34 | Manipur State

The Manipuri identity is rooted in a nationalist consciousness and the ancient Meitei kingdom of Kangleipak, whose royal chronicles (Cheitharol Kumbaba) trace its origins to 33 CE (Roychaudhury, 2023)

Manipur's early history involved being frequently overrun by the Burmese in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1823, during the first Burmese War, the East India Company formed an alliance with the then-Rajah, Gambhir Singh. A Manipuri contingent, under British command, successfully drove the Burmese out of Manipur and even the Kabaw valley. Later, the Kabaw valley was returned to the Burmese, with Manipur receiving an annual compensation. Allegedly, Jawaharlal Nehru and Burmese Prime Minister made an agreement to permanently transfer the region to Burma in 1953. This ended the annual compensation payment and was done without consultation of Manipuri people, leading to a longstanding resentment (Yadav, 2025). In 1891, the state faced serious internal trouble, resulting in the murder of some British officers. Manipur was declared forfeited to the British Government but was later re-granted to the Maharajah Churachandra Singh as an act of mercy.

Geographically, Manipur was a border state, bounded to the north by the Naga district of Assam, to the east by Burma, to the south by Burma and the Lushai Hills, and to the west by the Cachar district. Its hill-tribes are primarily composed of two main sections: Kukis and Nagas.

Internally, Manipur had implemented various administrative reforms, including the completion of water works in 1913 to supply filtered pipe-water to Imphal town and the abolition of the "pothang system" (a system requiring villages to carry baggage for touring officials and maintain roads/schools) in the same year, replaced by new land taxes. The Police and Judicial Departments were reorganised, a Veterinary Department was instituted in 1910, and a Hydro-Electric scheme for Imphal was completed in late 1930. Manipuris also received state assistance for education outside the state to prepare them for various administrative roles (Europa Publications, 2024; Menon, 1956).

Its location along the international frontier, particularly bordering Burma and tribal areas, made it strategically important. Security arrangements in this area required special attention from the Government of India. Manipur was considered an "undeveloped" state, which factored into the decision for direct central control. This meant it lacked the resources and administrative infrastructure to function as a fully self-governing unit similar to larger princely states (Europa Publications, 2024; Menon, 1956).

These factors led to the decision that direct central control was necessary for its effective administration and development, rather than merging it with a larger province or creating a self-governing union (Menon, 1956).

The Instrument of Merger for Manipur was signed by the Maharajah on 21 September 1949, and the State's administration was subsequently taken over by a Chief Commissioner on behalf of the Dominion Government on 15 October 1949. The merger agreements for states that became centrally administered areas were generally almost precisely the same as those for states merged with provinces, with the key difference being that the Government of India retained direct administrative control. The details concerning the Privy Purse and the private properties of the Maharajah were settled by Sri Prakasa, who was then the Governor of Assam, in consultation with the States Ministry. The amount fixed was Rs. 3,00, 000. The Government of India undertook to make suitable provisions for the employment of Manipuris in various branches of public services and to encourage them to join. It also committed to preserving "various laws, customs and conventions prevailing" in the state (Furber, 1951; Menon, 1956).

The agreement was signed by Maharajah Bodh Chandra Singh, V.P. Menon (Adviser to the Government of India, Ministry of States), and Sri Prakasa (Governor of Assam). The inclusion of the Governor of Assam as a signatory is a specific feature.

Manipur had a constitutional status analogous to the former Chief Commissioners' Provinces, analogous to Tripura and Kutch. It was a temporary arrangement that allowed for special attention and financial aid from the central government for its development and security. Historian Wangum Somorjit contends that the general Manipuri sentiment was against the merger and that the Maharajah was coerced to sign the agreement after being isolated and put in house arrest. The proponents of the merger were only the minority Manipuri state congress leaders (Roychowdhury, 2023). Adding to Manipuri people’s discontent, the colonial-style bungalow in Shillong where Bodhchandra Singh had signed the merger agreement was demolished, which sparked outrage as the site was considered a vital part of Manipur’s history and cultural heritage (Baruah, 2025).

References:

• Baruah, S. (2025, October 15). How demolition of a bungalow in Meghalaya has touched a raw nerve in Manipur. Indian Express.

• Europa Publications. (2024). The Territories and States of India 2024 (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003476900

  
  

• Furber, H. (1951). The Unification of India, 1947-1951. Pacific Affairs, 24(4), 352. https://doi.org/10.2307/2753451

  
  

• Menon, V. P. (1956). The Story of Integration of the Indian states. Orient Blackswan.

  
  

• Roychoudhury, A. (2023, August 26). How Manipur merged with India: From a constitutional monarchy to Part C state. The Indian Express. 

  
  

• Yadav, S. (2025, March 20). The Kabaw Valley Dispute: A Historical Perspective and Its Impact on India-Myanmar Relations. Samvada World.