Bir Tikendrajit biography: The history of India is like a bottomless ocean, where one can always discover something new. In the past, we were taught that India’s independence was due to the efforts of Gandhi and Nehru, and the Mughals played a crucial role in shaping our country’s current form.
However, some people believe that India didn’t exist before British rule, either due to a lack of historical knowledge or a deliberate attempt to keep Indians unaware of their rich and diverse history and its heroes. Discover how Bir Tikendrajit dazzled the British in broad daylight in this article.
Glorious History of Manipur
The Northeast of India has been kept separate from the rest of the country, thanks to the efforts of Congress-backed secular intellectuals, communists, and missionaries. However, the culture of this region is a testament to India’s vast cultural richness, and Manipur is proof of this. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose began his campaign for an independent India on this land, and years ago, a Manipuri prince named Tikendrajit Singh worked to revive the Indian freedom struggle.
Even though the British administration established control over India in 1858 and Queen Victoria became the Empress of India in 1877, there were many provinces over which the British had no control. One of these was Manipur, where Maharaja Chandraprakash Singh ruled.
Born on December 29, 1856, Tikendrajit Singh was the fourth child of the Maharaj, and was known as “Koireng” due to his popularity and love for freedom since childhood. He had a sharp mind and was appointed as the commander of the Manipuri army, and was considered the “Bahubali” of Manipur.
During the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826), Manipur, under the rule of Prince Gambhir Singh, conquered Burma. As a result, Manipur recovered from devastation and Gambhir Singh was crowned as the king of Manipur. However, despite his position, all the significant powers of the state were controlled by the British, and the king was unable to resist their intervention.
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Bir Tikendrajit blew the bugle of rebellion
During the reign of Maharaja Surchandra Singh, the British interference in Manipur had increased significantly after Britain’s Queen Victoria was named “Empress of India” in 1877, and the British started their expansionism. As a member of the royal family, Tikendrajit was aware of the treacherous nature of the British and warned the people of Manipur about their true intentions.
The British used usury to expand their empire, offering high-interest loans to the king and slowly seizing parts of their kingdom. When Bir Tikendrajit realized this, he devised a plan to safeguard the sovereignty and independence of his state.
In 1890, Tikendrajit, along with two other princes Angusan and Jilangamba, rebelled against Surchandra Singh and deposed him from the throne. Surchandra Singh sought refuge in the British residence while Kulachandra was appointed as the new ruler with Tikendrajit as his successor. This incident came to be known as the ‘Rajmahal Rebellion’ in Manipur’s history.
Later, Surchandra Singh informed Tikendrajit that he was going on a pilgrimage to Vrindavan but instead, he went to Calcutta and petitioned the British government to regain his throne in Manipur. This provided a chance for the British to interfere in Manipur’s internal affairs and bring it under their control, something they did not want to lose at any cost.
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The presence of nationalist leader Tikendrajit posed a significant obstacle to the British colonial plans in Manipur. Consequently, the British developed a secret plan to arrest him, which was to be carried out by Chief Commissioner JW Quinton and his soldiers who arrived in Manipur on March 22, 1891. However, the plan failed when it was exposed.
Following this, Political Agent Grimwood requested Raja Kulachandra to hand over Tikendrajit to the British, but the king refused. As a result, the British resorted to using force to apprehend Tikendrajit. Despite this, Tikendrajit’s legacy eventually received justice.
On the evening of March 24, 1891, British troops launched an attack on Tikendrajit’s residence within the palace compound, which resulted in the deaths of many innocent civilians, including women and children who were watching a cultural program. However, the Manipuri army successfully mounted an aggressive resistance, forcing the British to retreat.
Five British officers, including Quinton, Grimwood, Lieutenant Colonel Simpson, Kosin, and Buller, sought refuge in a basement after the attack. The Manipuri people, driven by a strong sense of revenge for the innocent lives lost at the hands of the British, eventually killed these officers.
The Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 was the outcome of the conflict. The Manipuri people fought with great courage, but unfortunately, the war resulted in the destruction of Manipur by the British. On April 27, 1891, the British captured Kangla Palace, and Major Maxwell took over as the chief political agent.
The British Indian government formed a special commission led by Lieutenant Colonel John Mitchell to investigate and determine punishment. As a result of this investigation, Tikendrajit was convicted and sentenced to death by the English court.
The people of Manipur fiercely protested against the execution of their beloved prince, and the women of Manipur began a movement in his defense. However, despite their efforts, the execution of Manipur’s future leader Bir Tikendrajit could not be prevented.
On August 13, 1891, the British hanged Bir Tikendrajit in a public place in front of a large audience to instill fear among the people.
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Bir Tikendrajit exhibited indomitable courage and fearlessness in his fight against British imperialism and colonialism. His bravery earned him the nickname of the ‘Lion of Manipur’, and even the British government at the time compared him to a ‘dangerous tiger’ due to his fearlessness. He holds a unique place in India’s freedom struggle, but his contributions were not given the recognition they deserved in independent India for many years. However, the truth cannot be hidden forever.
Today, Manipur state commemorates “Patriot Day” every year on August 13th to honor the brave heroes of the state who were martyred in this war, including Bir Tikendrajit. In recognition of his deeds, the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution in August 2019 to rename the Tulihal International Airport as the ‘Bir Tikendrajit International Airport’.
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