“Manipur had frequent wars with Burma and occasional wars with Cachar and Tripura. But in the fairly long period of about 2,400 years, there was no war between Assam and Manipur.“
- RK Jhalajit Singh, a Manipuri historian.

ASSAM and MANIPUR, two north-eastern Indian states, share a border, with Manipur situated to the west of Assam. Geographically, both states are part of the eastern Himalayan foothills and the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Additionally, the Barak River serves as a natural boundary between the two states, flowing through Manipur before emptying into the Brahmaputra River, which courses through Assam.

Beyond these geographical ties, Assam and Manipur also share a rich legacy of peace, friendship, and cultural exchange, fostering a long-standing bond between the two states.

This article seeks to offer a concise yet insightful exploration of the harmonious historical bond shared between Assam and Manipur.

HISTORICAL NOMENCLATURE:

Historically, the Meiteis referred to Assam as “Tekhao”, a name derived from the Dikhu River. The capital of Upper Assam was situated near Sibsagar, on the banks of the River Dikhau. The Manipuris knew this river as “Tikhao”, due to the sound changes that occurred according to their speech habits of the time. Over time, “Tikhao” evolved into “Tekhao”, as the medial “I” changed to “C”. Consequently, the region surrounding the River Dikhau, or River Tekhao as the Manipuris pronounced it, came to be known as Tekhao.

Conversely, the Assamese knew Manipur by various names, including “Mogli”, “Meckley”, and “Meekley”.

FIRST CONTACT:

According to Manipuri historian Gangmumei Kamei, the initial contact between Manipur and the Ahom kingdom of Assam dates back to the reign of King Kabomba, a Meitei king who ruled from 1523 to 1542 AD. This historical fact is corroborated by E.A. Gait’s seminal work, “History of Assam” (1906), which mentions the exchange of envoys and presents between the Raja of Manipur and the Ahom kingdom. Furthermore, a trade route to upper Assam was established in 1536 during the reign of Swargadeo Suhunmung (1497-1539), the first Ahom king to adopt a Hindu title, ‘Swarganarayana’.

However, Manipuri historian RK Jhalajit Singh contests this narrative, suggesting that the exchange of presents between King Kabomba (1524-1542) and King Suhunmung of Assam was not the inaugural contact between the two kingdoms. According to Jhalajit, a Brahmin from Assam arrived in Manipur as early as 1516, predating the aforementioned exchange. We will explore this aspect in greater detail in subsequent sections of this article.

MATRIMONIAL ALLIANCES:

The historical records of Manipur and Assam reveal a significant matrimonial alliance between the two kingdoms in the 16th century. Various Manipuri history books confirm that in 1536, Manipuri King Kabomba sent a princess, named Khongnambi, to Assam to marry Ahom King Suhunmung. This account is verified by both the Royal Chronicle of Manipur and the Ahom Buranji, a historical text written in the Ahom language and script.

According to the Ahom Buranji, Suhunmung’s three existing queens disapproved of the Manipuri princess as a co-wife, but the king disregarded their sentiments and accepted Khongnambi as his queen. This strategic alliance was likely aimed at strengthening ties between the two kingdoms and securing peace along their borders.

In return, Suhunmung sent girls from his kingdom to marry Kabomba, along with elephants as gifts. While the Royal Chronicle of Manipur does not mention the girls, it records the receipt of at least one elephant, which the Manipuris named “Tekhao Ngamba” (Conqueror of Assam). This gesture symbolised the friendly relations between the two kingdoms.

Historians Rk Jhalajit Singh and Shri Sapam Bheigya Singh provide additional insights into this historical event. According to Bheigya Singh, the girl offered by King Suhunmung to the Meitei king belonged to the Lanmakhru family, with the name Khukdang.

Moreover, an Ahom fishing trap known as ‘Tekhao roo’ and aniseed were presented by the Ahom king to the Meitei king. The Tekhao roo is suitable for the small rivers of Manipur.

Another instance of a matrimonial alliance between the two states occurred in 1768. Ahom King Rajeswar Singha (1751-1769) assisted Jai Singh, the father of Kuranganayani, in reclaiming the throne of Manipur. As a gesture of gratitude, Ching-Thang Khomba (Jai Singh) offered Kuranganayani’s hand in marriage to Rajeswar Singha.

A grand marriage procession accompanied Kuranganayani, consisting of two noblemen, an elephant, a horse, 200 attendants, and a substantial dowry. The wedding ceremony took place in Manaimaji in 1768. The royal couple remained together until Rajeswar Singha’s passing in 1769, following a 20-day illness.

The matrimonial alliances between Manipur and Assam, as seen in the cases of Princess Khongnambi and Kuranganayani, played a significant role in shaping the historical relationship between the two kingdoms. These strategic marriages not only strengthened ties between the royal families but also facilitated peace, trade, and cultural exchange between the two regions.

QUEEN KURANGANAYANI:

The story of Queen Kuranganayani is a powerful one in the history of the relationship between Manipur and Assam.

Kuranganayani was a Manipuri princess who married Ahom King Rajeswar Singh and became the principal queen. After Rajeswar Singh died in 1769, the Moamaria sect, a religious group that practised Vaishnavism, revolted against Lakshmi Singh, Rajeswar’s brother and successor.

The rebels, led by Ragha Moran, occupied the capital city of Rangpur and overthrew the Ahom Government for a few months. During this time, Ragha Moran mistreated Kuranganayani, who then secretly collaborated with Lakshmi Singh’s supporters to plan her revenge. She bravely stabbed Ragha Moran with a sword during the Assamese festival of Bihu, and the royalists, disguised as Bihu singers, completed the task by killing him. The virgins collected by Ragha Moran at the palace also joined in, participating in the massacre of his family.

Lakshmi Singh regained the throne, and Kuranganayani’s services were publicly acknowledged. She was given the privileges and dignity of a principal queen. However, Lakshmi Singh’s reign was troubled, and he died in 1780. The Moamaria revolt continued to pose a threat, and Gaurinath Singh, Lakshmi Singh’s son and successor, struggled to suppress it. Despite facing difficulties, Gaurinath Singh eventually fled to Guwahati in 1788 and remained there for six years, seeking help from neighbouring kingdoms.

Nevertheless, Kuranganayani’s courageous actions and strategic thinking serve as a testament to the enduring bond between Manipur and Assam. Her story continues to inspire and remind us of the bravery and resilience that have long characterised the relationship between these two states.

AHOM EXPEDITION TO MANIPUR AND “LAT KATA RAN”:

The story of Manipur’s liberation from Burmese rule is a fascinating tale of diplomacy, military expeditions, and the enduring bond between the Meitei and Ahom kingdoms. In 1764 CE, Hsinbyenshin, son of Alaung Paya, invaded Manipur, prompting Meitei King Jai Singh to flee to Cachar and eventually to the Ahom Kingdom in Assam.

The Royal Chronicle of Manipur records that Jai Singh’s family, including the Maharani, sought refuge in Assam, showcasing the Ahom kingdom’s hospitality. Jai Singh’s diplomatic efforts led to the Ahom king, Swargadeo Rajeshwar Singh, sending an expedition to Manipur to drive out the Burmese.

Led by Haranath Senapati Phukan, the expedition set out from Charaideo in Upper Assam but struggled to penetrate the dense jungles and mountain ranges, eventually retreating due to a lack of food supplies and sickness. Undeterred, the Ahom king launched a second expedition in 1767 via the Kachari kingdom. According to Cheitharol Kumbaba, the royal chronicle of Manipur, Jai Singh invaded Manipur with 80,000 Assamese, ultimately regaining the throne.

These expeditions, known as “Lat Kata Ran” or “creeper cutting war,” highlight the strong bond between the Meitei and Ahom kingdoms. The relationship was further solidified through the marriage of Jai Singh’s daughter, Kuranganayani, to Ahom King Rajeswar Singha. Kuranganayani played a crucial role in helping the Ahom kingdom during the Moamoria rebellion, earning her a revered place in Ahom history.

The hospitality and mutual respect between the Meitei and Ahom kingdoms serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring bonds between peoples and nations.

THE MOAMARIA REBELLIONS AND THE AHOM-MEITEI ALLIANCE:

The Moamarias, a Vaishnavite sect in Upper Assam, launched a series of revolts against the Ahom kings, testing the bonds of friendship and loyalty between the two kingdoms. The first revolt saw the Moamaria rebel leader, Ragha Moran, meet his demise at the hands of Kuranganayani, the brave Manipuri princess, and King Lakshmi Singh was restored to power.

However, the Moamarias continued to pose a threat, and another rebellion broke out in 1783 during the reign of Gourinath Singh, son of Lakshmi Singh. The situation escalated into a full-blown civil war in 1786, forcing Gourinath to flee to Gauhati in 1788. Desperate for help, he sent urgent messages to neighbouring kingdoms, including Manipur.

King Jai Singh of Manipur responded by sending a small force to Assam, but it was ineffective and returned to Manipur. Undeterred, Jai Singh sent a more substantial force in 1790 AD, led by the elderly Bhagyachandra and his son Madhuchandra. The Manipuri force, comprising 500 horse soldiers and 800 foot soldiers, joined forces with Ahom Prime Minister Purnanandi to launch a combined attack on Rangpur, the rebel stronghold.

Although the attack failed, and Jai Singh eventually returned to Manipur due to Burmese disturbances on the eastern frontier, the help extended by the Meitei king to the Ahom king served as a powerful testament to the strong bond between the two kingdoms. The Royal Chronicle of Manipur records that the soldiers were returned to Manipur after some time, and the king punished them for their unauthorised return.

Despite the challenges and setbacks, the friendship between the Meitei and Ahom kingdoms endured, demonstrating the deep-seated loyalty and commitment that characterised their relationship.

MEITEI PEOPLE IN ASSAM:

The migration of Meiteis from Manipur to Assam has been a significant phenomenon, with various factors contributing to this movement. One of the primary reasons was the seven years of devastation, known as “Chahi Taret Khuntakpa” (seven years of devastation), which displaced many Manipuris, leading them to migrate to Assam’s Cachar district, Tripura, Bangladesh, and neighbouring Myanmar.

Another factor was the capture of the Manipur kingdom by Burmese King Bayinnaung of the Toungo dynasty during the reign of Meitei King Mungyamba (1562-1597). This led to a mass exodus of Meiteis from Manipur, with many settling in the lower plains of the Surma valley, also known as the Barak valley, due to its favourable geography, politics, and economy.

Conflicts within the Meitei royal family also contributed to the migration. For instance, a conflict in 1604 between King Khagemba and his brother Sanongba led to Khagemba’s flight to Cachar, resulting in the settlement of Meiteis in the Barak valley.

Matrimonial alliances also played a significant role in the migration of Meiteis to Assam. The marriage of Raja Ram Chandra Narayan of Cachar to Rani Projabati Devi, a Meitei princess, in 1720 led to the permanent settlement of Meitei attendants in Cachar.

As of October 2020, the Meitei population in Assam was estimated to be around 1,68,127, making them a significant ethnic minority in the state. Meitei culture is prevalent throughout Assam, particularly in the Barak valley, where many Meiteis have settled over the centuries.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, the historical relationship between Assam and Manipur has been one of cordiality, mutual respect, and cooperation. Despite being geographically distinct, the two regions have shared a rich cultural heritage, with social and cultural exchanges, marriage alliances, and commercial relationships that date back centuries.

The presence of a coin circulated by Swarga-deo Pramatha Singh in 1746 A.D. in Manipur is a testament to the commercial ties that existed between the two kingdoms. Historically, the Tai Ahom kingdom and Manipur have enjoyed a special bond, with the Swargadeos forming alliances with the Raja of Manipur and engaging in frequent intermarriages with the royal family.

Notably, Assam has never invaded Manipur, despite the latter being invaded by other neighbouring kingdoms on multiple occasions. This speaks to the trust and goodwill that have characterised the relationship between the two regions.

The prohibition on intercourse with Manipur, imposed by the Burha Gohain, was a rare exception to this rule, and even this was driven by political considerations rather than any deep-seated animosity.

Today, the Meitei language (also known as Manipuri) is one of the official languages of the state government of Assam, a testament to the enduring cultural ties between the two regions.

In conclusion, the relationship between Assam and Manipur serves as a shining example of how two distinct regions can come together, share a rich cultural heritage, and cooperate for mutual benefit. Despite the challenges and complexities of history, the bond between Assam and Manipur remains strong, a testament to the power of friendship, trust, and cooperation.

REFERENCES:

1. History of Manipur, Pre-Colonial Period; Gangmumei Kamei
2. A Brief History of Manipur (Pre History to 1972 AD); Shri Sapam Bheigya Singh
3. https://e-pao.net
4. https://e-pao.net
5. https://e-pao.net

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