Naga's Casus Belli on the Meiteis

A Common Indian From Manipur *

The main raison d'etre of the present ethnic problem in Manipur is the desire of the Nagas led by Tangkhuls to dominate all other tribes. In the process they have assume the leadership to build-up perpetual hatred of the Nagas, both of Manipur and Nagaland, for all the other communities.

The Nagas malice towards the Meiteis have been on for a long time, maybe for centuries. At that time it might have been a plain 'dislike' which has now graduated to 'communal hatred'. While the Meiteis were extremely generous and benign to all the other communities of Manipur to the extent of being foolhardy, the Nagas were building up a hate campaign against the Meities.

The majority Meiteis ensured that for all communities of Manipur are involved in the governing and decision making process by including them in the Council of Ministers including Chief Ministers. This is simply unthinkable in a Naga dominated socity ( the ward is dominated only and not even absolute majority). This Naga 'hate-campaign' on the Meteis led by the Tangkhuls aims both internally, to all Nagas to be harsh on the Meiteis and externally, to all other other people of the world sending a message that the Meiteis are not good people.

Internally, the psyche of all Naga tribes have been shaped to hate and treat the Meiteis the way the Nazi Germany hated and treated the Jews. Externally, there has been a consistent endeavours by them specially the Tangkhuls to shape the perception of the non-locals including the international community that 'Hindu Meiteis' are orthodox, narrow-minded, good-for-nothing people.

If a Naga from Manipur is involved in any negative affair like getting raped or caught in any crime in Delhi or Mumbai, they will tell the media or the police that they are Manipuri. But under normal circumstances, if you happen to ask a Naga from Manipur if he or she is a Manipuri; the reply will be negative.

The reason for this communal hatred is a combination of perceived racial and social inferiority complex along with political aspiration and 'Lebensraum' and also 'a sense for the need to bring down a fellow competitor'.

The Meiteis, on the other hand were somewhat romantic. They believed that being gracious towards other community will possibly achieve a twin aim and it will be a win-win scenario for every one and all the tribes. They miscalculated and felt that 'going more than half the way' to meet the aspirations of other communities which involve even sacrificing their own legitimate rights and interest; and being benevolent to the other comminities would be able to bring a feeling of bonhomie amongst all the tribes /communities.

Secondly they felt that their effort or sacrifice will be recognised and appreciated and even reciprocated by other tribes /communities. It is an irony that the communal hatred of the Nagas of Manipur on the Meiteis increased after long stints of by Naga politician as Chief Ministers of Manipur. The Naga public possibly feels that it is the Chief Minister of Manipur should always be a Naga.

To appease other tribes, the Meiteis were foolish enough put in special efforts on their own not to be included on the Schedule Tribe or Schedule caste list, during its forming in the late 1940s or early 1950s. This singular foolhardy act of the Meiteis is eventually the most potent reason for the Meiteis eventual down fall and has done the maximum damage to the Meities.

Besides not being able get government jobs both at the State and the Centre through a fair competition with other tribes; this has also made a major contribution in adversely affecting the reputation of the Meiteis. The capacity and the capability building of the Meiteis for higher qualification or post was very adversely affected as they saw their Nagas and Kukis brethrens getting admission or attaining higher post through the reserved quotas.

The fallout of this was that the Kukis and the Nagas were able to do social or normal networking at higher levels, where the 'things mattered' and decisions are taken. Where as for the Meiteis, their contacts were confined to only lower levels. Thus the Nags were not only able to sell their views but were also able to shape the perception of those who mattered that they have been 'wronged' and the Meiteis are a criminal race with a very high degree of chauvinism.

In this connection a very interesting episode happened. Somewhere in the early 1980s, there was a young Meitei officer serving in the Naga areas of Uhkrul district in Manipur along Nagaland - Manipur border which is the epicentre of insurgency in the North East India. His battalion was being visited by the Colonel Commandant who was an Army Commander but not of Eastern Command.

The Army Commander's wife was a very learned and famous doctor in Delhi, who had a very wide social network. This Meitei officer was detailed as the Liaison Officer to the visiting dignitary. This visit got extended to about four to five days due to problems of road communication. As a Liaison Officer, the Meitei officer accompanied them throughout. At the time of departure, the visiting dignitary's wife told something very interesting to this Meitei officer.

She told him that 'During my interactions at Delhi with some very senior Nagas civil service officers belonging to Manipur, they tried to convince me that the Meiteis are a community of unscrupulous criminals, thugs, hooligans, uncultured, lazy, uncivilized, ill-mannered chauvinist who are always involved in quarrelling, violence, eve teasing, looting and all sorts of sins etc, I do not know why? But after seeing your behaviour, conduct, knowledge and attitude to life and meeting a number of Meiteis in the last few days, I am convinced that what they told me about the Meiteis were wrong. On the contrary we find that the Meiteis are hardworking, very good mannered and good people.'

To this the officer informed the lady that 'The Nagas have a very low tolerance level and they possibly feel jealous of the high tolerance level of the Meiteis. They also possibly feel awkward and guilty of the sacrifices made by the Meiteis for the non-Meitei locals. The Nagas have been pampered with various concessions and reservations. This has spoiled them. They are hesitant of paying for anything and are in the habit of expecting everything for 'free' right from not paying the fare for a bus ride to not paying electricity-bill or land revenue or even income tax.

In fact, the Nagas make good use of their geographical locations in vast stretched of uninhabited areas as they hold up traffics for extortion or looting or even simply terrorising. They have a misconception that the State Government is controlled by the Meiteis. They refuse to see reason. They inconveniently forget that a number of non-Meites have been Chief Ministers of Manipur and the fact that most of the senior government officials are non-Meiteis.

In any case, the numbers of Naga senior bureaucrats are much more than the Meiteis. Another aspect of is that when I go to a Naga village, either in Manipur or Nagaland and if I want meet a Meitei, I simply ask for the 'tailor ' or the 'carpenter', as they are invariably Meiteis.' She was really surprised and said 'Do you mean that the Nagas do not know carpentry or tailoring?' The offer replied 'No, I do not mean that. Possibly the Nagas are not interested in tailoring or being a carpenter. They possibly find it more convenient to bully this 'outsider' and get their job done; so why be bother of being a tailor or carpenter which requires some skill.'

Another major act of foolhardiness was committed by the Meiteis during late 1940s. In their exuberance to reach out and appease the Nagas, the Meiteis made a law of not allowing the Meiteis to buy land in the hills. Hence they became outsiders in their own state. On the contrary, the Nagas are at liberty to own land both in the hills and the valley.

The Meiteis, possibly felt that the Nagas would reciprocate but this did not happen. The Nagas not gratefull of the fact that a number of new Naga localities have sprung in Imphal valley in the last 30-40 years basically due to extremely high tolerance level and magnanimity of the Meities.

On the other hand, the self-seeking nature of the Nagas is evident by their exhibition of animosity and intolerance towards any other community which has prohibited any Meitei locality coming up in any of the Naga areas. The extremities, cruelness and illogicalness of the Nagas was exhibited when they went on a murdering spree of the Kukis during early 1990s.

The Christian civility totally vanished from the Nagas of Manipur specially amongst the Tangkhuls, Maos, Marams and Paomis. The Nagas committed mass murder, rape and killing of women and children in the ethnic cleansing they had carried out while trying to evict the Kukis from their home land. Thousands lost their life, hacked to death and many more became homeless.

The Kukis were force to convert their localities and villages into fortresses. Only a concerted effort by the Centre and the then State Government was able to diffuse the situation. In yet another effort to exercise their control other tribes, the Nagas, specially the Tangkhuls tried to convert some non Naga tribe such as Anals or Koms to Nagas. They told these small communities that either you are with us or against us.

The Nagas animosity, hatred and jealousy of the Meiteis can be judged from the fact that during late 1970s a young Meitei officer was occupying a post which involved dealing with some former underground Nagas. As a result of the 1975 Shillong accord, these Nagas had become BSF officers, after surrendering. These former underground Naga BSF officers just could not accept the fact that this young Meitei as a regular commissioned army officer is part of their mentors and they have to deal with him constantly.

Initially the former underground Naga BSF officers tried to humiliate or embarrass the Meitei officer by making fun of him and making his job and life difficult. When this failed, the former underground Naga BSF officers realised the facts of life is that this Meitei officer is good, intelligent, professional and also mentally and physically very tough. So they became more realistic and told him 'Do not forget that you are also a tribal officer'.

In another incident a Meitei army officer was on a temporary duty visit to Makkokchung. He is from a Sainik School in Central India. He had a Naga school type who was working in a bank there. So while at Makokchung, he went to meet him. They decide to have lunch together and were having some beer as pre lunch drink. But suddenly his Naga friend forced this Meitei officer to leave. Later, when the Meitei officer inquired on reason for the abnormal behaviour, his Naga friend told him 'Some Nagaland Police personal, present there, could not bear that you are a Meitei and you are an army officer. '.

The Nagas simply cannot tolerate any other non Naga community of North East progressing. They will always seek every opportunity to put a spoke into the progress of other groups of people, be it the Kukis, Assamese or Meiteis. Their imperialist and expansionist attitude is evident from the fact that they have grabbed large chunk of fertile plain areas of Assam and are still making efforts to capture more territories of Assam. They do this by physically attacking and driving out the original settlers.

The Nagaland state machinery including the armed police is reported to have been used for these ventures. One of the evidence of the abnormal behaviour of the Nagas of Manipur led by the Tangkhuls trying to obstruct the progress of other people of North East can curled from the fact that they left no stone unturned to prevent the Manipuri language being included in the Eighth Schedule.

In fact during the early nineties they were very active in trying to shape the perceptions of 'those who matter' by trying to convince them that why Manipuri language should not be included in the Eighth Schedule. They tried to influence the decision of authorities by arguing that Manipuri was a language used in only 10 percent of the total area of Manipur. They were carrying out a huge propaganda campaigns of trying to convince the everyone including the army on the 'injustice' that will be meted out to them if Manipuri language is included in the Eighth Schedule.

As corollary, if the Meiteis now happen to demand their inclusion as Schedule Tribe / Schedule Caste, the Tangkhuls are likely to lead a campaign of the Nagas to oppose it. Their first act, in all probability, will be resorting to the in-humane act of 'Economic Blockade of Manipur' to punish all Indians living in Manipur, as they find this gruesome method most cost effective due to lack of will by the Central government to take tough measures.

The Nagas and for that matter the Tangkhuls hatred for the Meiteis also emerge from the fact that the Meiteis were and are staunch Vishnavite Hindus. In fact in the hill regions of North East India, the Imphal valley, whose majority population is Hindu is the only Hindu oasis which has survived the mass conversion to Christianity. The Meiteis generally follow the Krishna cult as learnt from Saint Chaitainya Mahaprabhu of Bengal. They are also worshippers of most of the popular Hindu deities like Lord Shiva, Ma Kali, Saraswati Mata, Lakhsmi Mata, Durga Mata, Shani Deva and Bajarangbali.

When somebody dies, a pilgrimage with the 'ashti' is taken to various Hindu sacred places. The pilgrimage circuit starts with Nawadeep in Bengal, then to Brindavan, culminating with emersion of the 'ashti' at Haridwar. The Meiteis were vegetarian but fish, both fresh and dry, could be eaten only during non religious occasions.

On the other hand, the Tangkhuls are Christians or animist who eats everything that 'moves or flies' including beef, dog, cat, rat, frog, bee lavas etc. Hence in the good old days, when no non-vegetarian dish other than fish was prepared in Meitei household, like as was happening in other parts of the country, the Meiteis kept distance from the non Hindu Nagas. This was not appreciated by the Nagas. But after independence, the Meiteis have diluted all these religious orthodoxies.

In a major move of liberalisation of customs the Meiteis have even gone a step further then rest of the country and their food and other social habits have changed considerably. But the Nagas, specially the Tangkhuls still harp upon that 'once upon a time' they were treated differently. What they do not realise is the fact that even amongst the Meiteis, the 'Brahmin Meiteis' used to treat other 'ordinary - non - Brahmin Meities' differently.

Similarly, different treatment was by meted out by 'high caste Meiteis' to 'low caste Meiteis'. But there is nothing extraordinary and the Meiteis cannot be blamed or punished for this! as this practice was the custom prevalent, in those days, not only in Manipur but all over the country amongst the Hindus throughout India. Hence it was not confined to the Nagas alone. But since independence things have changed drastically.

What the Nagas must understand is that even now during a religious function when a Brahmin is serving food one cannot even touch him. Being the only Hindu community in geographical proximity, the Nagas hatred for the Hindus was directed on the Meiteis, who they saw as the representative of the Hindu society. The Meiteis thus suffered the Tangkhuls hatred for 'being Hindus'. But the Meiteis are true Hindus, as such their resilience for tolerance is very high.

During the recent economic blockade of Manipur, sponsored by NSCN (IM) criminals using thug elements of Nagas, the Meiteis ensured not only maintenance of law and order situation in the valley but also communal harmony. Just to buy five litres of petrol the people queued up throughout the night with the queue itself being at times three to five kilometres long. It reminded of the long queues and tolerance which the Jews exhibited during the Second World War.

In fact, one very senior officers, who is in charge of nearly 10,000 soldiers, was very appreciative of the patience of the Meities. It was very surprising and nice to see such long disciplined queues with no law and order problem, the petrol pump was not vandalised and there was no attack on the minorities. This speaks volume of the tolerance level of the Meiteis in true Indian philosophy following the path of Mahatama Gandhi.

If similar treatment was subjected to the Nagas, one cannot stop wandering. They would have, in all probability, even raised the issue in European Parliament by trying to carry out propaganda that the Christians are being tortured and Christian children being starved by Hindus. Nagas hatred for the Meiteis also arise from the fact that no support came from the Meiteis when they claim that 'Nagaland had declared independence on 14 Aug 1947'.

But the question to be asked is 'what was the geographical boundary of the area which was declared independent?' There was no Nagaland at that time. That time each tribe had its separate system or clusters of few villages. In fact the inter tribe headhunting continued some time till the third quarter of the twentieth century. So this talk of Naga nationalism was confined to which all areas? Was it only Kohima? Khanoma? Which all villages were included?

Those leaders represented people of which all areas, groups or villages? Was the consent of all groups of people taken? How do they know the desire of the mass? Can few people collect together and claim or declare themselves that 'we represent rest of the population and we have declared ourselves independent'?

Can one really take them seriously? Are they declaring themselves to be the 'Gods', as only God, the Almighty, perhaps knows what the population wants, otherwise how do they know what other people want?

As far as the Tangkhuls are concerned during the 'thumb impression census' carried out in early 1950s they wanted to remain in Manipur and refused to be part of Nagaland. Then why this change of heart just because today the leadership of the NSCN (IM), an organisation which in fact is slightly better than the warlords of Afghanistan or tribal areas of Pakistan, is in the hands of the Tangkhuls?