Imphal: Manipur’s Titular King, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, has urged the Indian government to explore the possibility of reclaiming Kabaw Valley—now part of Myanmar—or resuming the long-pending compensation payments.
Speaking during Zero Hour in Parliament on Sunday, Maharaja Leishemba, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, asserted that Kabaw Valley, spanning approximately 22,210 sq km, was historically an integral part of the Manipur kingdom since 1450 AD. He claimed that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had “gifted away” the fertile and resource-rich valley to Burma (now Myanmar) after a meeting with Burmese Prime Minister U Nu in Manipur.
The Titular King further alleged that Nehru’s decision was made unilaterally—without parliamentary approval or state government endorsement—marking what he called “the most unfortunate day in Manipur’s history.” He also argued that Nehru disregarded the Treaty of Yandaboo (1826) and pointed out that under the Kabaw Valley Agreements of 1834, Burma had agreed to pay 500 Sicca Rupees per month as compensation to Manipur’s then-King, Gambhir Singh.
Congress hits back: ‘Check the history first’
Challenging the claims, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee dismissed the notion that Nehru had ceded the territory. At a press conference on Monday, Congress Vice President and chief spokesperson Hareshwar Goswami argued that Kabaw Valley was, in fact, surrendered by Manipur’s King Marjit long before India’s independence.
According to Goswami, King Marjit—who ruled Manipur from 1813 to 1819—had renounced all claims to the valley and submitted it to the Burmese King in exchange for his own rule over Manipur. He cited the historical account “Eastern Frontiers” by R.B. Pemberton as evidence.
“The valley has been a part of Myanmar since 1834. It was never gifted by Nehru,” Goswami asserted. He also refuted Maharaja Leishemba’s claim about Nehru’s presence in Manipur on March 3, 1953, clarifying that Nehru visited the state only on two occasions—October 23-24, 1952, and March 28-31, 1953.
Furthermore, Goswami pointed out that when Manipur merged with India in 1949, there was no mention of Kabaw Valley as part of the state’s territory. “How can a Rajya Sabha MP raise an issue about a region that wasn’t even part of Manipur at the time of its merger?” he questioned.
Even if it were true, the timing was not appropriate, Goswami added.
The Congress leader advised Maharaja Leishemba to consult historians and experts before making such claims and even invited him for an open debate on the matter.
