A Glimpse of Manipur

Introduction to North East Region

North Eastern Region of India is affectionately called “The Land Of Seven Sisters.” The region blooms with various cultures, tribes as well as the major tribes of India and almost all the religions of the world from primal to the highly organized are found here in this incredible region of India. The North East region of India comprises the seven states of India. Some scholars consider Sikhim is a part of North East due to various similarities of climate, races, features and cultures. The Seven Sisters of North East states are: - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. All of them have some similar problems, which are understood only by a few of the notional politicians, bureaucrats and intellectuals. “The biggest common problems people seem to be: 1) neglect. 2) Non-recognition of their aspirations 3) non- recognition of their right to protect their identity and heritage, 4) Treatment they are inferior to the rest of India, and 5) Too much interference by the government of India in the affairs of these territories. The problem is no new’ it has a violent stance now because it was building up for many years.”

One must remember that in all of the Northeastern area, the tribal people have been fiercely free lots. Nobody, not even the British has ever really ruled them. The most beautiful character of tribal people by nature are very open and free to others and even to other values system as well They are very fragile and easily adopted and incorporate the values from others’ culture and make them their own. Some scholars say that Sikhim is part of North East Region, due to various similarities of   geographical features, cultures, races etc.

This region is endowed with the vast natural resources and has enormous potential for development. The economic structure of India is similar to the general economic structure of its topography as well as social and political condition it has a relatively backward economy. The region is landlocked and rich in natural resources. Lack of transportation and communication facilities has been responsible for the economic backwardness and social neglect of the region. The transportation and communication facilities have somehow developed a lot in Assam. The whole country is watching eagerly the development of this region, yet it remains the same.

The North East is an extremely diverse nature of its population with deferent cultural linguistic, religions and historical background make this region characteristically different from the rest of the country. In fact its diversity is so profound that the region may be rightly called a” mini India.” The tribals living in the hills have centuries old traditions of self –rule and strong sense of suspicion of the people from the plain, arouse by the latter’s superiority complex which generated in them, the fear of losing their or cultures and linguistic identities. The people of North East region have been provided an opportunity to act as torchbearers in regional planning and cooperation and show the path of self-reliance to the smaller state of the union. This is itself is a commendable task for which the Northeastern region feel proud of.

Manipur

Manipur literally meaning "A jeweled land" nestle deep within a lush green corner of North East India. It seems much like an exquisite work of art executed by superb hands of Nature. It is indeed, a state of exquisite natural beauty and splendors, the beauty of which once inspired Mrs. St. Clair Grimwood who described it as " A Pretty Place more beautiful than many show places of the world” and Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru paid a fitting tribute by describing it as " Jewel of India". Manipur, although, has rich in culture, little is Known of its history before 1762. Her folk dances reveal the mythological concept of creation of Manipur.

Having a varied and proud history from the earliest times Manipur came under the British Rule as a Princely State after the defeat in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891. After independence of India in 1947, the Princely State of Manipur was merged in the Indian Union on October 15, 1949 and became a full-fledged State of India on the 21st January, 1972 with a Legislative Assembly of 60 seats of which 20 are reserved for Scheduled Tribe and 1 reserved for Scheduled Caste. The State is represented in the Lok Sabha by two members and by one member in the Rajya Sabha

Manipur, surrounded by blue hills with an oval shaped valley at the center, is very rich in arts and traditions with nature’s pristine glory. Manipur lies on a melting pot of culture. It is birthplace of Polo. This is the place where Rajashree Bhagyachandra created the famous Ras Lila, the classical dance of Manipur, out of his enchanting dream by the grace of Lord Krishna. Manipur is surrounded by Burma on the east, Mizoram on the south, Assam on the east and Nagaland on the north. This state has an area of 22327 sq. km, between longitudes 93.03 E and 94.78 E and the latitudes 23.85 N and 25.68 N. Moreover, has a population of 2388634 in 2001. About two-thirds of the people are Meiteis, the rest are Nagas and Kukis. The Meiteis occupy the Manipur valley and are largely Vaishnavite Hindus. The Nagas occupy the hills in the northeast and Kukis occupy both little parts of valley and hills. On Jan. 30 1950, with the enforcement of the constitutions of India, Manipur became a part C state. Manipur has nine districts. They are: Bishnupur, Chandel, Churachanpur, Imphal west, Imphal east, Senapati, Tamenglong, Thoubal and Ukhrul.

In case of the Meitei people, since there was no modern system of recording, where the sense of originality was always contemplated with the modern history, the reconstruction of the ancient manuscripts and languages has yielded a considerable knowledge on the history of ancient Manipur. The following is a brief history or Puwari of some prominent Meitei rulers with a view to bring out an understanding of the various developments in Meitei history, art, culture, tradition, sports, etc.  The account is not complete but hopes to provide an overall grasp on the history of Manipur.  Manipur, although, has rich in culture, little is Known of its history before 1762.

Density of population {per.Sq.Km}	82
Altitude	: 790mtrs.above MSL (Imphal)
Latitude	: 23.830N to 25.680N
Longitude	: 93.030E to 94.780E
Rainfall	: 1467.5mm(Avg.)
Rainy Season	: May to October
Literacy Rate	: 68.87
Schedule Tribes	: 33(Recognized by Government)
Assembly Constituencies	: 60(40 General, 19 ST, 1 SC)
Parliamentary Constituencies	2:(One for Inner and One for Outer)
National Highways	3(39-Indo-Myanmar road, 53- New Cachar Road, 150-Jessami-Tipaimukh Road)
Area	: 22327 sq. km
Population	: 2388634
Capital	: Imphal
State Language	: Manipuri
State Emblem	: Kangla Shaa
State Bird	: Nongyeen
State Animal	: Sangai
State Game	: Manipuri Polo
State Flower	: Siroi Lily
Density of Population (per Sq Km.)	: 82
Literacy	68.87%-{M-77.87 & F- 59.70 %}

Sl.	Districts	Area sq. km.	Pop. 2001	Head quarters
1	Bishnupur	496	205907	Bishnupur
2	Chandel	3313	122714	Chandel
3	Churachanpur	4570	228707	Churachanpur
4	Imphal east	709	393780	Porompat
5	Imphal west	519	439532	Lamphelpat
6	Senatpati	3271	379214	Senatpati
7	Tamengleng	4391	111493	Tamengleng
8	Thoubal	514	366341	Thoubal
9	Ukhrul	4544	140946	Ukhrul
	Forest	16926

 Geographic Location of Manipur

Manipur is one of the eight northeastern states of India. Its boundary is surrounded by Myanmar (Burma) in the east and south, and Nagaland state in the north, Cachar (Assam state) in the west and Mizoram state in the southwest.  Manipur is a meeting point, epicenter, between South East Asia and the Indian sub-continent. The Manipur valley, in the middle of the state, is at a height of 790 meters above the sea level and is surrounded by nine hill ranges in circles creating hill and trough geography. More than 60% of its inhabitants are Meiteis including Bamons and Pangans who settled mostly in the valley and the remaining are hill tribes, namely, Tangkhul, Thadou, Zeliangrong (Zemi, Laingmai, Roungmei - Kabuis), Mao, Maram, Poumai, Paite, Hmar, Maring, Anal, Aimol, Angami, Chiru, Chothe, Gangte, Monsang, Moyon, Kom, Purum, Ralte, Sema, Simte, Salte, Vaiphei, Lamgang, Zhou, etc.  Each group has its own language, tradition and culture.  Meitei-lon (Meitei language or Manipuri) is the common language adopted by all tribes for communication.   Imphal is the capital and a major trading center. The present political system in the state includes nine districts with headquarters at Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishenpur (Valley Districts), Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur (Hill Districts) bearing similar names for the districts as well.

The hilly areas of the state are endowed with rich natuaral resources, swift flowing rivers and fertile soiuls, rich vegetations, precious menirals and many more. The hilly dwellers are all hard working, healthy, strong and stout people, providing rich human resousces base for econnomic development. But major part of the hills remain economically depressed and under developedfro the poor infrastructural facilities and unplanned utilization of the natural resources. Manipr hills form the central part of the Indo-Burmese moutains. The hilly ranges fall into two broad groups are- 1] The Manipur eastern hills and the Manipur wester hills. 2] Tuesang and Kohima hills of Nagaland. The manipur western hills comprisng of parellel ridges and valleys- Tenipu, Kobru,Isii, Leikot and Tamphaba.                                                                                      

About 70% of the area in the hill districts is under forest and about 24% is non-agriculture. About 1% area in under miscellanious tree crops- fruit trees and groves and the rest about 5% is the cropped land, mostly under shilting and terrace cultivation. Agariculture provides most importaant occupation to the illy dwellers, 86% of whom are agricultureists. The tribal people grow on the favourable hil slopes, surroundings their village, varity of croops with prdominance of rich and maize, poptato, pea, mustard and rapeseed, ginger,chilly ,banana, pineapple and orrange are widely grow in different part of the hills.                       

Before the British

The Thailand defeated Manipuri King Nao-Thong inb 707 A>D and ruled for a period of ten years. A Chinese invasion on a big scale was repulsed by the Manipris and a large numbers of villages of Manipur in 1250.AD. Their matrimonial alliances among the king of Ava, Burma, and Manipri king in the eighteen century. However, the Burma became the sword enimy of the Manipuries at the beginning of the eighteen century.king Garibaniwaja of Manipur invaded and defeated many times the uper territory of  Burmar in the earkty eighteen century. In 1938, Gaibanniwaja and his army camped near Saigang, stormed the stockede, built to dend the famousKaungmudaw Payoda,erected by Thalun. They even masacrade its garsno and bunrt houses and monastry up the wall of Ava. Manipur became weak due to disunity,after the king Garibaniwaja died ,among the succesors . Bur ma, the powerful country, did not fail to exploit the situation; therefore they unified and began to invade Manipu. From 1755 upto 1826, the Burmese invaded Manipur many times.the continous invasions ended with the signing of the treaty of Yandaboo.

Maharaja Churachand Singh (1891-1941 AD or 3289-3339 MF): On Thursday 22nd of Langban, 1891 AD, the political agent of Manipur called Maharani Moirangthem Chanu and Jubaraj Churachand (8 yrs old) and made him the king. At this time Sri Govindaji was brought to the newly constructed Palace at Imphal. During his reign, NUPI LAN I (Woman’s war, 1904 AD, a revolt against the forced labor) and NUPILAN II (1939AD) occurred

Maharaja Budhachandra Singh (1941-1955 AD or 3339-3353 MF): After his highness Maharaja Churachand, his eldest son Budhachandra became the king of Manipur with Ishori Devi, the princess of Nepal as Leima or Maharani. World War II broke out in Manipur from April 1942-Jan. 1945 AD. Manipur was bombarded continuously for two years and the country was destroyed including Imphal and the Maharaja’s Palace. Markets were closed and paddy fields were not harvested during the war. People were suffering but Manipuris were too proud to beg for help. Several movements led by Neta Irabot sprang up in the demand for self-rule of Manipur against the British Government. He went undergound in 1946 AD and died in 1955 AD in Burma. After the war, at 12 midnight of Thursday 28th August (Thawan), 1947 AD, the British handed over Manipur to Maharaja Budhachandra Singh and Maharani Iroshi Devi.  

Maharaja entered Kangla at Imphal and hoisted the National Flag of Manipur bearing the Dragon God Pakhangba. Top guns were fired 18 times in honor of the Sovereign Kingdom in the presence of a large crowd. However, it did not last long.  The newly formed independent India and its Government in New Delhi pressured the King to sign a merger agreement with India under very unusual circumstances. Maharaja signed the documents on 21st September 1949 AD at Shillong without prior consideration and approval from elected members of the Manipur Assembly. On October 15, 1949 AD, Major General Rawal Amar announced the annexation of Manipur at the Assam Rifle’s ground. Thus, Manipur’s status was lowered to a Part C territory under the Indian rule. In 1953, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru discontinued the payment of Kabow valley agreement to Manipur.  This angered many of the local people. Budhachandra Maharaja died in 1955 AD.

The Anglo- Manipur war

Manipur and Assam became involved in the disputes between Thailand and Burma, and Manipur took advantage of a Burmese invasion of Thailand to raid deep into its western frontier. This triggered the Burmese invasion of Manipur and Assam, which pulled in the British, ruling neighbouring Bengal. The British, to safeguard their position against the Burmese, intervened, defeated Burma and took over Assam, and brought Manipur under British paramountcy in 1891.

The British learned about the trouble in Manipur so they launched a full scale invention of Manipur with three columns number 8000 soldiers, marching into Manipur from Kohima, Silchar and Tamu. Brigadier general Collet was the overall leader.  All the Manipuris who lived other places also began to agitate over the British move because British considered Manipur as their Motherland. Manipuris were no matched against the mighty British. On 27 April 1891 the independent Manipur became a colonel state under the British. It was General Collet, who encamped at the palace and announced the occupation of Manipur.

Turmoil in Manipur

People Liberati9on Army {PLA} led by Lhasa trained Nameirakpam Beshewar snatched away weapons from policemen and paramilitary forces from June 1978 to 9^th Oct 1979.they looted large amount of money and gold from different government banks. The Manipur Naga National Council was formed to demand integration of all Nagas areas creating problems for Manipur. The Kuki chief also became antagonized when this traditional right in the society was disposed of in 1960-67; some of the Kukis joined Nagas’ underground. Kuki-Naga rivalry in the hills brought out which was disturbed Manipur. Statehood was conformed on Manipur on 22 March 1972. The Manipur

Present Manipur: 

On 21 January 1972, Manipur was granted Statehood after several years of demand by All Manipur Students Union and several political organizations. The ceremony was performed at the Palace Polo ground in Imphal. In 1992, Meitei-lon (Manipuri) was included in the Eighth Schedule as one of the 18 official languages of India. Manipur has yet to see an industry and a proper road connection to the rest of India. Air transportations are provided from Calcutta, New Delhi, Gauhati and Silchar but much beyond the reach of commoners.

Important Festivals of Manipur

Saleni 

Saleni is celebrated for 7 days in the month of May. This is one of the greatest ememei/Mao festivals. It is a festival of training young and old people for a war.

Gang-Ngai

 Celebrated for five days in the month of Wakching (December/January) Gang-Ngai is an important festival of the Kabui Nagas. The festival opens with a religious ceremony on the first day and the rest of the days are associated with common feasts, dances and presentation of gifts etc.

 Lui-Naig-Ni

   It is a festival of Nagas observed on the 15^th day of February every year. This is a festival of seed sowing after which tribes belonging to Nagas groups start their cultivation. Social gathering, songs, dances and rejoicing highlight the festivity. 

Kut

It is an autumn festival of the different tribes of Kuki-Chin-Mizo Groups of Manipur .The festival has been variously described at different places amongst different tribes as Chavang-Kut of Khodou etc. It is happy occasion for the villagers whose food stock is bountiful after a year of hard labour. The festival is a thanks-giving feast with songs and dances in merriment and joviality for all in honour of the giver of an abundant harvest. It is observed on the 1^st of November every year.

Chumpha

Celebrated for seven days in the month of December, the Chumpha festival is a great festival of the Tangkhul Nagas. The festival is held after harvest. The last three days are devoted to social gathering and rejoicing. Unlike other festivals women play a special role in the festival. The concluding part of the festival ends with a procession within the village.

Christmas

Christmas is observed for two days on December 24 and 25. Prayers, reading of Gospels, singing of hymns, lectures on Jesus Christ, sports, community feast etc., form the major part of the festival. In some villages where the inhabitants are well off, the celebration continues till January 1 on which the New Year's Day is also observed.

                     

Religions

Shanti Das Goswami, a Bangalee, who converted a king of Manipur, Maharaja over two centuries ago, brought Hinduism to Manipur.The king, forced his subjects to adopt the new religion when the Meiteis became devout Vaishnavaite Hindus. During the time of Gharibiwaz, Shantidas Adhikary declared Vaishnavism as the state religion of Manipur and advised his subjects to accept it.

Bodhisattva’s icon

Some icons of Buddha were collected from different parts of the state. They features of the icons of Buddha are akin to Mongoloid features (Burma and Thailand were the iconographers}. Buddhist cultural influence in the culture of Manipur was clearly shown in the old manuscript painting though there was no trace of Buddhism in the belief of Manipur. This icon was collected from Nongmaching hill. It is preserved in the state museum. Buddhist cultural influences in the culture of Manipur were clearly shown in the old manuscript painting; through there was no trace of Buddhism in the belief of Manipur. Most probably the Burma had left them during their invasion.

The Vishnu Temple

The original name of Bishnupur was Lumlangdong (now Lamangdong). History recorded the facts of its origin. As soon as Kyamba ascended throne of Manipur in 1467 A.D he conquered Kyang, which was a Shan kingdom in the Kabow Valley. Then he assumed the name of Kyamba, which means the conquerer of Kyang. There always had been a good relation between the Pongs and the Meities. During the reign of Kyamba also there was a good relation between Kyamba and the Pong King Khe-Khomba. Actually it was the good foreign policy of King Kyamba that he was able to have a good relation with the neighbouring countries

          According to a Puja, near Numgoibi between Taibon _thong, there is a stone with supernatural of which place is Known as Manipur .In facts the name of Manipur was foreign to the native till By Shanti Das Goswami, a Bangalee, a missionary leader, who converted the king of Manipur into Hinduism.

Christianity

Most of the tribal people worship the Nature before Christianity came to Manipur. They had different deities to be performs every day. After British came to Manipur, Christianity, some American- Protestants came to Manipur converting a large numbers of people in the hilly regions of Manipur. Most of the hilly dwellers so called the tribals, are now embracing Christianity. Four Silesians Priests were the first missionaries who came to Manipur from Assam in 1952 brought Catholics. Seven-Day Adventist and Christian Revival followed this.

Language

Manipur though small in size, there are many tribal dialects being spoken in different parts of the state. The only medium of communication among them is Meiteilon. The thirty percent of the tribal know Meiteilon.  All the 20 MLA, representing different hill tribes speak Meiteilon, in the Manipur Legislative Assembly. It is estimated that 1002000 persons in India and another 500000 speak the language outside India.

 Religions

Shanti Das Goswami, a Bangalee, who converted a king of Manipur, Maharaja over two centuries ago, brought Hinduism to Manipur.The king, forced his subjects to adopt the new religion when the Meiteis became devout Vaishnavaite Hindus. During the time of Gharibiwaz, Shantidas Adhikary declared Vaishnavism as the state religion of Manipur and advised his subjects to accept it.

Bodhisattva’s icon

Some icons of Buddha were collected from different parts of the state. They features of the icons of Buddha are akin to Mongoloid features (Burma and Thailand were the ethnographers}.

 The Vishnu Temple

"Buddhist cultural influence in the culture of Manipur was clearly shown in the old manuscript painting though there was no trace of Buddhism in the belief of Manipur. This icon was collected from Nongmaching hill. It is preserved in the state museum. Buddhist cultural influences in the culture of Manipur were clearly shown in the old manuscript painting; through there was no trace of Buddhism in the belief of Manipur. Most probably the Burma had left them during their invasion."

The original name of Bishnupur was Lumlangdong (now Lamangdong). History recorded the facts of its origin. As soon as Kyamba ascended throne of Manipur in 1467 A.D he conquered Kyang, which was a Shan kingdom in the Kabow Valley. Then he assumed the name of Kyamba, which means the conquerer of Kyang. There always had been a good relation between the Pongs and the Meities. During the reign of Kyamba also there was a good relation between Kyamba and the Pong King Khe-Khomba. Actually it was the good foreign policy of King Kyamba that he was able to have a good relation with the neighboring countries.

          According to a Puja, near Numgoibi between Taibon _thong, there is a stone with supernatural of which place is Known as Manipur .In facts the name of Manipur was foreign to the native till By Shanti Das Goswami, a Bangalee, a missionary leader, who converted the king of Manipur into Hinduism.

Refernce:

1.Cane and Bamboo Crafts of Manipur - Mutua Bahadur (1994) -Mutua Museum Imphal.

2. History of Modern Manipur (1826-1946) edited - Dr. Lal Dena (1990). 

3. History of Manipur - Jyotimor Roy (1958, 2nd edition 1973). 

4. History of Christianity in Manipur - Karam Manimohan Singh (1991). 

5.  History of Manipur - Prof. Gangmumei Kabui (1990). 

6. It Began at Imphal: The Combat Cargo Story - John G. Martin (1988).

7.Traditional Textiles of Manipur - Mutua Bahadur (1997) - Mutua Museum Imphal.