Maharaja Sir Churachand SinghKCSICBE, also known as Churachandra or Chura Chand[1] (1886–1941), was a ruler of the princely state of 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 till 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 Manipuris as an "act of mercy".[2] 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.[2][3] The investiture ceremony took place on 28 April 1892.Churachand Singh was five years at that time. During his minority, the British Political Agent to Manipur acted as the Superintendent and administered the state.[3]
Singh was sent Mayo College in Ajmer for education in 1895. He returned in 1901.[4] The administration of the state was handed over to him in 1907.[4]
"Coronation of Churachand Singh on April 27,1907"
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).[5][6] Initially, Churachand Singh served as the President of the Darbar, and a British-appointed ICS officer served as the Vice-President.[4] This arrangement was terminated in 1916, when the British officer became the President of the Darbar.[7][8][9]
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 till 1947. The real executive power rested with the Political Agent.[10][11][12]
^Sudhirkumar Singh, Socio-religious and Political Movements (2011), 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.".
