MANIPUR PROBLEM

 

The main problem with Manipur is that its population is too diverse. Same is the case with some Northeast states which have 220 tribes with over 400 dialects. So it is a super recipe for dissent and friction.

Manipur has an area of over 22000 Km and has a population of about 34 lacs in 2023. 

As per the 2011 census it only had a population of 28.5 lacs. That means just in 12 years the population of Manipur has gone up by 5.5 lacs. That is a growth of almost 19% in 12 years.

There cannot be so much of growth because the Indian average is a mere 17.70% for the 2011 census and it is projected to be below 10% in 2021.  This means the population growth of Manipur has almost been double the national average for the last decade. Obviously this is not possible without large-scale immigration into the state. The Meiteis allege that the Burmese Kukis and Nagas are infiltrating into their state. This may well be true considering the growth in population. The entire eastern border of Manipur is with Burma.

The languages used in Manipur are just too many. The largest are Meitei (53.3%), Thadou (7.84%), Tangkhul(6.41%).

Tangkhul is a Naga language and in fact one of the leaders of Naga insurgency NSCN or Nationalist Social Council of Nagaland in the past Isak Muivah is from Manipur. The Nagas want a greater Nagaland including the areas of Manipur where they live, as well as areas in Assam and Arunachal. 15 major languages are spoken in Manipur apart from other local dialects. Kukis too have their own wild demand of their own tribal state with half the area of Manipur. Churchandpur where the current violence has started has a big Kuki population. The Nagas dominate in Senapati, Chandel, Ukhrul and Tamenglong.  

Religion wise Manipur has 41.39% Hindus(Meitei), Christians 41.29%, Islam 8.4%, Sanamahi 7.78% and other small  tribal religions. This is the religious breakup is of the 2011 census. It is possible that the religious composition has changed by 2023 due to immigration from Nagaland and Burma.

The Meiteis are concentrated in the Imphal valley. Vaishnavism was the state religion of Manipur before conquest. Christianity is the dominant religion in the hills mostly in rural areas and it has a 53% share in the hill areas. 96% of the tribal population in Manipur are Christians.

There had been insurgency in Manipur and about 20 or more different militant groups operated from there. There had been violence between the Meiteis, Nagas, Kukis, Muslims and even other tribal groups in the past. The militant activity however, has gone down considerably now.

The current unrest was sparked off by the demand of Meiteis to be recognised as a Scheduled Tribe community. Hitherto they have been restricted from the hill areas where the tribal groups live.

The violence started with the Tribal solidarity march on 3^rd May  called by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur as a protest against the demand of Meitei’s for ST status. It is the Kuki tribe along with Nagas which is leading the agitation.