Brief History of the Churachandpur District, Manipur

Brief history of the District

The district of Churachandpur derives its name from the town of Churachandpur after Sir Churachand Singh, K.C.S.I.,C.B.S. the Maharaja of Manipur. It lies on the south-western part of Manipur between 24.0 N and 24.3 N latitutde and 93.15 E and 94.0 E longitude. The district is bounded on the north by Tamenglong District, on the east by the districts of Imphal and Chandel, on the south by Myanmar (Burma) and Mizoram and on the west by the State of Mizoram and Assam. The average altitude of the district is 914.0 metres above the mean sea level. The area of the district as furnished by the Surveyor General of India is 4570.0 sq.km.

Historically, the district is characterised by a stream of immigrants, mainly of

the Kuki origin, from Burma and Chitagong Hill Tracts (now in Bangladesh)beginning right from the 15 th and 16 th century even upto the early part of this century. Depending on the period of migration these Kuki immigrants have been classified by various authors into the old Kuki group. On the basis of their language and affinity to other social characteristics they are further classified into Northern-Chin sub-group and Kuki-Chin sub-group. They gradually spread throughout the district and other hilly area of Manipur from various directions in search of fertile and suitable habitation areas. In the process of control and supremacy there arose constant feuds and wars, mostly local, within the different factions of the migrant group as also between the migrant population and the original settlers. In the immediate preindependence period they came into the limelight during the Kuki Rebellion of 1917-19. In December, 1917,the Kukis broke into open rebellion against the British in defiance of the order of conscription of labour corps for employment in France during the First World War. The rebellion lasted till March,1919. Many lives were lost in the rebellion. During the Second World War the district further witnessed heavy military movement of the I.N.A. ( Indian National Army of Netaji Subhaschandra Bose) forces and the Japanese Army and their engagement against the Indian and the British Army. The spread of Christianity among the different sectionsof the people of the district in the beginning of the 20 th century is another epoch-making achievement in the history of the district. From a small start the district now have a number of Christian organizations/ missionaries operating in all corners of the district. The spread of Christianity is still a continuing process.

Churachandpur district which was previously known as Manipur South District came into existed in the year 1969 alongwith the district reorganization of Manipur. Manipur was till thena single district Union Territory having only 10 Sus-Divisions. By an order of Manipur Government No. 20/39/69-D dated 12 th November,1969, Manipur was divided into 5 districts having 25 SubDivisions. Under the said notification, the Churachandpur Sub-Division alongwith 15 hill villages of Jiribam Sub-Division were transferred to form Manipur South District. The District was further divided into 5 sub-divisions, namely, Tipaimukh, Thanlon, Churachandpur North, Churachandpur and Thinghat (presently known as Singngat). Since then there have been some minor territorial changes in the jurisdiction of the district. In 1972, 14 hill villages belonging to Jiribam sub-division of Manipur Central District (now Imphal district) were added to the administrative and revenue jurisdiction of Tipaimukh sub-division of the district. During 1981 and 1991 the district lost two hill villages belonging to Churachandpur sub-division. These hill villages were already lying within the geographical jurisdiction of Bishnupur district and the transfer to these villages to Bishnupur district was made in 1985 for administrative conveniences. During the intervening period the name of the district had also been changed Manipur South District to Churachandpur district.

The relevant Government order affecting the jurisdiction of the district are presented below :-

Subject	Government Order With Date
1. Creation of Manipur South District	Government Secretariate order No.20/39/69-D dated 12, November 1969 (Gazette E-93 dated 15/2/72) Manipur
2. Formation of Tipaimukh, Thanlon, Churachandpur and Thinghat (Singngat Sub-Division)	- do-
3. Addition of 14 villages Jiribam Sub-Division Tipaimukh Sub-Division	Government of Manipur from Secretariate Planning and Development Order to No. 18/11/71-SC dared 14/2/72 (manipur Extra Ordinary Gazette No. 136-E-93 dated 15/2/72)
4. Change of the district name from Manipur South District to Churachandpur district	Government of Manipur Secretariate.-Revenue Deptt. Order No. 43/2/81-R (Pt) dated 15/7/83 (Manipur (Extra-ordinary Gazette No. 174 dated 5/8/83).
5. Transfer of 2 villages from Churachandpur Sub-Division to Bishnupur District.	Government of Manipur Revenue Deptt. Order No. 6/1/73-R (Pt-V) Dated 18/12 84 (Manipur Gazette No.37 dated 16/1/85)
6. Constitution of the Hill Areas of Manipur South District into Manipur South Autonomous District.	Government of Manipur, Planning and Development Deptt.No. 18/1/71-SC dated 14/1/72)
7. Dclaration of District and Sub-Division Head quarters.	Government of Manipur, Planning & Development  Deptt. No. 18/1/71-SC dated 16/1/85)
8. Withdrawal of Churachandpur Muni-cipality from the operation of  the Manipur Munici-pality Act,1976	Government of Manipur, Secretariate Administration & Urban Development Deptt. No. 2/28/84-LSG (MUC) dated11/2/88 (Manipur Gazette No. 352 dated 11/2/88.
9. Withdrawal of Singngat Small Town from the Municipal operation of the ManipurUrban Municipality Act, 1976 No.352 dated 11/2/88.	Government of  Manipur, Administration Housing & Development Deptt. No. 3/10/77-LSG(NA) dated 11/2/88 (Manipur Gazette)

Churachandpur District now has 5 sub-Divisions and 6 Tribal Development Blocks (T.D.Blocks). Every Sub-Division except Churachandpur Sub-Division has one T.D.Block and in these sub-divisions, the jurisdiction of the T.D.Blocks concide with that of the respective sub-divisions. In Churachandpur sub-division alone there two T.D.Blocks. The names of the sub-divisions and the names of the T.D.Blocks within each sub-division along with their respective headquarters are given below:-

Sub-Division	Headquarters
1. Tipaimukh	Parbung
2. Thanlon	Thanlon
3. Churachandpur North	Henglep
4. Churachandpur	Churachandpur
5. Singngat	Singngat

T.D.Block	Headquarters
1. Parbung	Parbung
2. Thanlon	Thanlon
3. Henglep	Henglep
4. Churachandpur	Churachandpur
5. Samulamlan	Samulamlan
6. Singngat	Singngat

 
Administrative set up

The district Magistrate-Cum-Deputy Commissioner (District Collector) is the head of the district. He is assisted by an Additional Deputy Commissioner/Additional District Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner by such other officers and staff as are appointed from time to time. Maintainace of law and order, revenue administration, economic development are the main duties of the District Administration. The district is divided into a number of administrative units (Sub-division) which are in the charge of Sub-Divisional Officer (Magistrate). The District has five such sub-divisions namely (I) Tipaimukh Sub-Division (II) Thanlon Sub-Division (III) Churachandpur North Sub-Division (IV) Churachandpur Sub-Division (V) Singngat Sub-Division having their headquarters respectively at Parbung, Thanlon, Henglep, Churachandpur and Singngat. Eacg Sub-Division is concurrently a Tribal Development Block and each Sub-Divisional Officer functions as Block Development Officer in their respective jurisdictions. However Churachandpur Sub-Division has an additional Tribal Development Block in the name of Samulamlan Tribal Development Block in charge of by a separate Block Development Officer who is junior in rank to that of a Sub-Divisional Officer. The number of sub-divisions in 2001 Census remained the same as in 1991 Census. Other district hads such as Superintendent of Police, Zonal Educational Officer, District Agriculture Officer and many other District Offices are located at Churachandpur District Headquarter.The Hill Commissioner sitting in the State Secretariate at Imphal supervises the work of Hill Deputy Commissioners including that of Churachandpur District. Due to nonfunctioning of District Council, its affairs are looked after by the Deputy Commissioner. The District is located in the South-West region of the State, having an international border with Myanmar on its south.The District Police is headed by Superintendent of Police assisted by Deputy Superintendent of Police. The judicial administration is looked after by Chief Judicial Magistrate posted in the District Headquarter.Due to non-functioning of Autonomous District Council, its affairs are looked after by District Deputy Commissioner assisted by Chief Executive Officer.

District Highlights 2011Census

 The decade population growth of the district during 2001-2011 is 20.3 per cent which is lower than the state growth of 31.8 per cent.

 The district ranks first in terms of area and fifth in population size among the 9 districts of the state.

 It has a density of only 60 persons per sq. km against the state density of 128 persons .

 Sex Ratio of the district is 975 females per 1000 males against 985 of the state.

 The literacy rate of the district which is 82.8 per cent is the second highest district of the State next to Imphal West which has literacy rate of 86.1 percent.

 Gender literacy gap of the district is however 8.5 per cent points against 13.3 per cent points of the State.

 The district is predominantly inhabited by different Scheduled Tribes that constitutes 92.9 per cent of the total population of the district.

 Only 0.2 per cent of the total population are Scheduled Castes.

Source: DISTRICT CENSUS HANDBOOK-CHURACHANDPUR, CENSUS OF INDIA 2011
http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1403_PART_B_DCHB_CHURACHANDPUR.pdf