In defence of Meitei's demand for inclusion in ST list

Lt Col Laishram Lokendra Singh (Retd) *

Keithel Lairembi Ekou-khatpa at Lamphel SuperMarket in June 2011

In Meitei's lunar month of Langban (roughly corresponding to September) before onset of full moon, a large number of Meitei families so called Hindus would have carried out "Apokpa Khurumba or Ipa Ipu Pokpa Khurumba" wherein spirits of father, grand father and great grand father is invoked; seven varieties of fish (in lieu of seven varieties of meat known as "Saram Taret") among others is offered and blessing sought for well being of the family - a classic primitive animism ritual.

Families which did not perform the ritual this Langban month would have either done it sometime earlier or would be doing it later depending upon the timing given by Meitei Amaiba or Amaibi (spiritual functionary) who is the authority in the conduct of such ritual.

In the last couple of months a lot of arguments have erupted in the local media on the issue of Meitei's demand for inclusion in ST list of the Indian Constitution. Among Meiteis opinion is divided while almost all tribal brethren have opposed it. Interestingly a particular tribal body has welcomed the idea if it means the Meiteis have finally recognised their roots and are returning to the tribal fold to be one with them.

Although nothing is specified in the Indian Constitution, the accepted criteria for consideration of an ethnic group to be included in ST list is indication of primitive traits, distinctive culture, shyness of contact with the community at large, and geographical isolation i.e. backwardness. Leaving aside a small percentage of elite Meiteis living in posh urban areas the remaining majority without doubt fits the bill.

Meiteis who still believe that they are high caste Hindus should know that today Meiteis have been classified as: 1. Scheduled Caste (SC). 2. Other Backward Class (OBC). Any person identifying himself in the nomenclature of Meitei, Meitei Brahmin, Meitei Sanamahi, and Meitei Rajkumar will legally be recognised as OBC if the person is not SC. However reservation quota will only be eligible to those who are below creamy layer. That is today the Constitutional social status of Meiteis and there is no third classification.

In any case Meiteis did not fully convert to Hinduism. Social structuring of Hindu way of life in rigid caste system did not take roots with Meiteis. Caste based societal formation of Brahmin as the educated priest, Kshatriya as the ruling class and warrior, Vaishya as peasants and merchants, and Sudra as the born untouchable relegated to do menial work of cleaning human excreta and animal carcass among others is a non-issue with Meiteis.

They are said to have converted to Vaishnavism sect of Hinduism whereas they all worship "Sanamahi"- the Meitei God. In fact Meiteis have basically adopted Hindu festivities of Kang (Rath yatra) of Odissa, Durga puja of Bengal, Holi, Vishwakarma puja, Shivaratri. It is intriguing why Ganesh puja festival of Maharastra was not included in this list.

In essence the Hindu religion to the Meitei is only an add on to the already existing religion and culture, which perhaps refined the existing social norm to some extent and converted the animal slaughtering Meitei to a fish eating one. Interestingly the phenomenon is slowly reverting to a full circle. Pertinent to note here is the fact of Meena tribe of Rajasthan having a population of 38 lakhs (as per 2001 Census i.e. almost one and half times the population of Manipur) and considered as high class Hindus is a Scheduled Tribe of Rajasthan.

Books written by British writers during the colonial period refer to Meitei as tribe notwithstanding the fact that they were ruled by a king and had a kingdom besides presenting polo to the world. It is now common knowledge that perhaps India aware of this fact was willing to include Meiteis into ST list after Manipur merged with India in 1949.

Unfortunately a handful of Meiteis, speaking on behalf of Manipur then without an iota of vision for the future, had so much wanted to identify themselves with the teeming millions of Aryan Hindus of Indo-Gangetic plains that they opted out of it. In effect it was the classic case of the proverbial crow with peacock feather masquerading as a peacock.

Ironically when this crow lands up among the peacocks of mainland India, the ethnic divide with its resultant discrimination and alienation becomes stark as the crow turns out to be none other than a Mongoloid crow. Thus today's new generation Meiteis tend to view Meitei Hinduism more or less as a cultural imperialism, a shackle they want to get rid off.

Strategist Muivah, quick to cash on a given opportunity built up his NSCN cadres from Manipur over the years on the theme of "hate Meiteis" on the argument that Meiteis have treated Nagas of Manipur as untouchables, ill treated and exploited them. He may not be wholly wrong historically although things have changed drastically as of today (however what is also to be understood is that Meitei Lois who had refused to convert to Hinduism suffered similar indignity). This theme of "hate Meitei" is unfortunately in vogue even today and is being espoused by almost every Naga leader of Manipur. The resultant communal divide between the two communities is there for all to see.

Today if Meiteis soul search their roots, accept their original self and is included in ST list in accordance with Indian Constitution, the ST status would perhaps become a meeting/rallying point as one fraternity for the two communities. Social healing of sorts can then take place and venom of "hate Meiteis" theme espoused by Nagas of Manipur could in all likelihood be given a respectable burial. Once new generation of Nagas is not subjected to this social venom of ethnic alienation and distrust, chasm of communal divide would slowly but surely narrow down over a period of time.

Meanwhile there is unfounded delusion of people in the hills that if Meiteis become ST, they will buy up all the land in the hills. When Meiteis had the choice to settle in the hills, they chose not to settle there. When houses in Langol Game Village were sold, only a few Meiteis whose number can be counted on finger tips came forward to buy. Meiteis are by nature not as strong willed as Kukis to start a new dwelling place anywhere in a jungle or a new habitat. And if some Meiteis had that much money they would rather choose to buy modern flats/bungalows in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Bangalore etc. and not buy up barren hills in Manipur. In any case land owner has the choice not to sell to Meiteis so as to protect their land.

Coming to the point of job quotas in Manipur, the strata of Meitei community who require such reservation have already been taken care of as SC and OBC quotas. Nonetheless, our law makers can come up with some arrangement to safeguard the present existing ST quota and ensure it continues undisturbed. For instance ST quota in the State of Manipur can be divided into two categories, viz: 1. ST (Meitei) 2. ST (Others).

There is therefore no reason to be so petty minded on this issue. With such arrangement ensuring the interest of the present ST of Manipur is secure, they should in fact whole heartedly welcome Meiteis to join their fraternity on a common platform perhaps to have a collective say on regional and related issues which needs to be addressed from time to time.

Now the bigger picture is that this 10 lakh odd Meiteis, a small minority against the backdrop of India's billions, much less than the population of a district in Bihar, will get overwhelmed in due course of time by the majority Indians in the relentless process of subtle Indianisation of the people of peripheral region of North East if a Constitutional protection is not provided to safeguard their very existence as an indigenous people of Manipur.

They are thus merely exercising their legitimate "right to protect" themselves as any other ethnic group would have done so in their place. Meitei's conflict (if it can be termed as such) is with the Indian Constitution and not with any particular ethnic group, so as to bring about social integrity and re-establish a tribal pan-Manipur cohesive society for a lasting peace in Manipur.