Meitei ST demand reminds of the common father of Tai Ahom and Mee Tai
After Tarun Gogoi recommends Tai Ahom for ST Status

Laishram Subhash *

Meitei : Ethnic Doll at Mutua Museum's Cultural Heritage Complex in 2008

'Pa-Khangba' who is the first historical king of Manipur, is the common father of the 'Tai-Ahom' of Assam and the 'Mee-Tai' of Manipur. The Tai-Ahom of Assam and Meithei (Mee-Tai) of Manipur are two branches of the great Tai race. They are mongoloid people.

As they live in India from time immemorial, they are called Indo-Mongoloid, i,e. mongoloid living in India. The Buranjis are the old royal chronicles of the Ahom-Tai of Assam written in archaic Tai-alphabets. The Mee-Tai of Manipur have their royal chronicles written in old Mee-Tai alphabets. They are called locally Pooyas in Mee-Tai (Meitei) language.

Such Pooyas as the Sorarel-Macha-Khun-Kumlol and Thanglol Thangchat contain the narration that Pakhangba, the first king of Manipur married Leel-Leima of Mau-Shan (Pong). The son born of this couple was the first king of the Mao-Shan. Pakhangba also married two other Mao-Shan women. Thus, Pakhangba had three Mao-Shan women as his wives.

The Tai-Ahom of Assam is called by the Mee-Tai of Manipur as 'Te-Khao'. This is the combination of two words 'Te' and 'Khao'. The first word 'Te' is from the clan name of second wife and 'Khao' is from the clan name of the third wife. This reference is from the local Pooya called 'Yabirok'.

It is universally accepted that the Tai-Ahom of Assam was established in Assam in 1228 A.D. The Pooya namely'Sorarel Macha' gives the account of establishing the Tai-Ahom of Assam, though the year of founding of the Tai-Ahom by Sukampha in 1228 A.D. is not mentioned in the Pooya.

Medieval history of Assam contains the matrimonial alliance between the two kingdoms of Assam and Manipur.

Very recently, Shri Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam announced the inclusion of the Tai-Ahom of Assam in the list of S.T (Scheduled Tribe).The Government of India did not reject the proposal of Assam Chief Minister. This announcement by Tarun Gogoi on Tai-Ahom is an inspiration for the entire Meitei community also.

The STDCM (Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee of Manipur) which is spearheading the movement for inclusion of the Meitei in the ST list of Government of India considered the stand taken by Shri. Tarun Gogoi as appropriate and the committee also appreciated and welcome his stand.

In this context, it is to mention that when a branch of great Tai race i,e. Tai-Ahom is recommended for the inclusion in the ST list by Tarun Gogoi, the other branch of the same race i,e. Mee-Tai (Meitei) has not been recommended by the Chief Minister of Manipur.

Therefore, I, on behalf of STDCM request the Chief Minister of Manipur Shri. Okram Ibobi Singh to recommend the Meiteis for the inclusion in ST (Scheduled Tribe) list of the Government of India as early as possible in the interest of the Meiteis.