Manipur has been known for more than just the existence of numerous insurgent groups. It is known for the bravery of its people, especially women, against the injustices of the state. Who doesn’t remember the one of its kind protest, in 2004, in front of Assam Rifles headquarters when 2-3 dozen naked women protested with the banner ‘Indian Army Rape Us’ after the abduction and murder of a young lady Manorama or the 16 years long lonely battle that Irom Sharmila fought from the hospital with a rubber tube inserted in her nose to feed her as she fasted against the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act? More recently, Manipur fame has been extended to sports, with the female sportspersons such as Mary Kom and Mirabai Chanu bringing laurels to the country, in fields not normally considered the domain for women in this country, and becoming national icons. The mothers’ organisation Meira Paibi would keep a vigil all night to ensure that the Army did not pick up their youth in the name of insurgents. The term ‘brave’ aptly characterises the people of Manipur.
Meiteis have long been identified as a Hindu community. Although there is a small percentage of Muslim ‘Pangal’ Meiteis, there has been a definite Sanskritisation of their culture in history. If there is one community in the entire Northeast outside of Assam which would most easily amalgamate with the mainland Indian culture it is the Meiteis. The aspiration of this community to seek a Scheduled Tribe status seems to be driven more by the material considerations. Numerically smaller Kukis and Nagas felt threatened by this demand as this would have allowed Meiteis to buy lands in hills. This has provoked the conflagration.
25/06/2023