Patriots' Day in Manipur is a regional public holiday observed annually on August 13th. It commemorates the Manipuri combatants who were executed by the British government in 1891 following the conclusion of the Anglo-Manipur War. The day serves as a solemn remembrance of the state's historical struggle for sovereignty and honors the sacrifices made by its leaders and soldiers in resistance to colonial rule.
The historical basis for this observance is the aftermath of the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. Following the conflict, which arose from internal strife within the Manipuri royal family and subsequent British intervention, several Manipuri leaders were captured. On August 13, 1891, the British publicly hanged Jubraj (Prince) Bir Tikendrajit and Thangal General at Pheida Pung in Imphal, which is now known as Bir Tikendrajit Park. Other commanders and officials involved in the resistance were also executed or exiled. The reigning monarch, Maharaja Kulachandra Singh, was exiled to the Andaman Islands.
The observance of this day is a significant cultural and political event in contemporary Manipur. It is marked by official state functions, where high-ranking officials, including the Governor and Chief Minister, pay floral tributes at memorials such as the Shaheed Minar in Bir Tikendrajit Park and the memorial complex at Hicham Yaichampat. The day reinforces a sense of collective identity and historical consciousness among the Manipuri people, serving as a powerful reminder of their ancestors' fight for independence and self-determination.
