Imphal: As a tribute to the freedom fighters of Manipur, the Union government has decided to rename Mount Harriet, an island peak in Andaman and Nicobar islands as Mount Manipur.
Union home minister Amit Shah made an announcement in this regard while addressing a public function at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar islands on Saturday.
Expressing deep appreciation and gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other central leaders over the renaming of ‘Mount Harriet’ at Kalapani as ‘Mount Manipur’, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that it is indeed a proud moment for the people of Manipur and added that the central government would assist the Manipur government in establishing a memorial site at Mount Manipur.
The chief minister announced that a candle lighting celebration will be held Sunday across the state to show our deep appreciation to the central leaders.
Shah in his speech remembered that Manipur played a significant role in resisting the British in the Northeast during the 1857 revolution and in 1891. Manipur never gave up and the people there continued to fight. The state was the only one to implement its own constitution. Manipur war hero Yubraj Tikendrajit and General Thangal were publicly hanged in Fida, Imphal.
The British thought that by hanging them, they had crushed the freedom movement but it did not happen. After that, Maharaja Kulachandra Dhwaja Singh and 22 freedom fighters were sent to Kalapani and kept on Mount Harriet. Today, in his memory, we would like to honour his contribution by renaming Mount Harriet Mount Manipur, he added.
Mount Harriet, the third-highest island peak in Andaman and Nicobar islands, where Manipur’s Maharaja Kulchandra Singh and 22 other freedom fighters were imprisoned during the Anglo-Manipuri war (1891).
Speaking to media persons at the chief minister’s Secretariat Sunday, N Biren Singh said that the people of Manipur are overwhelmed with joy and happiness after the announcement.
He also stressed that Amit Shah also paid rich tribute to Maharaj Kulachandra and 22 other martyrs of Anglo-Manipur War 1891 who were exiled and jailed in Kalapani after the Britishers witnessed their great courage, spirit and love for their motherland.
On behalf of the people of Manipur and the government, the chief minister expressed his happiness and gratitude to the prime minister, home minister and all the cabinet ministers at the Centre for such a priceless gift to the people of Manipur. With agency inputs
