Debate over ST for Meiteis demand : Indigenous faith continues
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: November 17 2023 -
The debate continues and there will be no end to it, that is until the Centre takes a final decision.
The truth of the matter is, the directive of the High Court of Manipur to the State Government to send the sought after report or recommendation to the Centre for inclusion of the Meiteis in the list of Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution of India was never the reason for the Tribal Solidarity March organised by the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur on May 3.
It was just a ploy to take along the other tribal community, the Nagas. Cut to the present and while the ongoing clash between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zos has claimed hundreds of lives, rendered thousands homeless, made many disappear, and seen the emergence of numerous 'defenders' of the people on either side of the clash divide, the debate on the ST for Meiteis demand has seen some interesting development in recent days.
Either side have had their say and if the past is any indication more may be said, but the points are taken note of and it should not hurt the interests of either side to have their say.
The only and perhaps the most important thing would be not to use the opposition to the ST for Meiteis demand as a rider to camouflage a bigger game plan as is evidenced by the ongoing conflict.
Religion is one prominent card that has been used to debunk the demand that the Meiteis be included in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Constitution.
Autonomous religious practices is one important point that was included by the Hrishikesh Panda committee of 2014, and this should come with the understanding that though the Meiteis are predominantly Hindus (converted in the 18th century), they continue to follow many religious practices that may be aligned with forms of animism, paganism, totemism and ancestor worship.
As a young man shared, the Meiteis believe that Mount Koubru is the cradle of human civilisation.
Mount Thangjing is another important deity and to this day each and every household keeps aside a special place for Sanamahi.
Umang Lai (Forest God) continues to be paid obeisance and Lai Haraoba is another important festival which has deep religious connotations.
This despite the fact that Hinduism is the religion followed by majority of the Meitei people and a case of the Hindu way of life beautifully assimilating with the socio-religious practices of a community.
Moreover religious affiliation is never a criteria to include a community in the Scheduled Tribe category, best exemplified by the Meena tribe of Rajasthan, who are mostly Hindus and have been included in the ST list of the Constitution of India.
Moreover it should not be forgotten that of the six communities of Assam recently listed as Scheduled Tribes, all Ahoms listed Hinduism as their religion in a survey conducted in 1931.
That the indigenous religion of the Ahoms got revived in the 1960s and 1970s is another matter but here is an example of the religious affiliation of a group of people changing with the pulls and pushes of the time.
Likewise amongst the Meiteis, Sanamahism, the indigenous faith of the Meiteis has gained currency in recent years, perhaps best exemplified in the observance of Sajibu Nongma panba and to this day each and every Meitei household continues to have a place inside the house designated as the abode of Sanamahi.
Experts have dwelt on why the Meitei tribe does not fall short to be included in the Scheduled list and a folly of history guided by short sightedness is no reason why a demand to be included cannot be raised now.
To address the sense of insecurity that may be felt by the present Scheduled Tribe of Manipur, the Government at Imphal will need to work out the reservation criteria in the job sector related to Manipur, according to population and it should not be seen as an attempt to grab land in the present day hill districts of Manipur.
If the hills are Constitutionally protected, then why not some sort of protection for the valley which constitutes less than 10 percent of the total geographical area of the State ?
Let no one also forget that of the 60 Assembly seats, 20 are reserved and once delimitation is effected more seats will be reserved.
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