharaja Chandrakirti Singh even protested the idea was more or less uneventful. Long before the arrival of growing some tea plants in the Political Agent's of the British, Burma had exercised her sway over garden for individual utilization. The purpose behind Manipur.But the state soon saw the dawn of new era such sensitivity was that the Maharaja was anxious in its political arena. It was at about this time that keeping in mind that Manipur, with the tea Manipur saw one of its greatest leaders in developing zones, ought to demonstrate a fascination GaribNiwaz (1709-1748) who ruled for quite long in the outcasts inviting annexation of the and crushed many successive Burmese raids of 1712, state19.Viewed under the circumstances, a few 1724 and 1726 set up his influence reaching out over significant comments in such manner might be the trans-Chindwin Valley. Soon after his death in referred to. It is recorded in a minute by Lord 1754, the Kingdom was occupied by Burmese. William Bentinck; the Governor-General that prior to The political anarchy and Burmese the first Anglo-Burmese War of 1824-26, the British occupation led the King of Manipur-Jai Singh East India Company Government possessed no (Ching-ThangKhomba) to look out for a strong power knowledge of the passes connecting Manipur with the against the Burmese. Jai Singh was aware of his British territories20. The British at this stage seems to limited sources which were insufficient to expel the be least interested in subjugating the state of Burmese from Manipur, so he pursued the British for Manipur, instead assisted them against the growing help.