Inner Line Permit System in Manipur : Lessons to learn from other countries and states
and what we need to do
- Part 2 -

Dr Khomdon Singh Lisam *

Sit-In-Protest for Inner Line Permit System in Manipur :: 21 August 2011

3. Fate of indigenous people in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andamanese are the indigenous people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The term includes the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese and the extinct Jangil. The Great Andamanese, who now number just 52, were originally 10 distinct tribes, 5,000-strong when the British colonised the Andaman Islands. Most were killed or died of diseases brought by the colonisers. Most of the Great Andamanese tribes have forgotten their mother tongues and speak in Hindi now. (Anosh Malekar, "The case for a linguisitic survey," Infochange Media, August 1, 2011.)

In 1789, the government of Bengal established a naval base and penal colony on Chatham Island in the southeast bay of Great Andaman. It is now known as Port Blair (after the Bombay Marine lieutenant Archibald Blair who founded it- (Olivier Blaise, Anda-man Islands, India, PictureTank ,)

By 1901, 600 were left.(Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Francesco Cavalli-Sforza-1995, The Great Human Diasporas: The History of Diversity and Evolution, Basic Books, ISBN 0201442310, ). Contact with whites and the British in particular, has virtually destroyed them. Illness, alcohol, and the will of the colonials all played their part; the British governor of the time mentions in his diary that he received instructions to destroy them with alcohol and opium. He succeeded completely with one group. The others reacted violently.

In 1867, a British government communication mentioned about organizing a punitive expedition against Andamanese people on Little Andaman Island. There is evidence that some sections of the British Indian administration were deliberately working to annihilate the tribes. (Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Francesco Cavalli-Sforza -1995, The Great Human Diasporas: The History of Diversity and Evolution, Basic Books, ISBN 0201442310, ). This accelerated the decline of the indigenous tribes of Andamans. At the time of first contact with the British there were an estimated 5,000 Great Andamanese.

The population of the Andamans was 343,125 in 2011 having grown from 50,000 in 1960. Of the people who live in the Andaman Islands, a small minority of about 1,000 are indigenous people of the Andamans. The rest are mainly divided between Bengali, Hindi and Tamil people from the mainland. ("Andaman & Nicobar Islands at a glance". Andamandt.nic.in. ). Thus the influx of outsiders into Andaman had brought complete ruin of the indigenous population there and they are now on the verge of extinction.

4. Fate of indigenous people in Tripura

Tripura was a princely state. A total of 185 Tripuri Kings ruled Tripura for 3000 years until its merger with the union of India in 1949. Tripura was originally land of almost exclusively of Tripuri people till the nineteenth century. Up to the middle of 20th century Tripuri people were still a majority in the state, but by the middle of 20th century, the Tripuri people became minority in their own homeland.

In 1901 AD, the population percentage of different communities in Tripura were approximately viz. the Tripuri and other indigenous people including the Manipuri was 74.68%, the Muslim Bengali 25.9 %, the Hindu Bengali were just 8.6%. Just after 100 years apart the percentage of different ethnic races as per the census report of 2001 AD stands as follows, approximately the Tripuri and other indigenous people including Manipuri came down from 74.68% to 31.82%, the Muslim Bengali went down 25.9% to 8%, where as the Hindu Bengali percentage went up from 8.6% to 60%. This is the price they have to pay for merging with the Union of India in the name of secularism and democracy.

At the time of merger, the Borok peoples of Tripura had high hope and aspirations in the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi that their identity, political right socio-economic right, cultural right and educational right will be protected and safeguarded. However the reverse is true. From time of partition, the Government of India permitted Bengali refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to enter and settle in Tripura without any restriction.

There were no protective measures taken either by the state or the central government to prevent continuous influx of immigrants into the state. The indigenous peoples, who accounted for 95% of the population of Tripura in 1931 census, have been reduced to a mere 31% in the 1991 census mainly due to influx of refugees from East Pakistan. Even the names of different villages, hamlets, rivers, tributaries, markets, area, hills, hillocks, towns etc had been Changed to suit the tongue of Bengali refugees, who had since became majority population.

The unchecked and uncontrolled population invasion from East Pakistan has caused serious, social, political, economic and demographic impact which has destroyed the identity, culture and traditions and language of the indigenous people of Tripura

5. Fate of indigenous people in Manipur

Manipur showed signs of human habitation around 32,000 years back. However the chronology of Kings started with Taangja Leela Pakhangba 1445- 1405 B.C. Manipur was a sovereign kingdom till occupation of Manipur by the British on 27 April, 1891. With the investiture of Maharaj Churachand Singh on 29 April, 1892 with 11 gun salutes, Manipur became a princely state of British India.

5.1 Earlier Migration in Manipur

The accounts of earlier settlement in Manipur are given in the ancient books/puyas like Sagok Lamlem, Thangchat etc. Further information of the people who migrated and settled in Manipur are found in books like Poireiton Khuntokpa (34-18 B.C.), Nongpok Haram, Nongchup Haram, Kumbilon, Mayang Khunthok, etc.

In 1475 during the reign of Meidingu Kyaamba two Brahmins namely Banamali and Haribidyasur, migrated from Cachar. They were appointed as the Brahmins in the service of the Bishnu. Afterwards, the followers of the Brahmin were known as Bishnupriya and the place was named Bishnupur. From the Burmese words "Pheiya", the temple in which Bishnu was worshipped was known as "Phura" in Manipuri. The descendants of the Brahmin who worshipped at the Phura became known as Phurailatpam. During the reign of Medingu Khagemba (1597-1652), Sanongba, the younger brother of Khagemba revolted against the king and fought a battle.

The battle was concluded on 17th Inga, 1606 with the surrender of 1007 army, 30 elephants, 1000 muskets. The surrendered army included a large number of Muslims and Bishnupriyas. These surrendered sepoys spoke Bangali and there they were called "Bangal", later on "Pangan". They were given free land and Manipuri women and Meitei surnames. During the reign of Meidingu Charai Rongba (1697-1709),

The arrival of Brahmins continued as before and they were given Manipuri surnames like Aribam Bishnulatpam, Aribam Sagolailatpam, Aribam Tampallailatpam, Samurailatpam, Sanglakpam, Thongratabam Kongbrailatpam, Hidangmayum. Some wandering pilgrims arrived in Manipur and they were given Manipur women and allowed to settle in Manipur. Since Krishnacharya was the guru of the king, his descendants came to be known as the Guru Aribams or the family of the old Guru.

During the reign of Gourshyam, the KHUNTAK AHANBA (1755-59) occurred when Alaungpaya sent an expedition in 1755 to "instill respect" into the Manipuris. When Alaungpaya entered Imphal only to find it empty for the inhabitants were hiding in the woods. He massacred more than four thousands of his Manipuri prisoners because they stubbornly refused to march way into captivity. He had taken thousands of Manipuris as prisoners.

The seven year's devastation (CHAHI TARET KHUNTAKPA) occurred when the Burmese King, Bagidaw (1819-1837) invaded Manipur to punish Marjit Singh in 1819 AD under the great Burmese general Maha Bandula. Manipur faced the invasion fiercely with only 7000 soldiers of which 3000 died fighting. The seven years devastation was concluded when the Government of Ava recognized the Independence of Manipur, recognised Gambheer Singh as the King of Manipur with the signing of the Treaty of Yandabo on 24 February 1826. At that time, the population of the Manipur valley was hardly 10,000.

In 1835, the British Political Agency was opened for the first time with Lt. Gordon (1835-44) as the first political agent. During Nara Singh's reign (1844-1850), a large number of Kukis migrated from Burma and they were settled in various parts of Manipur. During 1876-77, Maharaja Chandrakirty permitted about 2000 Kukis from Burma to settle near Moirang and south western part of Manipur.

The first census of Manipur in 1881 reported a total population of 2,21,070, of which 1,17,108 were Meiteis, 85,288 hill tribes, 105 foreigners, and Muslims, Loi, Kei and Mayang counted for 18, 569 (E.W. Dun: Gazetteer of Manipur, 1886). The figures for 1891 census are not available as the records were destroyed in the Anglo-Manipur War, 1891.

In 1891, with the occupation of Manipur by the British, many Bengali migrants started arriving as clerks, teachers, businessmen to Manipur.

5.2. Permit or Passport System in Manipur during 1901-1951

In 1901, the Manipur Durbar devised a very effective system of controlling the entry of foreigners (Non-Manipuris) called the Permit or Passport system when the population of Manipur was only 284,465 (1901 Census). Indians coming from other parts of India were called foreigners in the terminology of Manipur Administration. This Permit system was brought under the Foreigners Department on 1 November, 1931.

If the foreigners wish to visit Manipur, they were required to take permission from the then Manipur Durbar and had to pay certain amount of taxes. This Permit or Passport System served two important purposes (1) it controls and regulate influx of Non-Manipuris (2) it formed an important item of revenue for the state. The said permit system did not allow any foreigner to acquire or purchase land properties. (FRIENDS-2012).

The fees generated annually during 1901-02 to 1907-08 from foreign migrants was as follows -

Year	Receipts in Rupees
1901-02	4,428
1902-03	4,281
1903-04	5,730
1904-05	5,794
1905-06	5,939
1906-07	8,964
1907-08	9,256

Source: - UCM (2005).

5.3. Unprecedented Population increase in Manipur during 1951-2911

The following population table shows unprecedented population growth during 1951-2011.

Year of Census Growth	Population growth	Decadal	Annual
1901	284,465	-	-
1911	346,222	61757	6175
1921	384,016	37794	3779
1931	445,606	61590	6159
1941	512,069	66463	6646
1951	577,635	65566	6556
1961	780,037	202,402	20240
1971	1,072,753	292716	29271
1981	1,420,953	348200	34820
1991	1,837,149	416196	41619
2001	2,293,896	456447	45644
2011	2,721,756	427860	42786

Source: - Census Report

It can be seen from the above data that there was an unprecedented increase in the growth rate after 1951. Because this Permit system was abolished by Mr. Himmat Singh, the then Chief Commissioner on 18 November, 1950 allowing free entry, unchecked influx of outsiders from other states. In any country, foreigners are not allowed to enter without passport and VISA. India is also following the same system. But in Manipur, there is free entry of foreigners from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal and they are allowed to settle in any part of Manipur.

All hill districts are worst affected. Senapati, Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Chandel districts are inhabited by Nepalese, Bangladeshis, Burmese and full of Mayangs (outsiders) depriving the indigenous people of their land, properties, jobs and destroying the identity, culture, traditions and language of the people. The inter-marriage between Mayangs and indigenous women are increasing day by day producing a mixed type of people losing our identity, dignity and respect.

This silent population invasion is encouraged by our politicians in their political interest just to win votes. Our politicians welcome them and they are very happy to make arrangement for their safety, security and stay, enrolling them in the electoral roll, arranging ration cards, BPL cards for them and using them as their vote bank. This they are doing silently without the knowledge of the general masses.

5.4 Adverse effects after abolition of permit system in Manipur

The abolition of permit system in Manipur has caused immense damage to the Manipur Society :- The Illegal migration from across our borders and influx of Mayangs (Outsiders) has continued unabated for the last more than 60 years.

1. According to 2001 Census, the population of outside migrants in Manipur was 707,488 as against the Meitei population of 751822, tribal population of 670,782 (UCM). The influx of outsiders has reduced the indigenous tribal population into minority. Within 20 to 30 years, the Meiteis also will be reduced to minority as happened in Tripura and other places. After 50 years, with the globalisation, arrival of railways, Dams, Trans Asian Highways and many other developmental projects, we may be reduced to negligible percentage of population as happened in America, Australia and Andaman and Nicobar islands. 50 years is a short time in the history of a nation or population. Are we prepared for this?

2. With the abolition of permit system in Manipur, the risk of changing political scenario is very high. Some years ago, one Nepali was elected as MLA. Recently two candidates were aspiring to stand as candidates for MLAs. The proposal was stopped due to intervention by FRIENDS.

3. The influx of outsiders has deprived the indigenous Manipuri population of their ancestral land, food, employment, manual work, education.

4. The inter-marriage between Manipuri women and outsiders is increasing day by day with the risk of producing a mixed population of undefined ancestry. Some of the Manipuri parents are proud of such marriages not knowing the consequences.

5. It has posed a threat to the Manipuri identity and culture of the indigenous Manipuris.

2. It has posed a threat to Manipuri language, scripts and local dialects due to ever increasing influence of Hindi as the link language and "Bazar Bhasa" in trade and commerce.

3. It has posed a threat to survival of local labourers due to controlled and unchecked influx of cheap labourers from other states, from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar.

4. It has posed a threat to reservation quota for scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes as many of them are also eligible under the same reservation quota.

5. It has deprived the job opportunities of indigenous population.

6. It has deprived of higher educational and Technical educational opportunities like MBBS, BDS, BSc (Nursing), BE etc, of indigenous population as may of the outsiders are also eligible to apply for the same.

7. It has deprived of competitive posts like MCS, MPS and other high ranking posts of indigenous population as the outsiders are also eligible to apply .We have seen that some of the outsiders holding very high posts in the Government and this is happening at the cost of our local talents.

8. It has posed a threat to Law and Order , Public Security and Safety as many of them indulged in black market , crimes

9. It has posed a threat to survival of small ethnic tribal groups like Aimol (2643/2001), Chothe (2675/2001), Koirao (1200/2001), Koireng (1056/2001), Monsang (1634/2001), Moyon (1,710/2001), Ralte (110/2001), Salhte (311/2001)

10. It has increased the spread of HIV /AIDS as may of the migrant workers are also indulging in high risk behaviour in sex and drug use.

To be continued....

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* Dr Khomdon Singh Lisam wrote this article for The Sangai Express
This article was posted on May 13, 2012 .

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