Major Bob Khathing—A legend

Born at Ukhrul on Feb 8th, 1912, into a well-educated Tangkhul family, he received his primary education at Ukhrul. He joined Kangpokpi Mission ME School for class VI. Mind you he had to walk from home all the way to Imphal and then to Kangpokpi (73 miles). He was the only one who got through the class VI examination is also another wonder. His devotion to loving parents was revealed at that young age, when the scholarship amount, which he had received from Rev Pettigrew for passing class VI exam, was handed over intact to his mother. He passed matric from Johnstone High School, Imphal which then used to be affiliated to Sylhet University and did his graduation from Calcutta University (Bishop Cotton College, Guwahati) and became the first graduate among the hill peoples in Manipur, to do so.

He was very good at sports and in extracurricular activities. In May 1941, he got King’s commission in the Army.

After passing out from the Officer’s Training School, he was Commissioned into 19th Hyderabad Regt and posted to the Regimental Training Centre at Agra, where he served under then Major Thimmaya (who later became Chief of Army Staff). Soon thereafter, he was asked to report to GR Force, Jorhat. By that time the Japanese had just overrun Burma and the Allied Troops were withdrawing to Tactical defensive positions into Manipur. He was then instructed to recruit volunteers from the hill peoples bordering Burma, to reinforce the ‘V’ force, as informers & guides. He was promoted as a local Captain, reported to the officer in charge of Manipur Sector of ‘V’ Force Maj. E Murray of 4 Assam Rifles. Thus some selected personnel of the Assam Rifles also formed part of the ‘V’ force i.e. Victory Force.

Capt Khathing put his heart and mind to the job at hand. He went to Ukhrul, met some Tangkhul headmen & elders & explained his mission. He then recruited about 5000 men for the ‘V’ force from Bungpa area, where refugees were pouring in from Burma into Tangkhul areas. Thereafter, he established another base HQ in Southern Manipur at Chakpikarong and covered the whole Kabaw valley, ultimately shifting his HQ to Sunle in Kabaw valley itself, to be able to control all villages in South East Manipur including the Kabaw valley. When Japanese forces overran Shangshak & Ukhrul areas, he was called to Tangkhul area to guide the British Army to counter the Japanese. He, alongwith his ‘V’ Force personnel effectively mobilized the Tangkhul leaders who wonderfully united and organized intelligence set up, passing information of Japanese movements to the Allied forces. Thanks to their efforts, the Japanese Force could be quickly driven away from Tangkhul soil. Even after victory, bulks of volunteers were converted to VVF-a force which worked wonderfully well even after Independence of India. His vision in V force, created a success story, which he used to organise, VG’s in Mon-Tuensang-Kiphire area of NHTA, in his latter career as Political Officer. Real voluntary services to reckon with, these were the persons who had strands of nationalism of India’s pride and honour running through their veins, & their yeomen service will always be exhort ion call to the new generations to come.

In the course of only three years in the battlefield i.e. May 1942 to May 1945, Major Khathing was awarded the most coveted awards like MBE (Member of the order of the British Empire), Commander-in-Chief Gallantry Certificate, twice, Mentioned-in-Dispatches, and M.C (Military-Cross) which speak volumes about military acumen ingrained in him as a sturdy Tangkhul Naga. (Refer remarks Nari Rustomji in his book ‘Enchanted Frontiers’).

On disbandment of ‘V’ force in June 1945, he was posted to 3rd Bn, the Assam Regt. At this time, the Maharaja of Manipur was setting up a Democratic Constitution on Manipur. On being persistently requested, by his closest associate and friend from the soil, MKPB Singh (also of the Assam Regt), who became CM, Major Khathing resigned his commission, and joined the Interim Government of Manipur State as the Minister in charge of Hills Administration in Oct 1947.

When regular elections were to take place, despite requests to contest from a Tangkhul constituency, Maj Khathing stood from Saikul Sadar Hills where there were Tangkhuls, Kukis, Gurkhas, Mayangs, as well and Saitu and Kangpokpi were the part of Saikul. He was comfortably returned. This amply showed that Major Khathing was a hero not only as an Army officer, but also as a Politico-Administrator carrying mass appeal. He was not biased towards any community, possessed bubbling passion to work for the people of entire Manipur as a true nationalist. This made MKPB Singh and Khathing lifelong friends, which reflected hill valley unity in this duo. Consequent to merger of Manipur into India within Standstill Agreement in May, 1950, Major Khathing joined 2 Assam Rifles as an Assistant Commandant at Sadiya, as an interim arrangement since Govt. of India was planning to introduce a new set of administrators for areas under NE Frontiers Administration then under Ministry of External Affairs, as areas of Mon Tuensang were also part of NEFA till Naga Hills were merged with Tuensang area as NHTA. The first batch was of star personalities like Nari Rustomji, L. Kampani, TC Hazarika, T Aliba Imiti, Bob Khathing, and RK Madhurjit. 

In the year 1951, Maj Ralengnao Khathing was inducted in the Indian Frontier Administrative Service (IFAS) as Asst political officer. In this capacity he was given the responsi-bility of establishing Indian administration in Tawang region which he fulfilled along with troops of 2nd Assam Rifles and 5th Assam Rifles. For this invaluable contribution he was conferred with Padma Shri award. 

Maj Ralengnao Kha-thing also holds the credit for being the first Deputy Commissioner of Mokok-chung. He was also the first civilian to join National Defense College at New Delhi. 

Considering the rich experience, immense know-ledge and his contribution to the nation, he was appointed as the first Indian ambassador to Burma in the year 1972. During his tenure in Burma he succeeded in improving mutual ties between India and Burma. Maj Ralengnao Khathing also worked for the betterment of society and for the people of his own tribe for which he will always remain in the people’s heart.