Meiteis are indigenous tribes but not ST

Free Thinker *

In the social media and WhatsApp groups a message is widely circulated to prove that Meiteis were/are tribal. According to the census of India 1891 Manipuris/Meiteis were recognized as indigenous forest tribes.

Again, in the Census of India 1931 Manipuris/Meiteis were recorded as Hindus, retaining their distinctive language and culture. The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1909, mentioned Manipuris/Meiteis as a principal tribe of North East India. (verification required for all these claims)

The people of Manipur whether in the hills or the valley, all are indigenous tribal people (despite differing cut off dates for arrival); basic tribal instinct exists in all the existing ethnic groups.

Rudimentary violent practices are still in vogue – it is evident in the last several months. Crimes committed both in the valley and the hills show that people belong to the same barbarian culture. Though barbarism is not a criterion to become Scheduled Tribe under the Bharat Constitution, it is no doubt a fundamental trait of an indigenous aboriginal tribe.

Recently I was invited to a function relating to the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, 2024 (on 9 August) for a ten-minute speech, organized by a group of enthusiastic people. My only pre- condition to join the function was that at least 1/2 representatives from each ethnic group of the State must be there.

Finally, I excused myself from joining them on the pretext of instant preoccupation. In fact, it became extremely difficult for the organizers to ensure the presence of all the ethnic groups of Manipur. There were practical problems and logistic issues.

Definition of a ‘tribe’ goes like this – a group of people of the same race, with the same customs, language, belief system or religion living in a particular area often led by a chief.

In the case of Meiteis, of course they are a group of people belonging to a semi-mongoloid race, more or less following the same customary practices, believe in Gods, mainly live in the valley of Manipur and they have a Chief. So, Meiteis are a tribe. Until and unless they are not recognized as Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution - they will remain as Unscheduled Tribe.

Let us not go by census or dictionary meaning of tribe. Anthropologists normally go by the living examples-how they live and behave, what they believe and practice. In the last several months it has proven umpteen times that Meiteis are still tribal.

The Central Government might have also recorded the same. Whether they should be treated as Scheduled Tribe or not that is a legislative matter. Frima facie Meiteis are a tribe – ethnographic study may be conducted based on the well-established 5 criteria.

Lacs of people are still demanding that Meiteis should be included in the Scheduled Tribe list of the Government of Bharat. It is okay, let them demand – they have nothing to lose except their OBC status.

Hill tribes who are already in the ST list feel that if Meiteis are brought in the list they will become as dominant as Meenas among the STs – so they simply want to exclude Meiteis from the list – that may be true ; their another apprehension is that if Meiteis become ST they will come in the hill areas freely and settle there – that may also be true .

No Meitei would like to live and settle in the hills ; they simply want to have the psychological or notional feeling that we can also live and settle in any other part of Manipur.

These are all states of mind and few leaders try to exploit the feelings of the innocent people for their selfish ends - that is bad. The worst part is that they have divided the people in the name of ethnicity, tribe, religion and hill-valley syndrome. They might have read the story of King Robert Bruce of Scotland. Robert Bruce succeeded in defeating England on his 7th attempt.

I read somewhere that the English army he defeated was just a small contingent. Soon after a bigger English army restored English hegemony over Scotland. The England-Scotland conflict is still there but no more violent.

Everyone should have a wider perspective–look at the Universe (Bramhand), it has millions of galaxies; Milky Way is a galaxy where our solar system exists; mother earth is a small planet in the solar system; planet earth has 7 continents having more than 250 countries; Bharat is just a country; Manipur is a tiny State within Bharat; it has 34 ethnic tribes – with a demographic figure of 30 lacs .

We are struggling for “my land-your land”, “my identity-your identity” and “my job-your job” (Am I sounding like Sadhguru ). One senior Sangathan leader told me on Guru Dakshina Day–why are you fighting? All are indigenous people/tribes on this planet – Vasudev Kutum bakam.

As long as mistrust continues in the State it appears that there will be no hearing for ST demand or any other demand. Message is quite clear to all and sundry – restore peace and normalcy first, then let the people go back to their respective homes. Who can expedite it, Sir ? Except you !