History and Geography
Manipur has a long and glorious history from before the beginning of the Christian era. The recorded history of kingship started from 33 AD, which marked the coronation of Pakhangba. After Pakhangba a series of kings ruled over the kingdom of Manipur. The independence and sovereignly of Manipur remained uninterrupted until the Burmese invaded and occupied it for approximately seven years in the first quarter of the 19th century (1819-1826). Then came the British Parmaountcy in 1891. Manipur regained independence along with the rest of India in 1947. When the Constitution of India came into force on the 26th January, 1950, Manipur became a Part C State under a Chief Commissioner in 1950-51, a Council of Advisors was introduced and in 1957 this was replaced by a territorial Council of 30 elected and 2 nominated members. Later in 1963 a Territorial Assembly of 30 elected and 3 nominated members was established under the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963. In December 1969 the Chief Commissioner was replaced by the Lt Governor. Manipur became a full-fledged state on the 21st January, 1972 with a Legislative Assembly of 60 members of whom 19 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes an one for Scheduled Castes. The state is represented in the Lok Sabha by two members and by one member in Rajya Sabha.
Manipur is situated on the eastern frontier of India. It is bounded on the east by Myanmar (Burma), on the north by the State of Nagaland, on the west by the State of Assam and the south by the State of Mizoram and Myanmar. Manipur lies between 23.83 N and 22.237N Latitude and between 93.03 E and 94.78E longitude. It has an area of 22,327 sq.km. Physically, Manipur comprises two part- the hills and the valley. The valley is at the centre surrounded by hills on all sies. The hill covers about 9/10 of the total area of the State. Manipur Valley is about 790 meters above the sea level. The hill ranges are higher on the north and gradually diminish in the height as they reach the southern part of Manipur. The valley itself slopes down towards the south. |
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