The keyword term "Patriots' Day in Manipur" functions grammatically as a proper noun phrase. It names a specific, official observance held annually on August 13th in the state of Manipur, India. The day commemorates the Manipuri combatants who fought against the British Empire during the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891 and honors those who were subsequently executed or exiled for their role in defending the kingdom's sovereignty.
The historical basis for this observance is the aftermath of the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891, a conflict that arose from British interference in the internal succession affairs of the Kangleipak Kingdom. Following the British victory, several Manipuri leaders were held responsible for waging war against the British Crown. On August 13, 1891, the Manipuri prince Bir Tikendrajit Singh and General Thangal were publicly hanged at Pheida Pung in Imphal, which is now known as Bir Tikendrajit Park. Other leaders, including Maharaja Kulachandra Singh, were exiled to the Andaman Islands. The day is observed to remember this sacrifice.
In contemporary Manipur, the observance is a state holiday marked by solemn ceremonies. State dignitaries, including the Governor and Chief Minister, lead the tributes by laying wreaths at key memorial sites such as the Sahid Minar monument and the Kangla Uttra. The day serves as a powerful symbol of Manipuri nationalism and resistance, reinforcing a collective historical memory of the struggle for independence and honoring the individuals who sacrificed their lives for the kingdom.
