TODAY -

Sense of truth and justice should prevail over the narrow ethnic politics for peace and prosperity of Manipur

L B Singh *



If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion, or political leaning to the point that truth and justice became secondary considerations, your education is useless. Your exposure is useless. If you cannot reason beyond petty sentiments, you are a liability to mankind
- Dr Chuba Okadigbo.

The people of the hill and the valley co-existed harmoniously for thousands of years. The conversion of the majority of the Meitei and the tribal to Hinduism and Christianity respectively; and the “Divide and Rule Policy” of the British progressively divided the people in the hill and the valley. The problem was inadvertently aggravated after the merger of the Kingdom with India.

In 1950-51, the Naga and the Kuki were included in the list of Schedule Tribe (ST) and subsequently, the Government of India declared 90% of the geographical area of the State as “Hill Areas”. However, the Meitei was excluded from the list as the local political leaders at the time improperly identified as belonging to advanced Aryan society.

Many tribals are influenced by the propaganda of the proponents of Nagalim/South Nagalim, Kukiland, Zogam/Zalengam etc. (Hereafter referred as “Divisive Forces”). The Divisive Forces have been working relentlessly to divide completely not only the people of the hill and the valley, but also among the people of the hill.

Some of the tribal youths are misguided to the extent that a few of them emailed me last year and objected to the name of the State “Manipur” and stated that no State in India is named after one community. They have been told that “Manipur” means “the land of Manipuri (Meitei)” and they did not know that “Mani” and “pur” are two Sanskrit words, meaning “Land of Jewel”.

The literature of the Divisive forces spread ethnic supremacy of the respective community, hatred and discontentment. They circulate distorted history that the hill districts came under Manipur only after the British rule in 1891 to justify their objective of dividing the hill and the valley. Instead of the history circulated by the Divisive Forces, the tribals should rely on the renowned historians of Naga and Kuki like Gangmumei Kamei and Lal Dena, respectively.

The Nagas and Kukis know that the ancestors of Meitei were also one of the original native settlers and indigenous people of Manipur. The valley was originally submerged in the water and all the tribes, including Meitei, initially settled in the hills. As the water level receded, some tribes from the surrounding hills moved down to the dried portion of the fertile valley and settled there. These tribes were the forefather of the various clans of Meitei (Gangmumei 2015, p20-24).

There is no doubt about the common origin of all the three ethnic communities and the same have been endorsed by many Naga, Kuki and Meitei scholars. The Meitei being the indigenous people of Manipur has the right to settle in the hill districts.

There are a large number of documents, including the British maps of the 18th century and the book “Statistical account of the native state of Manipur and the hill territory under its rule” written by the former Political Agent Dr R. Brown in 1873. The book clearly recorded the hill areas of the Kingdom of Manipur along with the population. The tribal villages in Manipur came under the Meitei King during the reign of Garibniwaza Maharaja (1709-1751 AD) and “Lallup” was imposed on the tribes.

During the invasion of Burma in 1723 AD, about 4000 hill tribes joined the Manipuri forces under the King (Gangmumei 2015, p307). The office of Khunbu, Khunllakpa and Luplakpa were officially introduced in 1736 AD. In 1905, the boundary papers of the tribal villages were issued by the Political Agent, J Shakespeare in the name of the Maharaja of Manipur. In 1933, the British allotted additional territory along the Jeeree and the Western bank of Barak River in the name of the Maharaja and the boundary were always demarcated in the name of the Kingdom. Manipur, including the hill districts, became a part of India due to the merger agreement signed by Maharaja Budhachandra in 1949.

90% of the population of Nagaland is ST and all the land in the State is owned by the individual/community and the State Government only maintains the record. However, Manipur is a multi-ethnic state and the STs constitute only 41% of the population. The area of the hill districts is about nine times the area of the valley inhabited by the Meitei and the other communities. In addition, the Nagas and the Kukis continue to buy land in the valley, while the Meiteis and Pangals are restricted by law to buy land from the STs.

In the last 70 years, Manipur valley had changed drastically. Various buildings have come up not only in the vacant wetlands like Lamphelpat, Takyel, Porompat etc. but also in paddy fields. Many new tribal settlements have been established in the valley and as a result, the total geographical areas occupied by the Meitei (53.3% of the population in2011) have reduced to less than 7% of the total geographical area of the State.

The Meiteis do not object to the shifting of the tribals to the valley as it promotes integrity and improves the mutual trust among various ethnic communities. However, the land areas for the Meiteis in the valley would further reduce every year as more tribals shift from the hill to the valley. The increasing numbers of Meitei would become landless every year unless remedial measures are initiated. Once the Meiteis become landless and they would not be in a position to preserve their ethnic identity.

The Meiteis are heading to a precarious situation and immediate remedial measures are required to be initiated to preserve their cultural identity. Most of them felt that ST status for the Meitei/Meetei is the only Constitutional safeguard available to save the extinction of their ethnic identity. They want to rectify the mistake committed by their local political leaders in 1950-51 and avail the other facilities of the ST. According to the Schedule Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM), Meitei/Meetei, fulfils all the criteria laid down by the Lokur Committee for inclusion in the list of ST.

The All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) has urged the CM not to send recommendations to the Central Government to include Meitei in the ST list. However, it may not be possible to suppress the demand for a prolonged duration, as the State Government is fully aware of the genuine problem of decreasing land of Meiteis and the requirement of land to preserve their cultural identity. The Union Cabinet had approved the ST status to six Assam communities, including Tai Ahom, in 2019. The Ahom Kingdom of the Brahmaputra valley was bigger than the Kingdom of Manipur. Therefore, it is a matter of time and the Meitei/Meetei would be included in the ST list.

The majority of the Meiteis also want Manipur to be declared as a “Hill State” as the valley is also a part of the Himalayan Mountain Range and accordingly amend Article 371C, and “The Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Area Committee) Order:1972. However, the nomination of the MLAs from the valley in the HAC without mutual discussion and necessary amendments to Article 371C has unnecessarily eroded some of the mutual trust and goodwill generated in the last few years. The State Government should take utmost care to strictly adhere to all the Constitutional provisions in letters and spirit with a sense of justice.

As per para (5) (b) of the above Presidential Order, the functioning of the Hill Area Committee (HAC) shall endeavour to promote unity between the people of the Hill Areas and the other areas of the State by aiming at an integrated and evenly based economic growth of those areas and augment the resources of the state as a whole. Therefore, it is the duty of the HAC to promote unity and foil the design of the Divisive Forces to divide the people of the hill and the valley.

Many tribal writers compare Meitei with the non-ST who live in the vast land of the other states of India and overlooked the fact that in Manipur STs occupy more than 90% of the land areas against about 7% by the Meiteis and it is also continuously decreasing. These writers assumed that all the land in the hill districts belongs to the STs and the tribals are the victims of land alienation. However, in Manipur, it is the opposite. The unique cultural identity of the Meitei is in danger of extinction due to ever-decreasing land for them in their native State. On the other hand, there is no scarcity of land for STs in Manipur.

However, these writers only concentrated on the land rights of the tribal and disregarded the fact that the other ethnic communities also can’t survive without land. The STs have been provided with Special Provisions as the Constitution of India was framed with a sense of justice to give them an equal opportunity. A sense of justice is needed to provide the essential land to the Meiteis in the hill districts to preserve their cultural identity.

The population of Meitei in Manipur and the sub-continent in 2011 was 1.52 and 1.8 million, respectively. The population of the Naga and the Kuki in the sub-continent in 2011 was about 2.8 and above 4 million respectively. Out of the three, Meitei is the smallest community and, therefore, require Special Provision to safeguard their unique cultural identity. The extension of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in December 2019 to the State indicated that the majority community Meitei is comparable to the tribes of Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh; and required to be protected.

The sense of truth and justice should prevail over the narrow ethnic politics for the peace and the prosperity of everyone and for the overall inclusive development of the State. In the last 70 years, the Meiteis have developed the attitude to compete with more advanced communities of the country and they should not vie for the quota of ST for jobs and higher studies. The tribals, on the other hand, should consider the genuine requirement of land by the indigenous non-ST (Meitei) to preserve their cultural identity. The demand for inclusion of the Meitei and Meetei in the list of ST may be considered only when there is no sense of truth and justice to provide the essential land to the Meiteis in the hill districts to preserve their cultural identity.

A “Land Commission” could examine the land area, including the forest area required in the hill districts for the long term sustenance of livelihood of the STs and the land area available for allotment to the indigenous non-ST people of Manipur. It would provide the required land to the Meiteis and at the same time, it would not affect the ST quota for jobs and higher studies. It would not only restore the old affinity and brotherhood between the various ethnic communities of the State but also promote the accelerated progress of the hill districts. It would also resolve the land problems between the Nagas and Kukis.

The “Land Commission” should give the first priority to the 100% land requirement for the long term sustenance of the livelihood of the STs and the land for the future expansion of the existing infrastructure, and then consider the requirement of land for the non-ST indigenous people in the hill districts. It is in the best interest of the STs, as it would ensure 100% land requirement, and it would also not affect the job and the other prospects. The peace and prosperity of the State depend on the survival of the cultural identity of all the ethnic communities.

The areas of the hill districts of Manipur and Nagaland are 20,089 and 16,579 sq km while the population in 2011 was 12.2 and 19.8 Lakhs, respectively. Therefore, there is adequate land for all the indigenous people of Manipur and the “Land Commission” can recommend designated areas for the settlement of the Meitei in the hill districts that would not have any adverse impact on the long term sustenance of the livelihood of the STs.

When Meitei, Naga and Kuki keep the truth and justice above the narrow ethnic and political interest, there would be righteousness in their heart. Former President A P J Abdul Kalam quoted Tamil Poet Kaniyan Pungundranar during his speech in the European Union. In conclusion, I am quoting the same as a prayer for the peaceful coexistence of all the ethnic communities of the State:
When there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in Character,
When there is beauty in character, there is harmony in the hope,
When there is harmony in the hope, there is order in the Nation,
When there is order in the Nation, there is peace in the world.



* L B Singh wrote this article for e-pao.net
The writer is a retired Captain, NM, Indian Navy
and can be reached at bimollaishram(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This article was webcasted on September 23 2021 .



* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.




LATEST IN E-PAO.NET
  • Konung Kang Chingba #1 : Gallery
  • Violence in Manipur 2023-2025 : Timeline
  • Manipur Iskcon's 25th Ratha Yatra 2025
  • Native Threshing machine made for farmers
  • COVID-19: Update 04 July 2025 : Manipur
  • Riso Ejang: Youth-led Transformation
  • Include males too in addressing HPV
  • Whispers from the past :: Poem
  • LPU opens permanent outreach centre
  • Raj Bhavan moving on the right track
  • Speculations over PM Modi's visit to state
  • Colonial Knowledge Production in NE #7
  • Make Yourself Visible to Opportunity
  • Orange bowl: tradition with ecological wisdom
  • 10 ways to keep a kitchen garden disease free
  • Between PR, military mandates & AFSPA
  • Allocation fund for MLALAD Fund during PR
  • Denounces Killing of KNA Deputy C-in-C
  • COVID-19: Update 03 July 2025 : Manipur
  • Cases of fake Aadhaar cards
  • Sincere dealing must for stricter Aadhaar
  • Archaeology: Culture of Manipur : Booklet
  • Wanna be a singer? Get Botox
  • A Central institute in Manipur
  • Nagging in the name of love
  • COVID-19: Update 02 July 2025 : Manipur
  • 'Benefits' of Indira's Emergency
  • Social Stigma :: Poem
  • Inking a peace pact: Why, how: SoO quagmire
  • Van Mahotsav under shadow of declining forest
  • 11th Th Kishan Memorial Lecture : Gallery
  • Shinthoibi, Jangvei, Tamphaton : eMing
  • Manipur crisis & the Left media's blind spot
  • COVID-19: Update 01 July 2025 : Manipur
  • Bombom RK : Musclemania Universe NYC
  • The Grief :: Poem
  • Music Concert & Quiz (MCQ) 2.0
  • SoO agreement unlikely to be scrapped
  • Regulating use of plastic carry bags
  • Mera Houchongba @Kangla #4 : Gallery
  • International Day of Yoga @JNMDA : Gallery
  • BD Behring: The inimitable Gentleman I knew
  • Violence in the name of patriotism : Misguided
  • Daily oral vs long-acting injectable for HIV
  • COVID-19: Update 30 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Smile :: Poem
  • Why was President's Rule imposed ?
  • BJP under pressure to forge unity
  • Kang @Leikai in Imphal : Gallery
  • July Calendar for Year 2025 : Tools
  • COVID-19 : A recurring crisis in Manipur
  • DC Kaith and Forestry in Manipur : Book
  • COVID-19: Update 29 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Longing for Peace :: Poem
  • Black badge, slogan protest by peeved scribes
  • Present the true picture before Delhi
  • Pung-Cholom @ Polo Tournament : Gallery
  • Life: A Journey Through Thought & Being
  • Khongjai Hills & Kuki claim to indigeneity
  • Master Time by Managing Information
  • COVID-19: Update 28 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Pride & patriotism in CCpur's army families
  • The Power of Poppy - 87 :: Poem
  • World Decarbonisation Day: green environment
  • Welcome Home - Nganthoi #2 : Gallery
  • Loss of two precious lives from Manipur
  • Balancing civil liberties with public safety
  • COVID-19: Update 27 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Gender equality & human rights are indivisible
  • Stay hydrated this summer season
  • Silent Half of the Sun :: Poem
  • Connecting the dots in the wishlist
  • Assembly record tampering claims by ex-CM
  • The immortal legacy of Pukhramba Kajao
  • International Day against Drug Abuse 2025
  • COVID-19: Update 26 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Black pottery from Ukhrul - tribal heritage
  • Program on "Mission-Drug Free Campus"
  • Play makes a better world
  • Urgent Appeal to the Honourable MLAs
  • Tribal Empowerment Campaign at CCpur
  • Talk doing the round: PM to come
  • 'Emergency' relief for under-fire BJP
  • Golden Jubilee Art Fair @Imphal : Gallery
  • Declaration: Meetei People Convention, Delhi
  • A Flower Among the Rocks :: Review
  • Book Donation Campaign
  • Improved road connectivity boosts livelihoods
  • To Have Great Dreams :: Poem
  • COVID-19: Update 25 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Regret vs Sorry: Technical & moral insight
  • Cocktail of inept Govt, selfish people
  • State trailing others in cleanliness
  • Colonial Knowledge in NE India #6
  • UHI effect & rising temperatures in Manipur
  • Frequent road blockades cripple economy
  • COVID-19: Update 24 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Unite Health with Community health services
  • NSU, Imphal, tops IIRF Ranking 2025
  • Endless conflict :: Poem
  • Pak nobel pish prize for Trump
  • May 3, 2023 - June 24, 2025: Failure of Delhi
  • Hotter days, sudden rainfall no more a rarity
  • "The Great June Uprising" #2 : Gallery
  • How to Build a Career, Lead with Purpose
  • 2nd Foundation Day- Karnataka Meitei Assn
  • COVID-19: Update 23 June 2025 : Manipur
  • NSCN-IM Amnesty threatens to isolate it
  • Sunset :: Poem
  • Intl Yoga Day for a healthier environment
  • Of clogged drains and plastics
  • Poor roads testify Govt indifference
  • Welcome Home - Nganthoi #1 : Gallery
  • The Silent Erosion of Manipuri Language
  • Design health services around people
  • Serene Hills Host Inspiring Int'l Yoga Day
  • COVID-19: Update 22 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Chopper services between Senapati & Imphal
  • High Court Judges interacted with convicts
  • Redyeing the Fabric :: Poem
  • Differences yet to be resolved stand
  • Border fencing rage as solution eludes
  • Radio E-pao: 14 new songs updated
  • Climate Adaptive Agroforestry
  • Manipur overlooked demographic shifts
  • Young designers shine on Fashion Stage
  • COVID-19: Update 21 June 2025 : Manipur
  • International Day of Yoga at Lamphelpat
  • International Day of Yoga at JNMDA
  • The Power of Poppy - 86 :: Poem
  • Keishampat Lairembi Haraoba #1 : Gallery
  • Crisis in Manipur's Contemporary Education
  • Best 8 Performances in Manipuri Cinema
  • Identity: Caught between China & India ?
  • COVID-19: Update 20 June 2025 : Manipur
  • To The Father Who Listens :: Poem
  • How does net suspension affect youths ?
  • Targeting farmers to cripple state's economy
  • The virus is back and spreading
  • Who is afraid of Manipur ?
  • A threatened lily growing at Shirui Hills
  • World Environment Day in Manipur : Gallery
  • Ambubachi Mela at Maa Kamakhya
  • COVID-19: Update 19 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Dolls made from repurposed vegetable refuse
  • Condemns Attack on Farmer & Killing
  • Abhorrent politics of SoO
  • Police arrogance on harmless drivers
  • "The Great June Uprising" #1 : Gallery
  • Solution from Buddhist & Jain perspectives
  • AI sparks employment concerns in Manipur
  • Greatest Foe :: Poem
  • Chief Justice at Relief Camp, Kangpokpi
  • Call for Recognition of a 3rd Category of IDPs
  • Jun 18, 2001- May 3, 2023: Seed of violence
  • Contract scam in hill districts
  • Colonial Knowledge in NE India #5
  • Spaced Out - Panthung Di Kadaaida! : Rvw
  • Condemns the Killing of Abdul Qadir
  • COVID-19: Update 17 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Thoubal aspirant makes Manipur proud
  • Tamenglong hospital brings quality healthcare
  • Chief Justice at Relief Camp, Mayang Imphal
  • Kuki CM & Sixth Schedule
  • Selective protests, selective silence
  • Nailing the culprits need of the hour
  • UK Meetei diaspora run for Myanmar : Gallery
  • Erwin Khundrakpam : NEET-UG 2025 topper
  • Will we rise to #endAIDS challenge or stumble
  • COVID-19: Update 16 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Appeal to Prime Minister: Manipur Crisis
  • Urges Action on Misinformation
  • Condolences : 2 young cabin crew
  • Grateful To Be Alive :: Poem
  • Making bonfire on the roads
  • Aggression yet again, inspite of playing victim
  • Aftermath of flooding @ Khurai #2 : Gallery
  • Zomia, geopolitics, & the struggle for unity
  • COVID-19: Update 15 June 2025 : Manipur
  • Condolences : Demise of 2 Manipuri Girls
  • Manipur unites in grief after Air India tragedy
  • Hail arms recovery as step toward peace
  • Cleanliness Drive at JNIMS Campus
  • Global Wind Day for a clean environment
  • First came the rain, then the heat
  • Rise in Covid-19 cases
  • Thang-Ta Day @Khuman Lampak #3 : Gallery
  • Meetei diaspora in UK runs for Myanmar victim
  • Manipur empower children with disabilities
  • COVID-19: Update 14 June 2025 : Manipur
  • World Blood Donor Day 2025
  • The Power of Poppy - 85 :: Poem
  • A Northeast Gin Makes Its Mark
  • Mera Houchongba @Kangla #3 : Gallery
  • Saluting Nganthoi, Lamnunthem : Joining hand
  • Condolence : Nganthoi & Lamnunthem
  • 50 years of Pebet #2 : Gallery
  • Indo-Naga Talks (From 2012) :: Timeline
  • Colonial Knowledge in NE India #4
  • Namphake Monastery @ Dibrugarh : Gallery
  • Protest @Checkon -AT arrest [Jun 9] : Gallery
  • Protests - AT arrest [Jun 8 night] : Gallery
  • Aftermath of flooding @ Khurai #1 : Gallery
  • /li>
  • Flooding at JNIMS Hospital #2 : Gallery
  • North East NSS Festival @ MU : Gallery
  • 27th Meira Paibi Numit : Gallery
  • Trump's tariff legacy & its global echo
  • Flooding at JNIMS Hospital #1 : Gallery
  • Flooding Imphal East [31 May] #3 : Gallery
  • Flooding Imphal East [31 May] #2 : Gallery
  • Flooding Imphal East [31 May] #1 : Gallery
  • S Nirupama @Miss Universe : Gallery
  • Protesters to Raj Bhavan [May 25]: Gallery
  • Human Chain @Airport road [May 26]: Gallery
  • Miss Shirui Pageant Contestant: Gallery
  • 48 hrs Bandh: protest security forces: Gallery
  • Protest Rally: Journalist harassment: Gallery
  • HSLC 2025: Full Result (Check Roll No)
  • HSLC 2025: Important Info & Grading System
  • HSLC 2025 : Compartmental candidates
  • HSLC 2025 : Comparative Statement
  • HSLC 2025 : Statistical Abstract
  • HSLC 2025 : District Pass Percentage
  • HSLC 2025 : Govt School Pass %
  • HSLC 2025 : Aided School Pass %
  • HSLC 2025 : Private School Pass %
  • People's Convention on 3rd May #2 : Gallery
  • Featured Front Page Photo 2025 #2: Gallery
  • Riya Khwairakpam : HSE Science Topper
  • Keisham Hannah : HSE Arts Topper
  • Warepam Lidia : HSE Commerce Topper
  • HSE 2025 Result : Science Full Result
  • HSE 2025 Result : Arts Full Result
  • HSE 2025 Result : Commerce Full Result
  • HSE 2025 Information / Abbreviation
  • HSE 2025 Topper : Science
  • HSE 2025 Topper : Arts
  • HSE 2025 Topper : Commerce
  • HSE 2025 : Pass Percentage
  • HSE 2025 : Result Abstract
  • HSE 2025 : Candidates with Highest Marks
  • Ougri Lirol :: Part 1 : Ooba Video
  • President's Rule in Manipur : 1967 - 2025
  • Downloadable Manipuri Calendar :: 2025