Tikendrajit

Tikendrajit Singh (December 29, 1856 – August 13, 1891) also known as Bir Tikendrajit and Koireng was a prince of independent Kingdom of Manipur (in the present day northeastern India), who led the Manipuri army against the British army in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891.

The palace revolt

Tikendrajit was the fourth son of Maharaja Chandrakriti Singh. His mother’s name was Chongtham Chanu Kouseswari Devi. He was appointed the Kotwal (police chief) during his father’s reign. After the death of the king on May 20, 1886, his eldest son Surachandra Singh (1886-1890) succeeded to the throne of Manipur. During his reign, on the death of Jhalakriti, Tikendrajit was appointed as the Senapati (general) of the Manipur army. But misunderstandings and tensions were created among the princes led the royal family to split into two factions, one led by Tikendrajit and the others by Pakasana. The tension enhanced over the king's negligence of the situation and British interference. Ultimately, Tikendrajit with Angousana, Zillanamba and other princes overthrew Surachandra Singh on September 22, 1890. This event is known as the "palace revolt" in the history of Manipur. The King fled the palace and took asylum in the British residency. Kullachandra and Tikendrajit became the Maharaja (king) and Jubaraj (heir-apparent) respectively. Later, the ex-ruler left the residency for Calcutta informing Tikendrajit that he was going to Vrindavan. In Calcutta he petitioned to the British Colonial Government for restoration of his throne in Manipur.

The Anglo-Manipur War

On February 21, 1891 Lord Landsdowne, the British viceroy of India ordered J.W. Quinton, the chief commissioner of Assam, to recognise Kullachandra as the King but to arrest Jubaraj Tikendrajit. Quinton arrived Manipur on March 22, 1891 with a troop of 400 soldiers under Colonel Skene and asked Raja Kullachandra to hand over Tikendrajit to him as desired by the British Governor General of India. In the evening of March 24, 1891 British troops attacked Jubaraj Tikendrajit's residence in the Palace Compound at Kangla, killing many innocent civilians including women and children who were watching a Ras Lila dance. The Manipuri soldiers struck back and the British were put on the defensive. In the ensuing chaos, the people whose children, wives and relatives were killed by the British army executed five British officers including the Political Agent Grimwood, and Quinton. On March 31, 1891 the British Government declared war against Manipur (the Anglo-Manipur War) and 3 army columns from Kohima (under the command of Major General H. Collet), Silchar (under the command of Colonel R.H.F. Rennick) and Tamu (under the command of Brigadier General T. Graham) were sent to Manipur. Tikendrajit led the Manipuri army in this war. The British army finally took possession of the Kangla Palace on April 27, 1891. Major Maxwell took over as the chief political agent. Later, Manipur became a princely state and Churachand Singh, a minor was placed on the throne of Manipur. Tikendrajit and other leaders of Manipur subsequently went underground. Tikendrajit was arrested in the evening of May 23.

The trial and death

The special court, formed under Lt. Col. John Mitchell for the trial commenced on May 11, 1891. The court found Tikendrajit, Kullachandra and Thangal General guilty and they were sentenced to death. The Governor General confirmed the death sentence passed on Tikendrajit and Thangal General and converted the death sentence of the Maharaja and Angousan into transportation for life. The order was announced on August 13, 1891 and Tikendrajit and Thangal General were publicly hanged at the 5 pm in the evening of the same day at Kangjei-bung (Polo ground) in Imphal. After independence, this ground in Imphal where he was hanged is renamed as Bir Tikendrajit Park.

References

• Bir Tikendrajit – The Hero of Manipur in Press Information Bureau, Government of India website.

External links

• Manipur State Archives – Tikendrajit