By K. K. Peseyie, Kohima
There is nothing great about “discovering” a “monolith” in the name of Manipur’s Raja Gumbir Singh on May 27, 2017 by a team from Manipur led by one researcher Rajeshwar Gumnam who searched for the thing in Kohima for many days and “discovered” it near the State Museum (Local Papers, May 29). A story best forgotten if at all possible, as far as Kohima was concerned. The thing had been lying there for many years probably ever since it was brought there around 1980s, from a place called Public Garden (Phool Bari) presently occupied by Down Town Hospital and other commercial buildings.
That was the place where the head of Mr. Damant, killed by Khonoma (1879) was brought and buried with full military honours by Col. Johnstone. A stone pillar was set up over the grave in his honour and a beautiful flower garden was set up with water sprouts at the centre of a pond. The Manipur “Monolith” was placed at the north end of the park before it was shifted to the compound of the State Museum.
I wonder why it was kept there. It was a stark reminder of a humiliating defeat of Kohima by invading merciless Manipur army led by Raja Gumbir Singh (prior to 1830s) before any British ever set foot in the Naga Hills.
Being ignorant of the use of firearms in those days the Angami warriors of Kohima advanced on the Manipuris with only their spears and the inevitable daos. The Manipuris fired and killed or wounded hundreds of Kohima warriors. The rest had to flee in confusion. (The battle field seem to be a place between the present Khuochiezie ground and North Police station).
After this the Manipuris went up to the village, destroyed properties, misbehaved with women and victimised even children. They took away many women and children as captives. They then seized a child and buried him alive and set up a stone pillar over the grave. The Raja also stood on a flat stone on which they traced his foot prints and carved out the prints and made the “monolith” somewhere in the village area. This probably was to mark the “Great Victory” over armless, defenceless and helpless Kohima. (Refer a book titled “An Outline History of India” written by Lhoulienyii Suokhrirnuo, Headmaster, Kohima Govt. ME School, August 20, 1937, written in Angami Naga).
It is not known when or by whom the “monolith” was brought down from the village to the “Phool Bari”. At one time it is said that some youth from Kohima in anger tried to destroy it. They broke only a top portion of the stone when they had to run away probably on arrival of police or some authority.
In his book, “My Experience in Manipur and Naga Hills”, Sir James Johnstone wrote that “...the Nagas greatly respected this stone and cleaned it from time to time...”
It may be true that with this unequal war a sort of communication was opened between Nagas and Manipur. But it was evident that Nagas did not respect this stone. Sir James Johnstone’s claim is not true. If at all any care was shown to it, it could only be out of fear of being victimised by the Manipur army who always reacted mercilessly against any harm done to it by Nagas.
When the area was allotted to private individuals the Damant Stone was shifted to the DC’s compound now called the Heritage House. It appears the Manipur stone was also shifted to the compound by the Directorate of Art and Culture where it lay for over two decades till it was “discovered” by Rajeshwar and his team on 27.05.2017!
