A new view on Manipur, the Jewel of India

Tej Narayan Sharma *

Beautiful landscape of Loktak Lake as seen on 8th June 2022 :: Pix - Shanker Khangembam

Manipur literally means "Land of Gems" and is one of the developing States among the seven sisters of the North Eastern States. When Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru first visited Manipur, he at once said, "Manipur is the Jewel of India".

Now I ask myself why he must have said so ? Remebering the song "Kitni Khubsurat ye Manipur hain ! Areh Mausam Bemisal Benjir hain! Ye Manipur hain! Ye Manipur hain ! I then started a research on the jewel and tried to find the answer.

The beginning of Manipur's more recent history dates from 1762, when the Raja concluded a treaty with the British to repel an invasion from Myanmar. After an uprising of the Kuki Hill Tribes in 1917, a new system of Government was adopted. The region was divided into three sub-divisions each headed by an officer from the neighbouring Government of Assam.

Manipur did not join India on Aug 15, 1947 but remained as an Independent State. The agreement on the merger of Manipur to India was signed by Maharaja of Manipur at Shillong on Sept 21, 1949 and formally merged to India on October 15, 1949 along with Tripura. With the accession of Manipur to India, the political agency exercised by Assam was abolished.

Two years later, Manipur became a Union Territory governed by a Chief Commissioner and an elected Territorial Council. Manipur Legislative Assembly was/is a prestigious institution established even before the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1948.

In 1969 the office of Chief Commissioner was replaced by that of Lieutenant Governor, whose status was changed to Governor when Manipur became a constituent State of the Indian Union on July 21, 1972. Md Alimuddin was the first Chief Minister of Manipur While the present Chief Minister Shri N Biren Singh is the 12th CM of Manipur.

The nature has created the geographical beauty in the Manipur. The State has two major physiographic regions namely rhe Manipur river valley and a large surrounding tract of hills. Surrounded by nine hills with an oval shape valley at the centre naturally impressed Nehru to say the Jewel of India. I would like to add few more cap of feathers on the jewel.

The 90% land is surrounded by hills while the valley consists of only 10%of the total land of the State. Geographically even the 10% is very beautiful, fertile and rich in traditional cultural heritage, lakes, temples and biodiversity.

Loktak lake is the largest fresh water lake in the region and is located in the heart of Manipur. Keibul Lamjao is a famous National Park constructed in 1954. The Sangai Festival named after the State animal, Sangai, the brow antlered deer is found only in Manipur.

At present there are only some such deers existing. The State is rich in festivals like Sangai festival, Dol Jatra, Laiharaoba, Cheiraoba, Ningol Chakkouba and Thabal Chongba. Men and women wear their own traditional attire in all functions.

The State is known for producing a variety of crops and fruits. The Government organizes crops festivals such as Lemon festival, Chilli festival, Orange festival and Pineapple festival regularly to encourage the farmers of the State.

Manipur can be the top organic farming State in India. Meitei women market called Ema Market conduct most of the trade in the valley and enjoy high social status in the state. Ema market is the largest market in the world controlled by women.

Manipur has given birth to an indigenous form of classical dance. Unlike in other Indian dance forms, hand movements are used decoratively rather than as pantomime. The dance dramas, interpreted by a narrator are a part of religious life. Themes are generally taken from the life of Krishna, the pastoral God of Hinduism. Rabindra Nath Tagore introduced the art form, Radha Krishna to the rest of India in 1917.

In the past there were so many dreadful communal clash between each other tribes largely due to land issue but it was the majorty Meitei community which played the role of peace keeper and prevented further bloodshed between the communities.

The brotherly response and efforts of the Meitei community to restore peace and tranquility in the State is unforgettable. We are human beings and can lead by power of thinking and can resolve every problem by applying different strategies. The situations looks grim now.