Politics and ethnicity in Manipur
-By Prof. Dr Ksh Bimola

   Politics is no longer the reserve of the Government and the state. It has descended down to the lowest level of the society, starting from the individual. But the individual alone is not capable of acting very efficiently. It is at the level of groups that is becoming a very important active force in the present day society. Among the groups also, it is not voluntary organization, society, clubs, associations etc. which are actively involved in Politics. They only work as pressure groups or interest groups. It is the ethnic group which are becoming a very important political force in North east India especially in Manipur.
   In Manipur there are many ethnic groups, i.e.Meteis Pangal (Muslims), Kukis, Nagas etc. Each of the ethnic group can also be divided into many sub- groups. Among the tribals there are major tribes like the Tangkhuls, the Kukis, the Maos etc. The British writers divide the Kukis into old Kukies and New Kukis. There are major tribes in both the Kukis groups. The Meiteis though ethnically major group in Manipur may be divided into two groups - the Meiteis professing Hindu religion and another Meitei groups having the old Meitei religion called Sanamahi or Meiteism. In addition, there are also other Indian like Bengalis, Assamese. Punjabis, Marwaris, Nepalese and other people coming from other parts of India. Each of the groups are asserting their identities to such an extend that it crossed the boundaries of a peaceful atmosphere, sometime disturbing the peaceful law and order in the state. The assertion of their identities are also in different political directions and dimensions, they may be studied by taking into account the following factors.

Ethnicity and ethnicism.

   By ethnicism, we may mean the belief in the cultural religious values, in the social customary laws of a particular group. The Meiteis professing the old Meetei religion called Sanamahi asserted their ethnicism as early as the middle of 1930s. There was the Meitei state committee as a social and political body in the early 1950s. By the middle of 1970s. the group become a very strong political force in the state. It was during the Janata Govts' rule, 1977-79 that the image of Meetei God Sanamahi was brought to the Manipur Rifles ground, Imphal. One managing committee called Sanamahi Temple Board was also formed .The members of the committee were mostly politicians. At present the Meitei National Front is championing the cause of Meetei ethnicism in Manipur. The belief of the Nagas in ethnicism has shown as early as 1940s. In Manipur, the name of United Naga Integration Council in 1972. The political party of the Kukis i.e. the Kuki National Assembly is playing an important role in Manipur since 1948.

Ethnicity, Regionalism and Politics

   In Manipur each of the ethnic groups confine themselves in a particular area or region of the state. Three district namely the Ukhrul , Senapati and the Tamenglong district are mainly inhabited by the Nagas. Two districts are inhabited by the Kukis tribes. The three valley districts namely, the Imphal , Bishnupur and the Thoubal district are mainly Meetei inhabited areas with a mixture of composite population of tribals, Meetei Pangals (Muslims) etc. The Imphal district possess somewhat a cosmopolitan outlook having a mixture of many communities having different social, cultural and religious background. Each of the group confines themselves in a particular area of the district. For example the Meetei Pangals (Muslims) are in places like Lilong, Khergao, Mayang Imphal etc, although there are pockets in other areas. In the Municipal area of Imphal, the non-Manipuris like the Marwaris the Punjabis etc are in the Bazar area only. The Tribals are also in small compact areas of Imphal Municipality. There is no inter-action of their social cultural norms, customs etc. among these ethnic groups. There are certain degree of social adjustment in the boundary areas in a lesser degree. As a result each-group feels isolated and led to the demand of political status like the creation of autonomous administrative units, homelands etc. In the process of their demands these ethnic groups are fighting with one another even to the extent of burning houses, killing of innocent people including women and children etc.

Ethnicity and Communalism

   Manipur was known to be a place free from communal tensions and hatred for the last so many decades. But the beginning of 1993 was marked by a feeling of communal tension, hatred etc. For the first time in the political history of Manipur. The conflict between the Nagas and the Kukis regarding the possession of land in the hill areas of Manipur became very important social and political issue in the present Manipur. Attempts were made to resolve the conflict by the Public , organizing Peace march, discussion etc, by the Government holding discussions with the chief of both the communities, by initiating even at the level of Minister/MLAs of the concerned tribes. But in spite of all these day by day in a larger scale affecting the normal life in the hills of Manipur. In the past no one in Manipur heard of communal feelings. Tensions between the Meeteis and the Pangal (Muslims). But in the first week i.e., 3rd May 1993, the communal tension between the two communities spread like wild fire in the small valley of Manipur. Many innocent persons including women and children were killed. As many as 90 innocent persons were killed in single day. The situation could be brought under control mainly by the initiative of the Government the Public and the leaders of the two concerned communities. Now the normal atmosphere is restored and the two communities are leading a normal life.

Ethnicity and formation of Government

   There is the influence of ethnicity in the formation of Governments in Manipur. This has became a convention in Manipur to give proper representation of all communities in the formation of the Council of Ministers since 1948. This was more so when Manipur got full fledged statehood since 1972. The two ethnic groups i.e. the Pangals (Muslims) and the Nagas where able to produce three Chief Minister so far in the politics of Manipur. They are late Md. Alimuddin. Late Y.Shaiza and Rishang Keishing The latter two belongs to the Tangkhuls tribe of Nagas. The Chief Ministers have to consider more or less proportionate representation if not equal in the selection of members in the Council of Ministers. If not, there is always a political problem from one group or the other, thereby disturbing the stability of the Government. Thus the present day political life in Manipur is dominated by the politics of ethnicity or ethnicism. No one is sure which direction it leads to. One very often finds confusion in the various slogans of these various ethnic groups in Manipur. There is always conflict and contradiction in the programme and ideologies of the groups. Each is fighting for their own cause independent of one another.