The Protection and Preservation Committee Manipur (PPCM) has announced that it would observe the 71st Independence Day of Manipur on August 14 at Youth Club ground, Palace Compound.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, PPCM convenor N Bimol said that they have been observing the Independence Day of Manipur since a few years back.

British rulers declared Manipur as an independent country in the midnight of August 14, 1947 .

The Independence Day is being observed in commemoration of this historic declaration with the primary objective of informing the younger generations that Manipur was once an independent country, Bimol said.

He then appealed to all local clubs, Meira Paibi groups and schools to observe the Independence Day of Manipur on August 14 .

He also sought physical and financial support from all the people towards successful observation of the Independence Day.

Luwangcha Chingkhei, another PPCM convenor, said that the then British Political Agent handed over the reins of independent Manipur to king Bodhachandra in the midnight of August 14, 1947 .

At 7.10 am of the next day, religious rituals were performed in the presence of king Bodhachandra, his queen and the British Political Agent in the Kangla Durbar Hall and this ceremony re-established Manipur as an independent country, Chingkhei said.

At 7.40 am, Manipuri National flag which was embossed with Ebudhou Pakhangba's Paphal (having nine knots) was hoisted and canons were fired 18 times to mark the resurgence of Manipur as an independent country, he added.

Joint Students' Coordinating Committee (JSCC) convenor Peter Laishram appealed to all schools to send their representatives to the Independence Day celebration apart from organising similar celebrations at their respective schools