Trade connection of Manipur with Southeast Asia in the Pre-British period
- Part 1 -

Dr Budha Kamei *

Women Market (Ima Keithel) :: RKCS Art Gallery
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Introduction:

Manipur, once an Asiatic nation is located at the extreme northeastern corner of India. With an area of 22,327 square kilometers, Manipur of today is bounded in the north by Nagaland, in the east and south by Myanmar (Burma), in the south-west by Mizoram and in the west by Assam. A very charming hilly state, which had once separated Assam and Myanmar before the creation of present Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram out of Assam; Manipur had enjoyed the fortune and glory in the past and experienced sorrow and vicissitudes of her long history. It had been witnessed the transformation from a primitive tribal state to an independent kingdom and later on from native state of British India to a state of the Indian union.

Three major ethnic groups the Meiteis in the valley and the Naga and Kukis-chin group of people at the surrounding hills occupy the state. These ethnic groups belong to Mongoloid racial stock and speak Tibeto-Burman languages. Geographically and culturally, North East is also a part of South East Asia. On the basis of available sources, this article attempts to examine the trade connection of Manipur with Southeast Asia before the British occupation of Manipur (1891).

Pre-colonial Economy of Manipur:

The Kingdom of Manipur was made under Pakhangba in 33 AD after the amalgamation of the different principalities into Ningthouja's principality. Barter system was the main feature of pre-colonial economy of Manipur. The barter system was gradually replaced by the bell-metal coin. (Kabui 1991: 262) However, this coin did not help much either in the internal or external trade of Manipur. Barter system carried on as an important means of business transaction till the introduction of British currency in Manipur.

There was no regular market and the common practice was to get the goods exchanged at the houses of producers and consumers and sometimes, at a place depending on the mutual conveniences of these people. Both men and women actively participated in the trade activities. It is an interesting feature of pre-colonial economy of Manipur.

The later kings of Pakhangba wanted to solve the problem of barter system. With this aim in view, bell metal coin (Sel) was introduced as a medium of exchange of the state. Maharaja Ura Konthouba (568-658) issued bell metal coins. But this can be regarded as the starting of monetization of the barter system in Manipur. (Mutua1985: 2) Khagemba also issued coins and introduced the practice of payment tax in cash. It was during the reign of Garibniwaz (1709-1748), fees for land recording was started to be paid in the term of Sel. (Kabui 1991:262)

It was also mentioned that Chourajit Singh (1803-1813), Marjit Singh (1813-1819) and Gambir Singh (1826-1834) issued gold and silver coins, but also in a very limited quantity. (Gunindro 1985:75-84) But, the introduction of coins could not completely replace the barter system. The activities of trade in Manipur had to be carried on with the barter system in one thing or the other along side the circulation of coins.

Minting of coins:

The king imported the bell metal mainly from Burma. The minting process is very simple. The metal is first cast in little pellets and these are then softened by fire and place on the anvil; one blow of the hammer flattens the pellet into an irregularly round figure; a punch, with the word Sri cut on it, is then driven on it by another blow which finishes the process. The coin so produced is small in size weighing only about 16 grains. (Brown 2011:89).

The king was the final authority for minting the coin. Lack of any financial institution, there was no strict rule in matter of issuing coins. The face value of the coin appeared to be equal to its intrinsic value. Therefore, bell metal coin could not be converted into the Sel by taking its weight. It was only circulated within the administrative territory of the Maharaja.

Because of this, the external trade was to be conducted through barter system. But, so far as the internal market was concerned, the inhabitants of both the valley and the hills could freely exchange various goods according to their mutual agreement based on the needs and products without any restriction. This social contact strengthened the relationship between the hills and valley people.

Market system:

Keithel means market in local dialect. The word Keithel is derived from Kei meaning storing place where food grains are stored and Thel, displaying the purchasable items. Since the beginning of 17 century, some markets came to be established; Maharaja Khagemba opened formally eleven markets in different parts of Manipur with Sana Keithel at the heart of the Imphal valley as the biggest market in 1614. (Khelchandra 1987:5)

According to T. C Hudson, the Khwairamband market was started by the end of the year 1580. It is also mentioned that King Mongyamba was the founder of the same market. (1995:23) Later on, the number of market places increased with the royal patronage. During the period of Seven years Devastation (1819- 1826), the whole activity of the market place was totally stopped.

The market activities in Manipur were the business transaction of the women. There were different types of market; some outside the Imphal areas started its activities in the early morning and came to an end before afternoon and in some markets the activities started in the afternoon. They were known as morning and evening markets. There were some markets which opened only in a week. It was known as Hapta Keithel. It would be difficult to find more industrious women in India than the Manipuri women. (Dun 1981:23)

Trade routes:

Since ancient time, Manipur is linked by trade routes with South Asia, South East Asia and Central Asia; through these routes she has commercial and cultural contact with the neighboring countries. There are hill routes travelled by immigrants, traders, invaders, etc. Manipur has a poor road and communication system during the pre-colonial period.

People of Manipur are lucky to have in the valley some rivers such as the Imphal, the Nambul, the Iril, the Thoubal etc. all of which pass through the valley. They serve as the water ways for connecting Imphal and the villages in the eastern, south-eastern part of the valley. Though unsuitable for navigational purposes, they are used for transporting agricultural products about 15 to 20 mounds by boat. In the hills, the Barak River is used for transporting some agricultural products to Syhlet. (Bhattachaijee 1977: 87).

The land route is a link connecting between different villages within the state of Manipur. It was during the reign of Khagemba, routes were constructed and maintained. He constructed Makak road and provided riverine network of transportation by boats. During the reign of King Paikhomba (1668-98), a road from Chinga to Mongsagei was improved in 1672 and succeeding rulers must have built several other routes by utilizing Lallup service. (Kabui 1991: 220) E. W Dun wrote, the traditional routes in the valley that roads here were also like that of the roads found in Assam and Burma, rice growing countries.

The roads were wide enough for one cart, but not sufficiently broad enough for two carts passing one another, when rain comes, the roads become slippery and traffic becomes difficult, no trees were planted on either side of the road, and bridges over rivers were built with wood and bamboo. (1981:9) In the hills, roads were paths connecting villages. But, it may be pointed out that all the routes leading to Indian states and Burma are all passing through the hilly tracts inhabited by the hill tribes.

External land route is a connecting line between Manipur and other neigbhouring countries. Some of the immediate neighbours which are connected by the ancient land routes are Cachar, Assam, Sylhet, Burma, China etc. The main routes are Western routes (Acquee Route, Kala Naga Route, Khongjai Route), Southern routes (Heirok Route and Imole Route) and Northern routes. (Pemberton 1979: 51) The above routes were used by the people of Manipur and other kingdoms since ancient time. Pilgrims, immigrants, and traders travelled these routes. Laden animals and ponies were the main means of transportation.



To be continued....