Imphal: The Forum for Protection of Heritage for 23 Unsung Heroes (Andaman Chapter), 1891, has appealed to the Manipur govt and the Govt of India to officially institutionalise “Exile Day” on Nov 23 and include the biographies of 23 Manipuri heroes exiled after the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 in school and university syllabi.Addressing a media conference in Imphal on Saturday, forum president Chongtham Tomba Singh said the move is necessary to correct a long-standing historical injustice and ensure that the sacrifices of the 23 patriots, who were exiled to the Andaman Islands by the British after the 1891 Anglo-Manipur war, are properly recognised.The forum said many of the exiled heroes were not allowed to return to Manipur even after completing their sentences and died far from their homeland.It also referred to the Govt of India’s 2021 decision to rename Mount Harriet in the Andamans as Mount Manipur as a tribute to Manipur’s freedom fighters.The forum also highlighted the treatment meted out to Maharaja Kula Chandra Dhaja Singh, claiming that the then ruler of Manipur was deliberately humiliated by British authorities, including being denied the right to sit in the presence of British officers.Stating that 135 years have passed since the Anglo-Manipur war, the forum said the contributions of the 23 exiled heroes have faded from public memory due to the absence of state-level commemorations and their exclusion from educational syllabi.Tomba further urged the authorities to introduce comprehensive biographies of the 23 heroes into school and university syllabi, and officially declare November 23 as “Exile Day,” with a state holiday and annual govt-sponsored commemorative programmes.The organisation appealed to both the state and central govts to act promptly so that the sacrifices of the 23 exiled heroes are accorded the recognition they deserve and their legacy is preserved for future generations.
