Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday attended the premiere show of "Iningthou Kulachandra," a play on the sacrifices and resilience of the brave Manipuri freedom fighter Iningthou Kulachandra Singh during the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, in Imphal. The play was staged at the famous Rupmahal Theatre in the state capital. Speaking after the staging of the play, CM Singh highlighted the importance of various art forms like cinema, and theatre, in bringing a change in society.
Chief Minister Singh, while highlighting the historical importance of the Rupmahal Theatre, which staged its 246th play with 'Iningthou Kulachandra' on Wednesday, assured to renovate the facility at a cost of around Rs 4 crore.
Later taking to microblogging platform X, Chief Minister Singh said, "It is an immense pride to witness the premiere show of the 246th stage play of the Rupmahal theatre 'Iningthou Kulachandra' at Rupmahal Theatre, BT Road. With the play, we pay homage to the legacy of a brave leader Iningthou Kulachandra."
"His sacrifice and resilience during the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, enduring exile in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, reflects the indomitable spirit of Manipuri freedom fighters. This stage play, the 246th in Rupmahal Theatre, serves as a poignant reminder of our history and the enduring strength embedded in our cultural narrative. May this inspire the generations to come," Chief Minister Singh said.
The Chief Minister further said that the play "Iningthou Kulachandra" will educate the present and future generations about Maharaja Kulachandra's spirit and sacrifices.
The Manipur CM also said that a film is being made to highlight the importance and significance of historical events that took place in the princely state, including the seven years of devastation of the northeastern state during the Burmese invasion. Locally known as "Chahi Taret Khuntakpa," literally meaning "seven years of devastation," it was the darkest period in the annals of modern-day Manipur, during which the princely state was invaded and occupied by Burmese invaders from 1819 AD to 1826 AD, imposing chaos and anarchism.
The Burmese warriors invaded modern-day Manipur in 1819 AD and occupied it until Manipuri troops, led by Maharaja Gambhir Singh, Meidingu Narsingh, and Sana Herachandra, launched a massive offensive, thus driving them away and liberating the land in 1826 AD.
During these seven years, thousands of Manipuri people who could not bear the brunt of the Burmese occupation of the motherland fled their homes to take refuge in Tripura, Assam, and Bangladesh.