THOUBAL, April 25: The fiercest battle between the British and the Manipuris was fought on April 25, 1891 near the Khongjom River and not at Kheba Ching, and April 23, 1891 was when Paona Brajabashi died.
Historian, RK Jhaljit noted at the observation of the Khongjom War Memorial Day at Tengol Lampak near the Khongjom River at Thoubal district.
This is the truth and there is no confusion relating to the dates and the state government observing the day Paona Brajabashi died, as the Khongjom War Memorial Day is wrong, he said and added there is no guarantee that it wouldn’t create problems in the future.
While imploring on for a probe into the issue, he further urged against the conjoining the Khongjom War day and the day Paona Brajabashi was killed. The future generation could harbour a grudge, the noted historian observed.
The memorial observation was organised by the Major Chongtha Miya Memorial Committee, Manipur and the Khongjom Battle Memorial Celebration Committee, Manipur.
People are fully aware of the precision of the British records, he said before asserting that every British record have stated the Khongjom War was fought on April 25, 1981.
British records have also mentioned that on April 23, a man with a long sword charged towards the British camp built on top of the Kheba Ching and was killed, he said.
This man was Paona Brajabashi. He was killed on April 23. During the early morning of April 25, the British fired guns and artillery at the Manipuri fort at Tengol Lampak, he said.
Jhaljit said when the British came to see if there were any casualties amongst the Manipuris, they were met by the Manipuri soldiers with Chongtha Miya as the commander.
There was no fighting on April 24, as the British were awaiting orders from their higher-ups, he said.
When there is so much clarity, creating a fuss over such an important chapter of the history cannot do any good to the people, the noted historian observed.
While asserting that there is no wrong in commemorating the death of Paona Brajabashi on April 23, he said observing the day as the Khongjom War Day is wrong.
He further urged for a committee of experts to look into the issue and find the truth for the future.
Misleading a chief minister of the state to offer tarpan and floral tribute at the wrong place is improper, he continued before adding that the people should understand why the “tengol lampak” is called so and the Langathel Ching is called the “Lan Ngam ching.”
The British had placed two heavy artilleries on top of the Langathel Ching and fired towards the Manipuri camp, he said.
He observed that the distance of the shots fired is in the British records, through which we can verify whether the shots have been fired; and added that “Lets not mix politics with history and mislead the future generation, instead let’s investigate.”
Continuing tandem with what RK Jhaljit had stated, History Department, Manipur University Professor, Dr N Joykumar said that the general leading the British army in the Khongjom War, general Graham was said to have left Tamu on April 24, so there is no way that the war was fought on April 23.
He said the Khongjom Day is being observed on April 23 based on the thesis of the former deputy chief minister of Manipur Dr L Chandramani which is in turn based on the Khongjom Parva.
Today’s observation was also attended by former chairperson, Manipur Women Commission, Dr Ch Jamini.
As part of the observation, people paid tributes to a statue of Major Chongtha Miya and to another of an “unknown soldier,” and offered tarpan to the martyrs at the Khongjom River.