Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947
The first of its kind in Asia, the Manipur State Constitution Act was passed in May 1947. The act symbolised democracy and the presence of a Constitution, and in those days, only the Philippines was the other Nation to have its own constitution.
This Act enabled the Manipur State to have a dejure written constitution enacted by the then king of Manipur, MK Bodhchandra.
Two years prior to the enactment of the Constitution, MK Bodhchandra, had taken a lead role in establishing democracy in this erstwhile kingdom by setting up a committee to draft the Constitution; while FF Pearson, the president of the Manipur State Darbar/chief minister chaired the committee.
Under the Constitution, the king was to become a nominal head under this act. Though historical documents prove that Manipur was forcefully merged into the union of India, the Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 became obsolete with the signing of the Merger Agreement 1949 (read full text).
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.
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 MinisterT.C. Tiankham | Speaker
I.B. Singh (Arambam Ibotomcha) | Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs
Imphal, 28th September, 1949
Read the full text of the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949
It is the very Constitution to abide by all the citizens of Independent Manipur. India has no right to rule Manipur by enforcing the AFSPA which is a foreign law (Mayang law). Manipuris are freedom lovers. We never been Indians and will never be Indians. Our present Manipur government is a puppet government, has no independent character of its own, so international law rejected such puppet governments for having powerless in all administrative purposes.
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