The Lions of Manipur
The Last Stand of Bir Tikendrajit & Thangal General
Patriots' Day | August 13th
A solemn remembrance of the heroes who sacrificed all for sovereignty.
A War for Sovereignty
The Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 was not a simple rebellion, but the final, desperate stand of a proud kingdom against the inexorable advance of British imperialism. It was a saga of courage, defiance, and martyrdom, culminating in the public execution of two of Manipur's greatest heroes on August 13, 1891, a day that forever marked the end of its independence.
Pillars of the Resistance
Yubaraj Bir Tikendrajit
The Lion of Manipur (1856-1891)
The charismatic and militarily adept Senapati (commander-in-chief), Tikendrajit was the face of the defiance. His forceful personality, love for freedom, and suspicion of British intentions made him the natural leader of the nationalist faction.
Thangal General
The Veteran Statesman (c. 1811-1891)
An octogenarian warrior and statesman, Thangal General's life was interwoven with Manipur's history. He provided the historical perspective, political wisdom, and unwavering resolve forged over a lifetime of service.
Timeline of the 1891 War
March 22: The Deception
Chief Commissioner J.W. Quinton arrives in Imphal with 400 Gurkha soldiers, planning to arrest Tikendrajit under the guise of a formal Durbar. Tikendrajit, warned of the plot, refuses to attend.
March 24: The Attack & Reprisal
At dawn, British forces attack the Kangla Palace. The Manipuri army fiercely retaliates, besieging the British Residency. That night, five captured British officers are executed.
April 25: The Battle of Khongjom
The British declare war and launch a three-pronged invasion. At the hillock of Khongjom, the Manipuri army makes its final, heroic stand but is overwhelmed by superior firepower.
April 27: The Fall of Imphal
British columns capture the capital, Imphal, and hoist the Union Jack over the Kangla Palace, marking the end of Manipur's sovereignty. A manhunt begins for the leaders.
August 13: The Gallows of Pheidabung
After a controversial trial, Tikendrajit and Thangal General are publicly hanged. The execution, intended to crush the Manipuri spirit, instead immortalizes them as martyrs.
An Immortal Legacy
Though their kingdom fell, the memory of their last stand ensures that the spirit of an independent Manipur was never truly conquered. In death, Bir Tikendrajit and Thangal General were transformed from defeated leaders into immortal symbols of courage, sacrifice, and an unyielding love for freedom.
Shaheed Minar at Bir Tikendrajit Park, the site of the execution, is now a place of solemn remembrance.
The Khongjom War Memorial Complex honors the warriors of the last battle for Manipur's independence.
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