Mairembam Koireng Singh

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Mairembam Koireng Singh (1915–1994), also known as Moirang Koireng, was an Indian politician and activist. Coming from the Indian National Congress, Mairembam Koireng Singh became the first Chief Minister of Manipur and he governed the state in three terms between 1963 and 1969.^[1]

Born on 19 December 1915 in Moirang, Manipur, Singh was an outspoken critic of the social inequalities endorsed by the Manipur monarchy, particularly opposing a tax imposed on the underprivileged for wearing the "Chandan Tilak" on their foreheads.^[1]

Singh played a pivotal role in the Satyagraha campaign concerning the Lord Thangjing Temple issue, successfully advocating for the transfer of control over religious activities to the public in 1952. He was also influential in the establishment of several educational institutions. Singh's political career began in 1938 with the founding of the Nikhil Manipuri Mahasabha, in response to Mahatma Gandhi's call for revolution.

In 1944, following a call from Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji), Singh joined the Indo-Japanese Progress Group and committed to supporting the broader war effort. When the British authorities labeled him an "enemy" and issued a "shoot at sight" order, he went into hiding and fled to Burma with his associates in July 1944.^[2]

Singh met with Netaji in September 1944. The following year, in September 1945, the British arrested and imprisoned him for eight months. Upon his release under a royal pardon in April 1946, Singh returned to Manipur via Calcutta.