Manipur needs to affirm her tribal roots (ST Hills and ST Plains)

Hijam Monarsingh Dallo Rihmo *

View of Kangla - The sacred place of Manipur in May 2013 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

In the passages of the many books that details the account of the authors, one will find curious mention of the Meitei King and his connection to his tribal roots. If Sikhism is the bridge between Hinduism and Islam, then Manipuri, it would seem, is a bridge between the dominant cultures - the Indian and the Asian.

An amalgamation of so many influences that shape the mesmerizing culture we know today. Tribal by looks, Hindu by religion, Asian by culture, Hill-men by spirit – it seems as though it is a new born civilization, the one we so fondly call – The Manipuri.

In Manipuri, there is the Shan element, the Burmese, the Hindu influence, the Mosul and predominantly the ‘Tribals.’ It is in fact, the tapestry of the people that “actually makes the capital–Imphal.

The Mei-teis, it would appear (the “amalgamation, & different from Khuman, Moirang or Luwang) are a product of the Shans, and many other ‘people’ who came across the valley, possibly settling and establishing the kingdom of Manipur, with its center at modern day Imphal.

The Meiteis will amalgamate all other chiefdoms in the valley and bring about a uniform language and culture, each clan perhaps contributing an element in the tradition we know today. The Manipur Valley, unlike the hills, is an open space “in the midst of the hills.

And if history is anything, anytime the valley was in danger or under attack, the population would seek shelter in the hills. This happened even in the Anglo–Manipuri war, and also during the Seven Years devastation, wherein the valley of Manipur underwent massive ‘de-population’.

Many of its inhabitants “fleeing westward, as far as Sylhet, just like how the current crisis in Manipur is also driving away hordes of its affluent population.” Manipur appears to be experiencing this symptom from time to time. The crisis now however, resulting in “massive economic repercussions – the negation of wealth.

The capital in certain years, was recorded to be ‘Keke Moirang’. This fact is supported by how the ‘Revivalist’ centers in Imphal now, confirm that there were many ‘Kanglas’ in the past, indicating the capital or chiefdoms of each principality.

This also tells us the valley of Manipur was a marshy swamp grassland earlier, with parts of the higher ground appearing as “habitable dry land (The Kanglas). The Meitei identity is so unique due to the “intermingling of different races.

They have “inadvertently become a new ‘breed’ of highland people. The younger generations without affinity to its past heritage, Tribal, but unable to come to terms with it. Afterall, the valley is the heart and therein, everyone converges and mingles, resulting in assimilation and leading to her more modern civilized nature.

From chaos, conquest and amalgamation to cultural domination and assimilation, and with them, the birth of new surnames within the Meitei Society, losing its old self and reborn into the Meitei fold. The Meitei itself appears a mixed race of which the tribals in the hills are perhaps the most that contributed to the mix (Inter community marriages and inter-tribal marriages).

While the occasional dominance of other advanced cultures resulted in paradigm shifts - religion, architecture, rituals, food – all these, while maintaining a bit of her former self in the making of the Meitei Culture.

The story of Kangla itself is of one, wherein the King moved from the traditional residence of a ‘Naga House’ into the more Shan-like residence. Its inhabitants later imitating the courtyard-architecture, just like the Shans. From wooden houses to the ‘wattle and doab' as the Ahoms. The similarities, all too telling.

Manipur as a Hill State politically should have all its inhabitants designated as Tribals. It is only correct to curb the hardening divide between her own people. There is however, the apprehension from her less-privileged people who live in the hills to this idea. It is only natural to feel so.

But laws are made my man and in the course of time and evaluation of what is good and what is wrong, are born ethos and values, that shape the society.

For Manipur, perhaps, the arrangement can be made if all Manipuris are recognized as tribals that they are; but to address the competition that may arise, there is a need to differentiate the population into “Scheduled Tribe (Hills) and Scheduled Tribe (Plain).”
(Note : Assam SC & ST (Reservation in vacancies and posts in services) Act, 1978 as amended in 2012.)

With the above Act, Assam State has made “differentiation in the Tribal groups. It affords inclusive development, but also avoids the competition within the same group.

The ST (Plain) would also mean it will have a defined territorial limit, the reservation however, based on their population percentage. It is ideal and “can be replicated in the State of Manipur.” Perhaps, this needs more deliberation from the stakeholders together to discuss and understand each other’s problems and apprehensions.

Manipur, unlike the other states, have much work to do including introducing a “Permanent Land settlement system” for her tribals and creation of wealth in the hills. A prosperous hill district is after all a prosperous valley. The growth and “development of the hill and valley being “interdependent. I pray to all the leaders in the hills and valley, the women and youth, to give peace and development a chance. ”

After all, how long does a man live ? It is in the best interest of all to live a better life. Everyone deserves to live a dignified life.