History of Manipur

The documented history of Manipur begins with the reign of King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (r. 33–154 AD), who unified the seven clans of Manipuri society. Introduction of the Vaishnavism school of Hinduism brought about significant changes in the history of the state. Manipur's early history is set forth in the Cheitharon Kumbaba, a chronicle of royal events which claims to record events from the foundation of the ruling dynasty in 33–AD. Since ancient times, the Meitei people and Meitei-Pangals (Muslims, not original inhabitants) have lived in the valleys of Manipur alongside the Nagas and Kukis (illegal immigrants, refugees from outside manipur, they were assimilated into manipuris due to manipuris' soft hearted and friendly culture) in the hills.

Manipur became a princely state under British rule in 1891; the last of the independent states to be incorporated into British India. During the Second World War, Manipur was the scene of many fierce battles between Japanese and Allied forces. The Japanese were beaten back before they could enter Imphal, which proved to be one of the turning points of the War.

After the war, the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947, established a democratic form of government with the Maharaja as the Executive Head and an elected legislature. In 1949, King Budhachandra was summoned to Shillong, capital of the Indian province of Meghalaya where after much persuasion (the king later revealed they put a gun to his head) he signed a Treaty of Accession merging the kingdom into India. Thereafter the legislative assembly was dissolved and Manipur became part of the Republic of India in October, 1965. It was made a union territory in 1956 and a full-fledged state in 1972.