Churachand Singh
| Churachand Singh | |
|---|---|
| Maharaja | |
| Reign | 1892–1941 AD |
| Predecessor | Kulachandra Singh |
| Successor | Bodhchandra Singh |
| Born | Kangleipak |
| Died | Kangleipak |
| Burial | |
| Issue | M. K. Binodini Devi Bodhchandra Singh |
| House | Ningthouja dynasty |
| Father | Chowbi Yaima |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Kingdom of Manipur | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Maharaja Sir Churachand Singh KCSI CBE, also known as Churachandra or Chura Chand[1] (1886–1941), was a ruler of the princely state of Manipur under the British Raj. He was a great-grandson of Raja Nara Singh who had ruled up to 1850 prior to Raja Chandrakirti. Churachand Singh's investiture followed the quelling of the Manipur Rebellion of 1891, when the entire ruling family was convicted. Churachand Singh enjoyed a long reign till 1941, but his power was nominal.
Investiture
[edit]After quelling the Manipur Rebellion of 1891, the British imprisoned Raja Kulachandra Singh and took full control of Manipur, but eventually decided to "regrant" it to Manipuris as an "act of mercy".[2] Churachand Singh, who was the youngest son of Chowbi Yaima, in turn a grandson of Raja Nara Singh, was selected to be the next Raja.[2][3] The investiture ceremony took place on 28 April 1892. Churachand Singh was five years at that time. During his minority, the British Political Agent to Manipur acted as the Superintendent and administered the state.[3]
Singh was sent Mayo College in Ajmer for education in 1895. He returned in 1901.[4] The administration of the state was handed over to him in 1907.[4]
Rule
[edit]Churachand Singh ruled the state between 1907 and 1941, under British supervision exercised by the Lieutenant Governor of East Bengal and Assam. A Darbar was established with three Ordinary Members (who held government departments) and three Additional Members (as councillors).[5][6] Initially, Churachand Singh served as the President of the Darbar, and a British-appointed ICS officer served as the Vice-President.[4] This arrangement was terminated in 1916, when the British officer became the President of the Darbar.[7][8][9]
Irrespective of the arrangement, the administration of the state was to be conducted according to the 'Rules for the Management of the State of Manipur', which were in force till 1947. The real executive power rested with the Political Agent.[10][11][12]
Churachand Singh received the title of Maharaja in 1918 and was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India in the 1934 New Year Honours, becoming Sir Churachandra Singh.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Churachand Singh had six wives. He had six daughters and five sons from them. In addition, one son was adopted by the Maharani.[14]
Legacy
[edit]In 1921, the Kuki village of Songpi, which was then the headquarters of the southwestern hill subdivision, was named "Churchandpur" in honour of Churachand Singh.[15] The subdivision also acquired the name "Churachandpur subdivision", which continued even after Songpi ceased to be its headquarters. In 1947, the name was transferred to the present-day Churachandpur town, which was called "New Churachandpur" for a few years.[16] At present, the name is contested by the local people who prefer to call the town by its original name "Lamka".[15]
See also
[edit]- List of Manipuri kings
- Manipur (princely state)
- Churachand Singh Trophy, football tournament named after him[17][18][19]
References
[edit]- ^ "Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 17, p. 186". Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ a b Moyon, Insights of the Western Missionaries Legacy in Manipur (2021), pp. 24–25.
- ^ a b Lokendra, The Unquiet Valley (1998), pp. 36–37.
- ^ a b c Lokendra, The Unquiet Valley (1998), pp. 38–39.
- ^ Sudhirkumar Singh, Socio-religious and Political Movements (2011), pp. 49–50.
- ^ Singh, History of the Christian Missions in Manipur (1991), p. 9.
- ^ Sudhirkumar Singh, Socio-religious and Political Movements (2011), pp. 49–50: "He was just outwardly decorated to exercise veto to any Durbar resolution, but, if so, reasons thereof of his veto should be furnished to the Assam Governor. It was a clear indicative of decorated 'hollow crown'. In the next step, he was removed from the Durbar presidentship. The Governor of Assam, as an agent of the Crown, [had] the final say and his decision was binding on both the Durbar and the Maharaja.".
- ^ Sinha, The Politics and Government of Manipur (1987), p. 487.
- ^ Ibochou Singh, British administration in Manipur (1985), p. 146.
- ^ Sanatomba, Interrogation into the political status of Manipur (2015), p. 164.
- ^ Singh, History of the Christian Missions in Manipur (1991), pp. 9–10.
- ^ Sudhirkumar Singh, Socio-religious and Political Movements (2011), pp. 113–114.
- ^ "Manipur Princely State - (11 gun salute)". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ Moyon, Insights of the Western Missionaries Legacy in Manipur (2021), pp. 22–23.
- ^ a b Sukrit Baruah (10 July 2023), "Amid ongoing violence, why there is an open challenge to the name of Manipur's Churachandpur", The Indian Express
- ^
The Manipur State Gazette, No. 103, Imphal: Government of Manipur, by order of H. H. The Maharaja, 8 June 1949 – via archive.org,
The Hon'ble Speaker to read out the Report on New Churachandpur Town as submitted by 3 Special Commissioners deputed by the Assembly.
- ^ "History of Sir Churachand Singh KCSI CBE Memorial Football Tournament". www.e-pao.net. E-PAO. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Churachand Singh Invitation Football Trophy". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ Sinlung. "Seven Sisters Love Football: Churachand Singh Trophy: A Historic perspective". Seven Sisters Love Football. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
Bibliography
[edit]- Ibochou Singh, Khwairakpam (1985). British administration in Manipur 1891–1947 (PhD thesis). Gauhati University – via Shodhganga.
- Lokendra, N. (1998), The Unquiet Valley: Society, Economy, and Politics of Manipur (1891-1950), Mittal Publications, ISBN 978-81-7099-696-5
- Moyon, Rev. Dr. Koningthung Ngoru (2021), Insights of the Western Missionaries Legacy in Manipur, Blue Rose Publishers
- Sanatomba, Kangujam (2015), "Interrogation into the political status of Manipur", in Arambam Noni; Kangujam Sanatomba (eds.), Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur, Routledge, pp. 159–180, ISBN 978-1-317-27066-9
- Singh, Karam Manimohan (1991), History of the Christian Missions in Manipur and Neighbouring States, Mittal Publications, ISBN 81-7099-285-0 – via archive.org
- Sinha, L. P. (1987), "The Politics and Government of Manipur", The Indian Journal of Political Science, 48 (4): 487–493, JSTOR 41855332
- Sudhirkumar Singh, Haorongbam (2011). Socio-religious and Political Movements in Modern Manipur 1934–51 (PhD thesis). Jawaharlal Nehru University – via Shodhganga.