In this connection, a well-attended meeting was also held at Sonpijang Youth Club which was conducted by M Singson, chairman, Celebration Committee.
The meeting was attended by Debojeet Thaosen, Chief Executive Member, NC Hills Autonomous Council as the chief guest while ST Jem Hrangkhol, Nirmal Langthasa, Samuel Changsan, Fleming Rupsi Sylla, executive members and Smt P Phonglo Bodo, DIPRO attended as guests of honour. Among others, gaonburhas from several Kuki villages also attended the meeting.
TK Doungel, senior advisor of the organising committee in his speech said that, “Born in 1868 at Aisan village at Sadar Hills in Manipur, Pu Chengjapao Doungel was the Kuki hero of India. During his reign, Aisan's glory spread far and wide and it had become the most powerful village”. During the Anglo-Kuki War of Independence between 1917-1919, World War had broke out in Europe. India was also affected by the war as it was under the British colonial regime. In 1917, the war had taken a serious turn and it was during this critical moment, Pu Chengjapao Doungel gave a clarion call to his fellow-men to fight the British tooth and nail and to drive them out from their areas of domination.
“The British Government saw the rise of Chengjapao Doungel and the revolt of the Kukis as a serious threat in the eastern part of India. Consequently, arrest warrant was issued against him to be captured dead or alive, in order to quell the rebellion. When some of the Kuki chiefs surrendered, it became more difficult for Chengjapao Doungel to continue the war, so he surrendered to the government for negotiation. Instead of negotiating with him, the government arrested him and sent him to jail along with the other 11 chiefs at Sadiya (Tinsukia) district for three years. However, Chengjapao Doungel, being the leader of the rebellion, was kept in jail for one more year. After a period of four years, he was set free. However upon his return from political exile, everything had changed in his chiefdom, such as the names of the district, subdivision and headquarters including the attitude of the people from their earlier spirit of defiance to that of meek submission and compromise. The chiefs too suffered discrimination and were beset with trials and afflictions. Consequently, Chengjapao Doungel’s attempt to protect the sovereignty of the Kukis and his war against the colonial rulers took a heavy toll on his health and he died a premature death at an early age of sixty.”
The day was commemorated with a series of lectures, lunch programme for the guests and villagers and sports. Gaonburhas from all the villages of Dima Hasao were also present in the death anniversary function of Pu Chengjapao Doungel.
Source: Assam Tribune
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