After the war, India moved towards independence, and the princely states which had existed alongside it became responsible for their own external affairs and defense, unless they joined the new Indian Union or Pakistan. The Manipur State Constitution Act of 1947 established a democratic form of government, with the Maharaja continuing as the head of state. Maharaja Bodhchandra was summoned to Shillong, to merge the kingdom into the Union of India. He is believed to have signed the merger agreement under duress. Thereafter, the legislative assembly was dissolved, and in October 1949 Manipur became part of India. It was made a Union Territory in 1956 and a fully-fledged state in 1972 by the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act, 1971. (Source: Wikipedia)
Disturbed State
In Manipur the incidence of violence has been observed regularly. From 1980 to 2004, the Indian government referred to Manipur as a disturbed area. This term (designated by the Ministry of Home Affairs or a state governor) refers to a territory where extraordinary laws under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act can be used. A law which allows the military to treat private and public places in the same manner.
Manipur has a long record of insurgency and inter-ethnic violence. Its first armed opposition group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), was founded in 1964 aiming to achieve independence from India and establish Manipur as a new country. Over time, many more groups formed, each with different goals, and deriving support from diverse ethnic groups in Manipur. These groups began a spree of bank robberies and attacks on police officers and government buildings.
In Manipur the incidence of violence has been observed regularly. From 1980 to 2004, the Indian government referred to Manipur as a disturbed area. This term (designated by the Ministry of Home Affairs or a state governor) refers to a territory where extraordinary laws under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act can be used. A law which allows the military to treat private and public places in the same manner.
Manipur has a long record of insurgency and inter-ethnic violence. Its first armed opposition group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), was founded in 1964 aiming to achieve independence from India and establish Manipur as a new country. Over time, many more groups formed, each with different goals, and deriving support from diverse ethnic groups in Manipur. These groups began a spree of bank robberies and attacks on police officers and government buildings.
What is the root cause of current Violence?
In order to answer above questions, we will break it into 4 parts
1) Ethnic Violence 2023 - How it Started?
In May 2023, an ethnic clash between Meitei people (Non- Tribal People) and Kuki (Tribal People) people started which resulted in the current violence incident in Manipur. Meitei is demanding for the scheduled tribe's status and Kukis are demanding separate administration of Manipur hills.
But why are they demanding such things? and why are they fighting amongst them.?
To answer the above question let us dig a little bit into history again.
The valley area of Manipur (the Imphal valley) is inhabited by Meitei (also referred to as Meetei), Meitei Pangal (Muslims), Naga, Kuki, different clans of Zomi nomenclature, Gurkhas and different sections belonging to about 124 linguistic communities who migrated from different parts of India. It is the moste densely populated part of the state.
The hill areas of Manipur are predominantly inhabited by 38 scheduled tribes; these tribes fall into the Naga, Kuki or Zomi categories, or those who stand to retain their respective community identity. There are also other small pockets in the hill districts that are inhabited by certain sections of Meiteis, Gurkhas and others.
2) Meiteis Demanding for ST status
Meiteis People who accounts for 50% population for the state leaves in Imphale valley which is only 10% of the area and they do not have many constitutional rights. For E.G., they do not have rights to settle in hilly regions and this is due to the land reform act.
According to them they are demanding ST status made not being merely for reservations in various sector but more to protect their ancestral land, culture and identity which they claimed was being threatened by illegal migration from Myanmar, Bangladesh and by people from outside state.
3) Kukis and Nagas Demanding For separate administration of Manipur hills.
According to the Gazetteer of Manipur (1886), there were approximately 8,000 'Old Kukis' who traditionally lived in the state, and about 17,000 "New Kukis" who migrated from Lushai Hills during the early 19th century.
The 'New Kukis' were brought and settled in strategic locations surrounding the Manipur valley by the British in the early 19th century, where they served as mercenaries. They were used as buffers to protect the valley from the regular raids by the Naga tribes. The British had a strategy of balancing one tribe against the other, which led to the establishment of Kuki villages adjacent to Naga villages or Naga-dominated areas. This resulted in a mixed population in the hills despite inter-tribe rivalries.
Kukis and Nagas (Included in ST) who are Christians account for 42% Population leaves in hilly region which is 90% of the land in Manipur and they were given all benefits under ST and also allowed to move and settle in hilly as well as Valley areas of the state. But if we look in terms of political power then it rests in the hands of the Meitei with the valley enjoying 40 out of 60 assembly constituencies in the state. Argument against the inclusion of Meitei community in the Scheduled tribe list are also of the opinion that as a dominant social formation, the Meiteis have been controlling the stated and its apparatuses
The 'New Kukis' were brought and settled in strategic locations surrounding the Manipur valley by the British in the early 19th century, where they served as mercenaries. They were used as buffers to protect the valley from the regular raids by the Naga tribes. The British had a strategy of balancing one tribe against the other, which led to the establishment of Kuki villages adjacent to Naga villages or Naga-dominated areas. This resulted in a mixed population in the hills despite inter-tribe rivalries.
Kukis and Nagas (Included in ST) who are Christians account for 42% Population leaves in hilly region which is 90% of the land in Manipur and they were given all benefits under ST and also allowed to move and settle in hilly as well as Valley areas of the state. But if we look in terms of political power then it rests in the hands of the Meitei with the valley enjoying 40 out of 60 assembly constituencies in the state. Argument against the inclusion of Meitei community in the Scheduled tribe list are also of the opinion that as a dominant social formation, the Meiteis have been controlling the stated and its apparatuses
4) Why is there a clash between these two groups?
As mentioned earlier, due to unequal law which allows Nagas and Kukis for special rights and has certain restrictions for Meiteis has already sparked trust issues between these two groups from the beginning.
On March 27,2023 Manipur High court passed the judgement to the state government regarding inclusion of Meiteis in Scheduled tribes and given 4 weeks' time to make the decision.
On May 3, members of the Kuki and Naga tribes, launched a protest against the possible extension of their benefits to the dominant Meiteis. Meiteis account for half of Manipur's population and extending limited affirmative action quotas to them would mean they would get a share in education and government jobs reserved for Kukis and Nagas.
Meiteis have traditionally lived in Manipur's more prosperous valley region that makes up 10% of the state's area.
They have also had better access to employment and economic opportunities.
Nagas and Kukis live in the poorly developed hills.
The development imbalance favoring the valley over the hills has been a point of contention and rivalry between the ethnic groups.
As mentioned earlier, due to unequal law which allows Nagas and Kukis for special rights and has certain restrictions for Meiteis has already sparked trust issues between these two groups from the beginning.
On March 27,2023 Manipur High court passed the judgement to the state government regarding inclusion of Meiteis in Scheduled tribes and given 4 weeks' time to make the decision.
On May 3, members of the Kuki and Naga tribes, launched a protest against the possible extension of their benefits to the dominant Meiteis. Meiteis account for half of Manipur's population and extending limited affirmative action quotas to them would mean they would get a share in education and government jobs reserved for Kukis and Nagas.
Meiteis have traditionally lived in Manipur's more prosperous valley region that makes up 10% of the state's area.
They have also had better access to employment and economic opportunities.
Nagas and Kukis live in the poorly developed hills.
The development imbalance favoring the valley over the hills has been a point of contention and rivalry between the ethnic groups.
Outcome of the protest
At least 130 people have been killed and 400 wounded in violence, more than 60,000 have been forced from their homes as the army, paramilitary forces and police struggle to quell violence. Police armories have been looted, hundreds of churches and more than a dozen temples ruined, and villages destroyed.
Suddenly Manipur violence caught the eyes of media and government when a clip went viral showing two women said to be from the Kuki-Zo group walking naked along a street, being jeered and harassed by a mob reportedly from the Meitei community.
The video emerged more than two months after it was filmed due to an internet ban in Manipur from May 3.
My Thoughts
The National Crime Records Bureau, in its annual report titled "Crime in India 2020," said 857 cases of communal or religious rioting were registered in the country in the last year. This is up from 438 in 2019 and 512 in 2018, the report stated.
If we see the above-mentioned data, then we should be concerned that India is going through civil wars though it is not on a huge scale, but it is painful. There is a very small percentage of people who are creating this conflict in order to accomplish their agenda but the large number of people who are suffering are innocent and powerless.
Another thing which should concern us is that women’s bodies have always become battlegrounds when there are riots or violence regardless of the fact that the majority of them are never on any side by their will. Their biggest mistake is that they were born of the wrong gender.
At this movement we will always find government as a main culprit but if we give a thought than main culprit has been always common people who physically and emotionally involved in these riots because someone has said so and it doesn’t matter if end result create destruction regardless it was never in their Favour.
Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipur
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/why-is-indias-manipur-state-grip-ethnic-violence-2023-07-21/
https://www.indiatoday.in/history-of-it/story/manipur-violence-when-did-kukis-reach-manipur-and-how-past-is-shaping-states-present-2416215-2023-08-04
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66260730
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-violence-alleged-rape-abduction-murder-of-two-women-2410387-2023-07-22
At least 130 people have been killed and 400 wounded in violence, more than 60,000 have been forced from their homes as the army, paramilitary forces and police struggle to quell violence. Police armories have been looted, hundreds of churches and more than a dozen temples ruined, and villages destroyed.
Suddenly Manipur violence caught the eyes of media and government when a clip went viral showing two women said to be from the Kuki-Zo group walking naked along a street, being jeered and harassed by a mob reportedly from the Meitei community.
The video emerged more than two months after it was filmed due to an internet ban in Manipur from May 3.
My Thoughts
The National Crime Records Bureau, in its annual report titled "Crime in India 2020," said 857 cases of communal or religious rioting were registered in the country in the last year. This is up from 438 in 2019 and 512 in 2018, the report stated.
If we see the above-mentioned data, then we should be concerned that India is going through civil wars though it is not on a huge scale, but it is painful. There is a very small percentage of people who are creating this conflict in order to accomplish their agenda but the large number of people who are suffering are innocent and powerless.
Another thing which should concern us is that women’s bodies have always become battlegrounds when there are riots or violence regardless of the fact that the majority of them are never on any side by their will. Their biggest mistake is that they were born of the wrong gender.
At this movement we will always find government as a main culprit but if we give a thought than main culprit has been always common people who physically and emotionally involved in these riots because someone has said so and it doesn’t matter if end result create destruction regardless it was never in their Favour.
Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipur
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/why-is-indias-manipur-state-grip-ethnic-violence-2023-07-21/
https://www.indiatoday.in/history-of-it/story/manipur-violence-when-did-kukis-reach-manipur-and-how-past-is-shaping-states-present-2416215-2023-08-04
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66260730
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