Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 (Full Text)

Manipur was annexed to the Union of India in 1949 (Image: Manipur Khonjel)

Read the original text of the controversial Merger Agreement between India and Manipur, with which the latter became a part of the union of India.

Background: Manipur was annexed to the Union of India in 1949. All along the Government of India stays adamant that the decades-old armed movement is a law and order problem, and that the conflict is an an internal affair that should be controlled and abolished.

History is witness to the fact that insurgency began in Manipur because of the way in which the agreement was signed. More importantly, it was not because of the signing of agreement per se, but how it was signed and the nature of the agreement under which Manipur became a part of India. Specifically, it became a Part-C state, which was too 'humiliating' for an ancient kingdom.

People who are familiar with this erstwhile kingdom know that the then king of Manipur, MK Bodhachandra was kept under house arrest, and 'coerced' to sign the agreement in Shillong in 1949.

Several anecdotes exist that show the arrogance of the Indian State in those days. One of the infamous stories is the Brigadier Story. The then chief commissioner had informed the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel that King Bodhachandra had refused to sign the agreement. Then Patel sent a telegram asking if there was not a Brigadier in Assam.

Till today, many of the policies in Manipur are informed by this kind of military-leaning attitude of India. It is no wonder then that the State got no legal resistance when draconian laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, AFSPA, was imposed in 1980.

Albeit King Bodhachandra had signed the Instrument of Accession in August 1947 and accepted by Lord Mountbatten who was then the Governor General of India; in Shillong, the king was hesitant because the Merger implied complete surrender of power to the Union of India. It is common knowledge that besides the coercion of the king, the legality of the agreement is still highly questionable vis-à-vis international laws and covenants.

Shortly in 1949, the Manipur State Assembly, which had earlier formulated the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947, passed a resolution rejecting the Merger Agreement. (Read the resolution below.)

We can look up historical documents and events, which unfolded after Manipur became a part of India officially on 15 October 1949. That will give a better picture of the controversial nature of the merger as well as the origin of armed movements.

The following is the complete text of the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 that was, with or without legitimacy, signed by the former king of Manipur, while he was kept under house arrest in Shillong:

Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 (Full Text)

Note: All the texts in the above graphic are real headlines from several newspapers

Postscript

Subsequent to the Merger Agreement, the popularly elected Manipur Assembly adopted a few resolutions on 28 September 1949 that rejected the so-called agreement signed under duress. The following is a text of the resolution published by the Manipur State Press, G-100/ 14-10-49.

Proceedings of the 4th Sitting of the 3rd Session of the First Manipur State Legislative Assembly Assembled under the Provisions of the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947.

The Assembly met in the Assembly Chamber in the Johnstone High School premises at 2:30 P.M on the 28th September, 1949.

The 4th sitting of the 3rd Session of the Manipur State Legislative assembly, held on 29-9-1949 resolved & adopted the following resolutions in protest against the Merger Agreement signed on 21st September 1949.

1. As per Adult-Franchise regulation, the General election held in June, 1948 of Manipur State Legislative Assembly had taken accord of the Law-orders, Administrations, Financial assessments, Foreign Affairs etc. of the then Maharaja of Manipur.

2. The State of Manipur will have no relations Foreign relation/ relation with Indian Govt. without any agreement signed with the MSLA though may it be the declaration of the then Maharaja.

3. The Ex-Maharaja Bodhachandra Singh under immense pressure and duress from Prakash Shah, Governor of Assam, V.P. Menon, Minister of State affairs, and Sardar Ballavai Patel was forced to sign the Merger Agreement on 21st September, 1949 at Shillong without any consignment from the Manipur State Legislative Assembly. The agreement is being dropped out by the M.S. Legislative Assembly, i.e., will not abide by the agreement.

Lastly, the Manipur State Legislative Assembly has taken the resolution that the Merger Agreement is totally dropped and that it will not consider such an agreement that had been signed where about.

Signed by:
P.B. Singh (MK Priyobrata) | Chief Minister
T.C. Tiankham | Speaker
I.B. Singh (Arambam Ibotomcha) | Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs
Imphal, 28th September, 1949

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