India, Aug. 23 -- Post 1857, Awadh under colonial rule or Colonial Oudh/Oude Province was reorganised into four administrative divisions: Lucknow, which encompassed the districts of Lucknow, Unnao, and Barabanki; Sitapur, including Sitapur, Hardoi and Lakhimpur Kheri; Rae Bareli, comprising Rae Bareli, Sultanpur and Pratapgarh; and Faizabad, which incorporated Faizabad, Gonda and Bahraich. The chief commissioner exercised control over the entire province, maintaining direct communication with the governor general stationed in Calcutta. Each division was overseen by a commissioner, supported by three deputy commissioners, resulting in a total of four commissioners and 12 deputy commissioners across Awadh. James Wallace Quinton, born in Enniskillen, Ireland, in 1834, graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1853 and embarked on his career with the Bengal Civil Service in 1856. Following postings in Ghazipur and Meerut, his most significant tenure was as deputy commissioner in Lucknow from 1865 to 1875. He reported to chief commissioners Lousada Barrow and George Couper, both recognised for their respective contributions to the establishment of Wingfield Park and the Hussainabad Clock Tower. On March 20, 1865, Quinton wed Pauline Mary Walker, the daughter of a British army general, although the couple remained childless. His professional trajectory included a notable early advocacy for the decentralisation policies championed by Viceroy Lord Ripon during the 1880s, particularly concerning the promotion of local self-governance. This initiative encountered considerable opposition from many European officials in India, despite aligning with imperial aims to bolster administrative capabilities in light of emerging native elites. Quinton subsequently served as judicial commissioner in Burma from 1865 to 1877 and later as commissioner of Jhansi in 1878. He was finally appointed chief commissioner of Assam in 1889. In the meantime, geopolitical tensions had intensified in the neighbouring state of Manipur, following the death of Maharaja Chandrakirti Singh on August 21, 1886. The monarchy transitioned to his son Surchandra Singh, yet unrest surged on September 21, 1890, when Tikendrajit Singh, Surchandra's younger brother, orchestrated a palace coup that ousted the Maharaja, forcing him to seek refuge in British India. Kullachandra Singh, another brother, was then enthroned as Regent or de facto ruler, with Tikendrajit being appointed as senapati (commander-in-chief) of the Manipur army. Quinton, as chief commissioner, Assam, was deputed to Manipur with an escort of several hundred Gurkha soldiers, under instructions to recognise the Regent, as the ruler of the state and to arrest Tikendrajit, the primary instigator in the deposition of the former Maharaja. Quinton arrived in Manipur on March 22 and immediately convened a 'durbar' - intending to arrest the senapati. However, the latter did not attend, and when an attempt was made the following day to apprehend him, the Manipuri troops resisted, demanding the withdrawal of the Gorkhas before any discussions were held. On March 24 evening, Quinton, who wanted to avoid any open confrontation due to his limited escort and also preserve diplomatic appearances, proceeded with a small unarmed delegation of British officials to the Kangla Palace grounds, for a final parley under assurances of safe conduct. Manipuri troops, reportedly acting on orders from Tikendrajit, ambushed the group during the proceedings; the British officers were overpowered, bound, with Frank Grimwood, the Resident, being killed on the spot and the others being captured, interrogated and decapitated. The severed heads of the British officials were ritually buried at Nungoibi Laipham, a site associated with Meitei religious practices, while the bodies were dragged beyond Kangla's walls and interred near the location of the now popular Khwairamband Bazar. Interestingly, there is no record of the Gorkha escort engaging in battle to support the beleaguered British officials, in contrast to the enthusiasm they had shown during the sacking of Lucknow in 1858. Manipur was later recaptured by British forces; the senapati was executed and the Regent was deposed, with the Union Jack being hoisted over the ramparts of the Kangla Fort. Pensions of £300 and £100 per year were awarded to Quinton's widow and mother, respectively, by the British government. In the absence of mortal remains of the slain British officials, a granite obelisk, with pillars, sculpted capstones, topped by a narrow spire and cross, was erected in 1892 on the grounds of the All Saints' Cathedral in Lachumiere, Shillong. As fate would have had it, this 'Quinton Memorial' suffered extensive damage during the earthquake of 1897. The monument was rebuilt, using the original stones and epitaph, but with merely one third of its original height, being now without its signature spire. This is extant today - a squat, brooding octagonal structure on an ashlar platform, devoid of any architectural merit. From the Manipuri perspective, Patriots' Day is observed every year on August 13, in remembrance of the brave sons of Manipur who chose death over surrendering the sovereignty of their motherland to the British. Back in Lucknow, Quinton Road in Qaiserbagh area is still extant, in honour of its long dead deputy commissioner, JW Quinton. PC Sarkar, a former scientist, has authored several books on the forgotten heritage of Lucknow...