UNC/NSCN(IM) targets the Meeteis

SM Sanasam *

At first, NSCN(IM) came out as a powerful revolutionary organization, fought for Naga sovereignty. Then NSCN(IM) put up the demand of Nagalim or Greater Nagaland to the GoI and give up the idea of sovereignty. Indo-Naga Peace talk went down to the level of Peace talk for Nagaland, then Naga-Manipuri conflict, then Muivah-Ibobi controversy.

It seems that NSCN(IM) and UNC have now nothing to say except the words "The Meeteis oppressed Nagas", the only main weapon for their propaganda. Here some important questions arise.

1 Who are Nagas?
2 When and where the Meetei people oppressed Nagas?
3 What was the origin of the sentiments in the NSCN(IM), UNC, and their frontal organization.

Tangkhuls are not Naga. Forefathers of Tangkhuls and Meeteis are the same. Whatever Tangkhuls claims as assets of their forefathers, the same is for meeteis also.(I don't mean personal or private property). Kabuis are not totally hill dwellers. More than sixty Kabui villages are distributed in all the valley districts of Manipur, living together with the Meeteis and Meetei-pangals for more than 500 years .

There was no question of any oppressive act to the Kabuis by Meeteis or Meetei-pangals. Kabuis are also not Naga. Tangkhuls, Kabuis are pure Manipuri Tribes from which the Meeteis are derived through the process of racial and social assimilations. But there is no clearcut definition of Naga, to determine whether these group of people belong to Naga or not. (If Tangkhul and Kabui belongs together, why not Meeteis).

We can even check scientifically, by the genealogical DNA test of Tangkhul, Meetei, Kabuis and Paka-nagas of Nagaland, which group is more nearer to the other. (may not be an easy task but the possibilities are there). My point is, it is not fair to misguide people by unfounded propaganda based on tribalism and communalism. Human civilization starts with tribal culture, upgraded it through the process of evolution and revolution as developed states, the metropolitan, cosmopolitan etc.

Many of the tribal population in Manipur have coming out to the light of the civilized social system, (though the rich cultural elements are still preserving), including Tangkhuls, Kukis, Paite, Hmars, Kabuis, and Chakpa Meeteis (SC's). The present Meetei community is also assimilation of many tribes from hills and valleys.

But, UNC/NSCN(IM) is trying to kick back the part of the population to the age of tribalism by false propaganda, instigating the people to kill each other. It is true that people from all community understand this and do not want to involve in such type of interracial killings. The statement "Meeteis tortured Hill people (or Nagas)" is only a concept of tribalism. Yes, something happened like the meetei king tortured the tangkhul chiefs, the Maring chiefs, or some hill people.

At the same time valley dwellers also suffered the same oppression by the higher strata. Even Chakpa Meeteis are outcasted as untouchables. On the contrary, many tribal chiefs in the surrounding hills tortured the nearby valley people. Is it not there in the history of UNC. The Maram Chief chopped off the heads of Meetei Kings and took it away. King Paikhomba, a meetei king had to bring back the skulls of his forefathers.

The Maram chief was so powerful that the Meetei king could not fight him in open. The King possed an ordinary Meetei pakhang(youth) and came to the residence of the Maram chief where, the youth in disguise was warmly recievedas a loving guest. Here is the point to be noted. Maram Chief had no enimity with the meeteis but only to the royal family. King Paikhomba fell in love with the Maram Princess and eloped with her.

Many more examples which prove there had never been any oppressive act by the meetei community to the neighboring tribes are there. Till 1980's we had personally observed the custom of "ngai" i. e. any family of a hill tribe will have a close family friend in the nearby valley villages. (My family had also one in the Maring tribe). If anything is brought from the hill in the name of the "Ngai", no one could take it except the Ngai family. In return they are given rice, clothes and other items not found in the hills.

If "Meetei oppressed Nagas" was true, and if that was the basis of the Naga movement of the UNC/NSCN(IM), then why thousands of Kukis are killed and fled homes. Did Kukis oppress the Nagas in the past? The concept of ethnic cleansing is outdated. Even the Nazi failed to do so.

The existing sentiments in the UNC/NSCN(IM) is the anti-Meetei feeling of some of their leaders. Due to religious contradiction in the past two three generations, they had done a mistake to the hill people. That is true. But for the last thirty forty years, the present generation forget it, and apologize boldly, for the act, which was actually not done by them. This generation have now set up a peaceful atmosphere to live together, eat together, play together and everything together.

Rishang Keishing represent the state of Manipur in the parliament as the eldest parliamentarian, had been the Chief Minister of Manipur for longest period, for five terms. Yangmaso Shaiza was a brave Chief Minister of Manipur, a Tangkhul from the district of Mr. Muivah. INC Manipur Pradesh, the rulling party in Manipur, is led by Gaikhangam, a Kabui.

Yes, your elderly people of the Tangkhul and Kabui might have been hurt by the atrocities of our contemporary Meetei elders. But why you try to spill the poisons to your youngsters who are now trying to live happily and peacefully as one, the internationally famed Manipuris.

Please think over, what the Greater Nagaland wants, The Tangkhul people with its rich culture, the Kabui people with its rich culture, or the furtile land of the Tangkhul and Kabui people. I don't think the majority of the Manipuri tribal communities in the Manipur would like to be joined to Nagaland. (If they demand for a separate state or territory is another thing).