Herachandra

Herachandra was a Meitei prince. He was the son of Maharajah Labanyachandra of Manipur kingdom. He earned secret support and admiration from the people of Manipur. E.W. Dun wrote that he defeated numerous groups of the Burmese army. A.C. Bannerjee also wrote about Herachandra's victory over a Burmese force. Manipur's royal chronicle, Cheitharol Kumbaba, recorded his success under the name "The King (Meidingu) Herachandra" (13:216). Herachandra, with help from his cousin princes, Yumjaotaba (Pitambar Singh), defeated a large Burmese group. Personal life There are two stories about Herachandra becoming the king of Manipur for a short time. One story says he was king, while the other says he never wanted to be king. Herachandra had two wives, Yaikhom Chanu and Usham Chanu, and each wife had one son. However, neither of his sons had children. It is believed that Herachandra, the great hero, died in the first half of May 1821 and was cremated in an unknown place. In 1819 Herachandra avoided being killed by the ruling prince by staying in the hills of Manipur. In 1819, he came down from the hills and started a guerrilla group. He gathered Manipuris who were scattered and living under the Burmese invaders. This event is recorded on the 3rd day of Sajibu, a month of Meitei calendar, in 1819. The Cheitharol Kumbaba also mentions his secret wars, and more details are found in scholar, Pandit Chandrasing’s writing. The Burmese puppet government called him a terrorist for fighting back, but to the people of Manipur, he was a hero.

In 1820 Herachandra’s first ambushes took place at Phubala, Thinungkei, and Ngangkha Lawai. On the 6th day of Kalen in 1820, the guerrillas chased the Burmese soldiers, who stopped moving.