हिन्दू at 19:42, 25 March 2026

2026-03-25T19:42:07Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox royalty
| embed =
| name = Churachand Singh
| title = [[Maharaja]]
| titletext =
| more =
| image = File:Sir Churachand Maharaj.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Sir Churachand Singh
| succession =
| moretext =
| reign = 1892–1941 AD
| reign-type =
| coronation =
| cor-type =
| investiture =
| predecessor = [[Kulachandra Singh]]
| pre-type =
| successor = [[Bodhchandra Singh]]
| suc-type =
| regent =
| reg-type =
| succession1 =
| moretext1 =
| reign1 =
| reign-type1 =
| coronation1 =
| cor-type1 =
| predecessor1 =
| pre-type1 =
| successor1 =
| suc-type1 =
| regent1 =
| reg-type1 =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = April 15, 1885 
| birth_place = [[Kangleipak]]
| death_date = November 6, 1941 
| death_place = [[Nabadwip]]
| burial_date =
| burial_place = [[Nabadwip]]
| queen =
| spouse = 
| spouse-type = 
| consort = Maharani Dhanamanjuri 
| issue = [[M. K. Binodini Devi]]<br/>[[Bodhchandra Singh]]
| issue-link =
| issue-pipe =
| issue-type =
| full name =
| temple name =
| native_lang1 = 
| native_lang1_name1 = 
| royal house = [[Ningthouja dynasty]]
| father = Chowbi Yaima
| mother =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
{{Kingdom of Manipur}}

[[Maharaja]] Sir '''Churachand Singh''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCSI|CBE}}, also known as '''Churachandra''' or '''Chura Chand'''<ref name="IGI">{{Cite web |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V17_192.gif |title=Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 17, p. 186. |access-date=20 February 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507160645/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V17_192.gif |url-status=live }}</ref> (15 April 1885 – 6 November 1941), was a ruler of the [[princely state]] of [[Manipur (princely state)|Manipur]] under the [[British Raj]]. He was a great-grandson of Raja [[Nara Singh]] who had ruled up to 1850 prior to Raja [[Chandrakirti Singh]]. Churachand Singh's investiture followed the quelling of the [[Manipur Rebellion of 1891]], when the entire ruling family was convicted. Churachand Singh enjoyed a long reign until 1941, but his power was nominal.

== Investiture ==
After quelling the [[Manipur Rebellion of 1891]], the British imprisoned Raja [[Kulachandra Singh]] and took full control of Manipur, but eventually decided to "regrant" it to the Manipuri as an "act of mercy".{{sfnp|Moyon, Insights of the Western Missionaries Legacy in Manipur|2021|pp=24–25}} Churachand Singh, who was the youngest son of Chowbi Yaima, in turn a grandson of Raja [[Nara Singh]], was selected to be the next Raja.{{sfnp|Moyon, Insights of the Western Missionaries Legacy in Manipur|2021|pp=24–25}}{{sfnp|Lokendra, The Unquiet Valley|1998|pp=36–37}} He succeeded to the throne on 18 September 1891,<ref>The India Office and Burma Office List, Harrison and sons, Limited, 1928 , p. 243</ref> and his investiture ceremony took place on 28 April 1892. Churachand Singh was seven years old at that time. During his minority, the British [[political officer (British Empire)|Political Agent]] to Manipur acted as the Superintendent and administered the state.{{sfnp|Lokendra, The Unquiet Valley|1998|pp=36–37}}

Singh was sent [[Mayo College]] in [[Ajmer]] for education in 1895. He returned in 1901.{{sfnp|Lokendra, The Unquiet Valley|1998|pp=38–39}} The administration of the state was handed over to him in 1907.{{sfnp|Lokendra, The Unquiet Valley|1998|pp=38–39}}

== Rule ==
Churachand Singh ruled the state between 1907 and 1941, under British supervision exercised by the Lieutenant Governor of [[East Bengal and Assam]]. A Darbar was established with three Ordinary Members (who held government departments) and three Additional Members (as councillors).{{sfnp|Sudhirkumar Singh, Socio-religious and Political Movements|2011|pp=49–50}}{{sfnp|Singh, History of the Christian Missions in Manipur|1991|p=9}} Initially, Churachand Singh served as the President of the Darbar, and a British-appointed [[Indian Civil Service|ICS]] officer served as the vice-president.{{sfnp|Lokendra, The Unquiet Valley|1998|pp=38–39}} This arrangement was terminated in 1916, when the British officer became the President of the Darbar.{{sfnp|Sudhirkumar Singh, Socio-religious and Political Movements|2011|loc=pp. 49–50: "He was just outwardly decorated to exercise veto to any Durbar resolution, but, if so, reasons thereof of his veto should be furnished to the Assam Governor. It was a clear indicative of decorated 'hollow crown'. In the next step, he was removed from the Durbar presidentship. The Governor of Assam, as an agent of the Crown, [had] the final say and his decision was binding on both the Durbar and the Maharaja."}}{{sfnp|Sinha, The Politics and Government of Manipur|1987|p=487}}{{sfnp|Ibochou Singh, British administration in Manipur|1985|p=146}}

Irrespective of the arrangement, the administration of the state was to be conducted according to the 'Rules for the Management of the State of Manipur', which were in force until 1947. The real executive power rested with the Political Agent.{{sfnp|Sanatomba, Interrogation into the political status of Manipur|2015|p=164}}{{sfnp|Singh, History of the Christian Missions in Manipur|1991|pp=9–10}}{{sfnp|Sudhirkumar Singh, Socio-religious and Political Movements|2011|pp=113–114}}

Churachand Singh received the title of [[Maharaja]] in 1918 and was knighted as a Knight Commander of the [[Order of the Star of India]] in the [[1934 New Year Honours]], becoming Sir Churachandra Singh.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/m/manipur.html |title=Manipur Princely State - (11 gun salute) |access-date=25 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112924/http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/m/manipur.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}</ref>

In September 1941, after 50 year's reign, Singh announced his intention to abdicate as he was suffering from tuberculosis, but before this could be arranged, he died on 6 November 1941 in Nabadwip.<ref>Administration Report of Manipur State For The Year 1943-44, p.7</ref>

== Personal life ==
Churachand Singh had six wives. He had six daughters and five sons from them. In addition, one son was adopted by the Maharani.{{sfnp|Moyon, Insights of the Western Missionaries Legacy in Manipur|2021|pp=22–23}}

==See also==
*[[List of Manipuri kings]]
*[[Manipur (princely state)]]
*[[Churachand Singh Trophy]], football tournament named after him<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Sir Churachand Singh KCSI CBE Memorial Football Tournament|url=http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.Sports.59th_CC_Meet_Football_Tournament_2015.History_of_Sir_Churachand_Singh_KCSI_CBE_Memorial_Football_Tournament|access-date=28 December 2021|website=www.e-pao.net|publisher=E-PAO|archive-date=31 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131064437/http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.Sports.59th_CC_Meet_Football_Tournament_2015.History_of_Sir_Churachand_Singh_KCSI_CBE_Memorial_Football_Tournament}}</ref><ref name="ccdt">{{cite web|first=Arunava|last=Chaudhuri|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/churachandsinghtrophy.html|title=List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Churachand Singh Invitation Football Trophy|website=indianfootball.de|publisher=Indian Football Network|access-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024220913/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/churachandsinghtrophy.html|archive-date=24 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Sinlung|title=Seven Sisters Love Football: Churachand Singh Trophy: A Historic perspective|url=http://footballsisters.blogspot.com/2009/05/churachand-singh-trophy-historic.html|access-date=2021-12-28|website=Seven Sisters Love Football|archive-date=28 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228034519/http://footballsisters.blogspot.com/2009/05/churachand-singh-trophy-historic.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite thesis |last=Ibochou Singh |first=Khwairakpam |title=British administration in Manipur 1891–1947 |publisher=Gauhati University |via=Shodhganga |degree=PhD |year=1985 |hdl=10603/66697 |url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/66697 |ref={{sfnref|Ibochou Singh, British administration in Manipur|1985}}}}
* {{citation |last=Lokendra |first=N. |title=The Unquiet Valley: Society, Economy, and Politics of Manipur (1891-1950) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6FXEEd2muZoC |year=1998 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-696-5 |ref={{sfnref|Lokendra, The Unquiet Valley|1998}}}}
* {{citation |first=Rev. Dr. Koningthung Ngoru |last=Moyon |title=Insights of the Western Missionaries Legacy in Manipur |publisher=Blue Rose Publishers |year=2021 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YUoEAAAQBAJ |ref={{sfnref|Moyon, Insights of the Western Missionaries Legacy in Manipur|2021}}}}
* {{citation |first=Kangujam |last=Sanatomba |chapter=Interrogation into the political status of Manipur |editor1=Arambam Noni |editor2=Kangujam Sanatomba |title=Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OzjbCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA159 |year=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-27066-9 |pages=159–180 |ref={{sfnref|Sanatomba, Interrogation into the political status of Manipur|2015}}}}
* {{citation |last=Singh |first=Karam Manimohan |title=History of the Christian Missions in Manipur and Neighbouring States |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1991 |isbn=81-7099-285-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofchristi0000sing |via=archive.org |ref={{sfnref|Singh, History of the Christian Missions in Manipur|1991}}}}
* {{citation |first=L. P. |last=Sinha |title=The Politics and Government of Manipur |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |date=1987 |volume=48 |number=4 |pages=487–493 |jstor=41855332 |ref={{sfnref|Sinha, The Politics and Government of Manipur|1987}}}}
* {{cite thesis |last=Sudhirkumar Singh |first=Haorongbam |title=Socio-religious and Political Movements in Modern Manipur 1934–51 |publisher=Jawaharlal Nehru University |via=Shodhganga |degree=PhD |year=2011 |hdl=10603/121665 |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/121665 |ref={{sfnref|Sudhirkumar Singh, Socio-religious and Political Movements|2011}}}}

{{S-start}}
{{succession box |
before= [[Kulachandra]]|
title=[[Monarch|King]] of <br /> [[Manipur (princely state)|Manipur]] |
years=1892–1941 |
after=[[Bodhchandra Singh]]
}}
{{S-end}}

[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:1886 births]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Ningthouja kings]]

Churachand Singh - Revision history

हिन्दू at 19:42, 25 March 2026