I would like to extend my warm greetings & sincere thanks to -
(1) Behiang Chief & villagers
(2) SDO Singngat Subdivision
(3) the OC of Behiang Police Station
(4) the Post-Commander of 46 Assam Rifles, Behiang
(5) Leaders and all members of UZO, ZSP, ZYO
(6) All the lovely students and
(7) all who have come to this historical site - Zougal Memerial Cemetery Complex, to observe Har Ghar Tiranga- Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and to hoist our great Indian National Flag today in remembrance of brave Indian freedom fighters.
I am extremely grateful to the Ministry of Arts and Culture under the able supervision of our honourable Chief Minister Pu Biren Singh, for selecting this Zou Gal Memorial Cemetery Complexat Behiang as one of the historical sites for organizing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav or Flag hoisting programme for Indian Freedom Fighters. Once again, I give thanks to honourble Chief Minister Pu Biren Singh for his recent announcement to set up a Cultural Centre/Complex at Behiang village. We hope and pray that this project materialize soon and become a grand success for all of us.
Today is a historic moment not only for the area of Behiang, but also for the whole Manipur Southern border region to hold a state program in remembrance and honor of tribal freedom fighters who are also Indian freedom fighters, for the first time. As we can see, nationalism is something that has been in oblivion (or dying down) in this border areas for a long time due to constant disturbance by insurgencies. The presence of the state/government has not been felt by the people for quite long. However, recently, because of the presence of few people such as retired Indian armies and those currently serving in armies from the villages, the presence of state and central forces like Polices, Assam Rifles, and also public health centres, etc., the wave of Indian nationalism somehow revived once again. At this moment, we also remember and pay a tribute to a brave Indian soldier - Major David Manlun, who hailed from this remote village of Behiang, and Col. Tripathi, for their solemn sacrifices for the Nation. Again in 2017, the Zou Gal Centenary Celebration held in this part of the India's border village had highly contributed to the revival of nationalism and Indian-ness among the people.
We are honoured and proud to have forefathers who fought the colonial British power, and dared to sacrifice their precious lives to protect their lands, dignity and liberty during the Zou-British war of 1917-19, locally known in southern parts of Manipur as Zou Gal. Since we were as much Indian then as now, we are proud to declare that our brave forefathers - soldiers of Zougal- were now known and recognized as Indian freedom fighters like any other freedom fighters in all corners of India. Also, the Zou Gal of 1917-1919 was a part of the Indian freedom movements. To commemorate the 100th years of this struggle, we have organized the Zou Gal Centenary Celebration in 19th December 2017 here in Zou Gal Memorial Cemetery, Behiang where more than 90 slab-stones of Zou warriors were erected, as we can see now.
The Zou forefathers opposed the British policy of forced subjugation and forced recruitment of labours for Europe in the World War –II (1914-18 AD). We are freedom loving people, as we know. It is below their dignity to work as someone's labourer or coolie. Local sources as well as Colonial records maintained the historical events of the Zou-British war. Several fierce encounters took place between the Zou fighters and British troops at Tuibom in Chakpi River, Gotengkot near Kana River (in 27th January 1918), and so on. Since March 1918, the Zou people defended their villages from the onslaught of the colonial armies till the last stockade. The British raided Buhsau in March 16, 1918; Singngat in March 17; Hiangtam fort in March 19, 1918, and Tonjang in March 21, 1918 (as recorded by WA Cosgrave, Political Agent of Manipur). Besides these, many Zou villages were attacked and burnt down by the British columns. Nevertheless, our forefathers gallantly fought back and even some of them lost their lives fighting the invaders. Today, the UZO GHQ is able to trace at least 15 names of Zou martyrs who died during this war.
The British had bitten the dust too. Report states that several British soldiers lost their lives too at the encounter of Gotengkot, Tuibom, Hiangtam and others. Cosgrave even said "The defence of Hengtam village was by far the most stubborn and well organized fight I have seen…and the (Zou)-Kukis are a more formidable foe than any other Kukis with whom (our) Column has so far dealt".
Today we have come here, not to narrate the complete history of Zou Gal, but to pay our respect and homage to all the Zougal fighters especially the Martyrs of the Zou Gal, as we also remember and salute other freedom fighters in India. We would like to pay our respect to Zougal leaders and warriors such as Pu Langzachin chief of Behiang, Pu Somlun chief of Tonjang, Pu Lampum of Khuoivum, Pu Gouthang of Ngalzang, Pu Goulun of Hiangtam, Pu Somthong of Singngat, Pu Henthang of Buhsau, Pu Doungul of Kholian, Pu Kamkeleng of Hiangtam, and many others that I could not mention now. In fact we have more than 90 names of Zougal fighters in the list. Salute to all of them!! Their selfless sacrifices is the reason we live with dignity, and a true sense of nationalism, and love for the land, people and our country-India. It proudly reminds us that we are the descendants of national freedom fighters, and that we take pride in serving the nation and protecting its unity and integrity.
As your representative, I would like to exhort my dear people to unceasingly show your love for our motherland, and commit to work for the development of our state and country as a whole. I assure that the state government will always work for all-round development of Manipur and welfare of its people, and will never break the trust of the people.
As we have mentioned, Behiang-Tonjang area has significant imprints of freedom fighters of Zou Gal (1917-19) and their biographical sketches, and important sites such as Chivu and its related histories found in several colonial archives. Hence the selection of this Zougal memorial cemetery complex as a historical site. Today nationalist historiography has linked up tribal protests with the narrative of the nation at large. In the nationalist version, tribal unrest against Colonial power is also included as one of the various struggles that contributed to India's freedom movements to achieve a nation-state of our own ( i.e. India) in 1947. Hence Zougal fighters are also known as Indian freedom fighters.
We salute all who fought and sacrificed their precious lives for the freedom of India and its people.
JAI HIND ! JAI BHARAT !
LONG LIVE MANIPUR !
LONG LIVE INDIA !
Courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/100453848527173/posts/pfbid0W5JxX9G6CmdgzuwHSa9r4sLugzNFvvgVaWW2EqdWMNobsEQAepnizjsSJXWWdZJ3l/
(1) Behiang Chief & villagers
(2) SDO Singngat Subdivision
(3) the OC of Behiang Police Station
(4) the Post-Commander of 46 Assam Rifles, Behiang
(5) Leaders and all members of UZO, ZSP, ZYO
(6) All the lovely students and
(7) all who have come to this historical site - Zougal Memerial Cemetery Complex, to observe Har Ghar Tiranga- Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and to hoist our great Indian National Flag today in remembrance of brave Indian freedom fighters.
I am extremely grateful to the Ministry of Arts and Culture under the able supervision of our honourable Chief Minister Pu Biren Singh, for selecting this Zou Gal Memorial Cemetery Complexat Behiang as one of the historical sites for organizing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav or Flag hoisting programme for Indian Freedom Fighters. Once again, I give thanks to honourble Chief Minister Pu Biren Singh for his recent announcement to set up a Cultural Centre/Complex at Behiang village. We hope and pray that this project materialize soon and become a grand success for all of us.
Today is a historic moment not only for the area of Behiang, but also for the whole Manipur Southern border region to hold a state program in remembrance and honor of tribal freedom fighters who are also Indian freedom fighters, for the first time. As we can see, nationalism is something that has been in oblivion (or dying down) in this border areas for a long time due to constant disturbance by insurgencies. The presence of the state/government has not been felt by the people for quite long. However, recently, because of the presence of few people such as retired Indian armies and those currently serving in armies from the villages, the presence of state and central forces like Polices, Assam Rifles, and also public health centres, etc., the wave of Indian nationalism somehow revived once again. At this moment, we also remember and pay a tribute to a brave Indian soldier - Major David Manlun, who hailed from this remote village of Behiang, and Col. Tripathi, for their solemn sacrifices for the Nation. Again in 2017, the Zou Gal Centenary Celebration held in this part of the India's border village had highly contributed to the revival of nationalism and Indian-ness among the people.
We are honoured and proud to have forefathers who fought the colonial British power, and dared to sacrifice their precious lives to protect their lands, dignity and liberty during the Zou-British war of 1917-19, locally known in southern parts of Manipur as Zou Gal. Since we were as much Indian then as now, we are proud to declare that our brave forefathers - soldiers of Zougal- were now known and recognized as Indian freedom fighters like any other freedom fighters in all corners of India. Also, the Zou Gal of 1917-1919 was a part of the Indian freedom movements. To commemorate the 100th years of this struggle, we have organized the Zou Gal Centenary Celebration in 19th December 2017 here in Zou Gal Memorial Cemetery, Behiang where more than 90 slab-stones of Zou warriors were erected, as we can see now.
The Zou forefathers opposed the British policy of forced subjugation and forced recruitment of labours for Europe in the World War –II (1914-18 AD). We are freedom loving people, as we know. It is below their dignity to work as someone's labourer or coolie. Local sources as well as Colonial records maintained the historical events of the Zou-British war. Several fierce encounters took place between the Zou fighters and British troops at Tuibom in Chakpi River, Gotengkot near Kana River (in 27th January 1918), and so on. Since March 1918, the Zou people defended their villages from the onslaught of the colonial armies till the last stockade. The British raided Buhsau in March 16, 1918; Singngat in March 17; Hiangtam fort in March 19, 1918, and Tonjang in March 21, 1918 (as recorded by WA Cosgrave, Political Agent of Manipur). Besides these, many Zou villages were attacked and burnt down by the British columns. Nevertheless, our forefathers gallantly fought back and even some of them lost their lives fighting the invaders. Today, the UZO GHQ is able to trace at least 15 names of Zou martyrs who died during this war.
The British had bitten the dust too. Report states that several British soldiers lost their lives too at the encounter of Gotengkot, Tuibom, Hiangtam and others. Cosgrave even said "The defence of Hengtam village was by far the most stubborn and well organized fight I have seen…and the (Zou)-Kukis are a more formidable foe than any other Kukis with whom (our) Column has so far dealt".
Today we have come here, not to narrate the complete history of Zou Gal, but to pay our respect and homage to all the Zougal fighters especially the Martyrs of the Zou Gal, as we also remember and salute other freedom fighters in India. We would like to pay our respect to Zougal leaders and warriors such as Pu Langzachin chief of Behiang, Pu Somlun chief of Tonjang, Pu Lampum of Khuoivum, Pu Gouthang of Ngalzang, Pu Goulun of Hiangtam, Pu Somthong of Singngat, Pu Henthang of Buhsau, Pu Doungul of Kholian, Pu Kamkeleng of Hiangtam, and many others that I could not mention now. In fact we have more than 90 names of Zougal fighters in the list. Salute to all of them!! Their selfless sacrifices is the reason we live with dignity, and a true sense of nationalism, and love for the land, people and our country-India. It proudly reminds us that we are the descendants of national freedom fighters, and that we take pride in serving the nation and protecting its unity and integrity.
As your representative, I would like to exhort my dear people to unceasingly show your love for our motherland, and commit to work for the development of our state and country as a whole. I assure that the state government will always work for all-round development of Manipur and welfare of its people, and will never break the trust of the people.
As we have mentioned, Behiang-Tonjang area has significant imprints of freedom fighters of Zou Gal (1917-19) and their biographical sketches, and important sites such as Chivu and its related histories found in several colonial archives. Hence the selection of this Zougal memorial cemetery complex as a historical site. Today nationalist historiography has linked up tribal protests with the narrative of the nation at large. In the nationalist version, tribal unrest against Colonial power is also included as one of the various struggles that contributed to India's freedom movements to achieve a nation-state of our own ( i.e. India) in 1947. Hence Zougal fighters are also known as Indian freedom fighters.
We salute all who fought and sacrificed their precious lives for the freedom of India and its people.
JAI HIND ! JAI BHARAT !
LONG LIVE MANIPUR !
LONG LIVE INDIA !
Courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/100453848527173/posts/pfbid0W5JxX9G6CmdgzuwHSa9r4sLugzNFvvgVaWW2EqdWMNobsEQAepnizjsSJXWWdZJ3l/
13 Aug 2022
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