A need to rethink Meitei in sub-section of Chin group in Myanmar census code 402
- Part 1 -

Maheshsana Rajkumar *

The released of book "The Manipuri (Metei Kathe) Settlements in Myanmar" in English version published by Eastern Book House Publishers (India), Guwahati on 17th June, 2023, at Manipur Press Club by former Chief Minister Shri RadhaBinod Koijam as chief guest has opened a new room for discussion. The rethink strategy is the need of the hour in the regrouping of Meiteis in the sub-section of Chin tribes by the successive Myanmar Governments.

The said book has ten chapters written by several writers. Few writers expressed their grievances especially the ones faced by the Kathes (Manipuris) settled in Myanmar. Some Meiteis have been carrying on intermarriages with the Burmese and then they become Myanmar citizens. However, some still live exclusively and still retain their cultural and religious traditions, thus, not getting any citizenship yet after living in the country for centuries. They are indecisive about the Myanmar Government policy on citizenship. The Myanmar Government had put the Meiteis in the category of Indian descent groups.

The Editor of "The Manipuri (Metei Kathe) Settlements in Myanmar" U Naing Soe writes: "Nowadays, Manipuris remain scattered in different parts of Myanmar such as-Kachin State, Shan State, Yangon division, Sagaing division, Ayeyarwaddy division etc. Some of their old villages have vanished. Even the names of the settled areas remain forgotten by the new generations. Some of the existing Manipuri villages have been absorbed into Myanmarese society.

Meithei/Kathe Ethnic Literature and Culture Association in Mandalay had encouraged members of their ethnic group. According to Myanmar census code 402, Meiteis have been put as a sub-section in the regrouping of the Chin people as one of 135 National ethnic communities of Myanmar. It is a fact that the Meiteis are included in the regrouping of the Chin sub-group in Chin State but they are not recognized as such on their identification and settlements particularly those living outside Chin State who practice Brahmanism, Hinduism and Animism."

The regrouping of Meitei in Chin sub-section i.e. 53 sub-tribes of Chin including Meitei tribe necessitates further studies and in this regard a detailed account of Chin ethnic is explained in an article written by Chin scholar Mr Salai Vanni Bawi, Head, Research and Development Unit, Chin League for Democracy Party, Myanmar, titled "Chin Ethnic Identity and Chin Politic in Myanmar" as follows:

On the historical account of Chinland also known as Chin State which is located within Myanmar and has a shared border with Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh and India in the west and north, and Sagaing and Magway division in the east. Chin State is a very remote, independent, and isolated part of western Burma with very poor infrastructure and with no fully paved roads, making access difficult.

Chin people is one of the Tibeto-Burman groups and has migrated along the river of Ayeyawaddy (Irrawaddy). For instance, the history of Chin people was documented in the middle of the 8th century in the Chindwin valley, Sagaing region in Myanmar. Mostly, the Chin people lived in the mountains and Chindwin river basin, and did not go to war with Burmese people. However, the Chin people fought with Burmese people because of language.

In some ancient stories, it was described that the Chin put his language in leather book and Burmese people put his language in the stones. When the dark came to them, the leather was wet. When the sun rises again, the stones became very hard and the language of Burmese remained. However, the language of Chin people was eaten by a hungry dog during the dark time, and in this way, the chin people lost their own language. In fact, that was the reason why the Chin speaks different dialects on the earth. After that, the Chin resettled in the west mountain as Chin Hill and the Mizoram State in India.

Villages were established throughout the mountain ranges of Chin State in accordance with different tribes with diverse languages. New land finders had to face and struggle with the dangers of wild animals and other challenges according to shifting cultivation methods, and resided in individual families as well as groups when new lands were found with the leader who vested in first.

The system which was used in choosing a leader was termed 'First Smoke Maker'. Land for late comers was distributed by the first lodged person. As the leaders of group residing areas, the ones who could remove the danger of wild animals, who are physical strong in hunting, and the adventurous and brave ones were selected in former Chin tribes. The villages were named after the names of their founders.

There was a tribal leader in villages set up with more than a single tribe collectively, for each tribe; the most intellectually and physically perfect person among them was designated as the leader. In addition, Chin people believe that a rock called "Chinlung" is the original place of the earth.

However, the original belief of Chinlung is not in written documents and no one can point out the location where the Chinlung is. However, every Chin tribe differently describes it in various ways, such as legend stories and traditional songs. However, some authors predicted that the place might be existed somewhere in China or Tibet.

The renowned Shan scholar Dr. Sai San Aik in his book titled "Basic History of Multiracial Burma 1980: Indianization and Burmanization" writes:
Chin people had no written documents. Citing Prof. Gordon Luce, he writes, "The Chin descended from Western China and Eastern Tibet into the South via Hukong Valley. Chin settlement in the Chindwin valley by the middle of 8th century. The Chins lived side by side with the Shans. The Kale valley remained under the Shans until the British period (1886)".

Now it is a fact that the Manipuri language is taking the key role to indicate the socio-cultural-politico and economic status reflected in the histories of Manipuris and the subsequent regrouping of Meiteis in Chin-Kuki sub-section by the Myanmar authorities.

In this context, it is necessary to know what W. Yumjao Singh, Gavesana Shiromani had stated in his book "An Early History of Manipur" about the character and nature of the Meitei language so that any doubt may be removed about the identity of Manipuris in Myanmar. He stated:

"Thus we have seen how far language, mythology and religion are connected and by means of the evidence obtained from language we can trace the origin of the other two. But before language is admitted as a witness she must declare, her caste and creed to the stern judge of Science, and then she must undergo a trying scientific operation to be dissected, analysed and assimilated, the blood of her hearts heart must be tested.

If the purity of her blood stands the test in relation to the other correlated languages with which she is to be compared, there and then only is her evidence to be admitted without any reference to the apparent dress in which she may be clothed. It must be admitted that the Manipuri language up to now has never been carefully examined and its grouping in the Kuki-Chin Group of Languages is nothing but conventional, Sir George Grierson's remarks on this point will clear the statement.

In his Linguistic Survey of India Vol. III, Part III he wrote, 'The denomination Kuki-Chin is a purely conventional one, there being no proper name comprising all these tribes. Meithei-Chin would be a better appellation, as the whole group can be subdivided into two sub groups, the Meitheis and the various tribes which are known to us under the names of Kuki and Chin. I have, however, to avoid confusion, retained the old terminology.'

He further writes, 'Meithei is the chief language of the Manipur valley and has apparently a long and independent development.' This remark short as it speaks much as to the age and it's not borrowing much from other languages. Indeed its age may favourably be compared with many of the languages of India proper."


(To be continued....)