Manipur 'clash of multiple nationalisms': Samrat Choudhury
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 23 2024:
As the crisis in the state drags on with no resolution in sight, journalist and author Samrat Choudhury, who has written extensively about Manipur and the Northeast, described the conflict as a "clash of multiple nationalisms" in an interview with Outlook.
Samrat Choudhury explored the complex interplay of ethnic and national identities in the region, touching on Meetei, Kuki-Zo, Naga, and Indian nationalisms, all of which are vying for dominance over the same territory.
He explained that the ongoing violence can be seen as a conflict between three primary nationalisms.
On one side is Meetei (Manipuri) nationalism, tied to the legacy of Manipur as an ancient princely state dating back to 33 AD .
The pride associated with this history is strongly connected to maintaining the territorial integrity of present-day Manipur.
Any reduction of the state's size or authority is unacceptable to Meetei nationalists.
On the other hand are the Kuki-Zo nationalisms.
These groups have long aspired to establish a separate administration for areas where they hold a majority, which include a large part of Manipur.
Their aspirations have brought them into direct conflict with the Meetei nationalists.
The third force in this complex web is Naga nationalism, part of the larger Naga movement that has been seeking independence from India since 1947 .
The ongoing peace talks between the Indian government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), which began in 1997, have yet to reach a conclusion.
This issue remains critical, as Naga territorial claims overlap with those of the Kuki-Zo groups.
"In Manipur, it is a three-way struggle between three contending nationalisms, each seeking something that they can only get at the expense of the other two," Choudhury stated, adding that each group is also negotiating with Indian nationalism and other forces in Myanmar.
His recent book 'But I Am One of You; Northeast India and the Struggle to Belong' delves into the issue of belonging, which he said is fundamental to the ongoing conflict in Manipur.
The Meetei groups and the Manipur state government have harboured suspicions that a significant number of Kuki-Zo people are recent migrants from Myanmar.
The Manipur assembly passed a resolution in 2022 calling for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise to address these concerns.
He compared the migration issue in Manipur to similar issues in other parts of Northeast India, such as the longstanding political tensions related to migration from Bangladesh.
While the immediate conflict is between the Meeteis and Kuki-Zo groups, Choudhury noted the relevance of the Nagas in the crisis.
If armed Naga outfits such as the NSCN-IM were to intervene, it could drastically alter the balance of power.
The NSCN-IM has already been accused by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of supporting Meetei insurgents, and the group recently clashed with the Kuki National Army.
He was quick to point out that attempts to frame the Manipur conflict as a religious war between Hindu Meeteis and Christian Kukis are misguided.
Both the Nagas and Kukis are Christian, and their conflict stems from territorial and ethnic disputes, not religious differences.
He also talked about his book 'Northeast India: A Political History', wherein he highlighted the region's long history of internal strife, noting that Manipur has often been on the brink of conflict due to unresolved issues such as Naga territorial claims, Kuki-Meetei tensions, and demands for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meeteis.
Looking to history for solutions, Choudhury warned against the dangers of nationalism,.
He argued that the idea of exclusive national homelands has caused ongoing strife in Northeast India, a region where diverse communities have always coexisted in the same areas.
He also emphasised the importance of remembering the broader geopolitical history of the region before colonial borders imposed rigid divisions.
Choudhury concluded that any long-term solution must move beyond narrow ideas of nation and nationalism, urging a broader understanding of the historical and political context in which the conflict is unfolding.
"A solution that narrow-focuses on only one comer will miss the big picture," he remarked, underlining the interconnectedness of the region's many struggles.
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