Manipur

Manipur,state (2001 provisional pop. 2,388,634), 8,628 sq mi (22,347 sq km), NE India, bordered by Myanmar on the south and east. Imphal is the capital. The terrain, mostly jungle, is on a high plateau, about 2,600 ft (790 m) above sea level. The Manipur Hills have peaks rising to 8,500 ft (2,590 m) and are mainly covered in jungle. Agriculture and forestry are the major sources of income. The inhabitants are predominantly of Mongoloid stock and speak Tibeto-Burmese languages. The majority are Hindu Methei, with Naga (25%) and Kuki (15%) tribespeople making up the remainder of the population. Long-standing animosity between Nagas and Kukis have resulted in hundreds of deaths. Nagas have declared their goal is to extend the state of Nagaland to include Manipur and the two other bordering states, as well as a portion of Myanmar.

The Raja of Manipur signed (1762) a treaty of protection with the British, who provided forces against invading Burmese. The area was administered from Assam state until 1947, when it became independent as British rule ended in India. In 1949, however, the raja signed under pressure an accession agreement with India, and Manipur became a territory under the direct control of the central government of India. Manipur became a state in 1972. It is governed by a chief minister and cabinet responsible to an elected unicameral legislature and by a governor appointed by the president of India.

Location of Manipur

Capital 				Imphal
Largest city 			Imphal 
Abbreviation 			IN-MN 
Official languages 		Manipuri 
Formation 				1972-01-21 
Area 					22,327 km� (23rd) 
Density 				107/km� 
Districts 				9 
 

Manipur is a state in northeastern India making its capital in the city of Imphal. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland in the north, Mizoram in the south and Assam in the west; it also borders the country of Myanmar to the east.

The Meiteis from the valley region is one of the ethnic group in Manipur. Their language is Meithei (also known Meiteilon or Manipuri) which is also the lingua franca in the state. It was recognized as a national Indian language in 1992.

Manipur is considered a sensitive border state. Foreigners entering Manipur (including foreign citizens born in Manipur) must possess a Restricted Area Permit which can be obtained from the Foreigners� Regional Registration Office in the "metros" (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata) or certain other state government offices. Permits are valid for only 10 days, and visitors must travel only on tours arranged by authorised travel agents, in groups of four. Furthermore, they may come to Imphal only by air and will not be permitted to travel outside the capital.

Other facts

Game polo originated in Manipur. British soldiers and planters took it back to England, modified the rules and made it popular around the world.

Rosa macrocarpa, the beautiful species of rose, was discovered by Sir George Watt in Manipur in 1888.
Lord Irwin described Manipur as the "Switzerland of India".

Sarit Sarak, a relatively unknown and unique Martial Art, comes from Manipur.

Manipur is famous for its classical and folk dances, including the graceful and soft Ras Lila, the acrobatic Pung cholom among others and the dance during the festival of godLaiharaoba known asmaibi dance Kaibul Lamjao National Park in Loktak lake is the natural habitat of the rare and endangered Brow antlered Deer (Cervus eldi eldi). Locally known as Sangai, it is one of three species of Elds deer in the world confined to South east Asia.

The Siroi Lily (Lilium Macklinae Sealy) is a beautiful lily found only in the upper reaches of the Siroi Hills in Manipur's Ukhrul District.

The Indian National Army (INA), led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, planted the Tricolour at Moirang, Manipur which is the second town liberated by the INA, the first place being Andaman and Nicobar islands. Manipur has 3 representatives in the Indian Union: 2 in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) and 1 in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House).

History of Manipur

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 sucked 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.

In 1949, the King Budhachandra was summoned to Shillong, capital of the Indian province of Assam and was forced to sign an agreement for merging the kingdom into India. the King had already signed the Instrument of Accession with the Indian Dominion in 1947.

Once Manipur became part of the Indian Union, India dissolved the State's Constitution Assembly in October, 1949, and made it into a part C state. Lateron it was further degraded to the status of the union territory from 1956 onwards.

In 1972, Manipur was elevated to the status of an state (or province).

People of Manipur

According to the 1991 census report, the total population of Manipur was 18.26 lakhs but in the 2000 census, it is expected to reach over 22 lakhs (2.2 millions). The people of Manipur are grouped into three main ethnic communities - Meiteis those inhabiting the valley and 29 major tribes in the hills dividing into two main ethno-denominations, namely Nagas and Kuki-Chins. Under the Meiteis, Bamon and Meitei Pangans are also included. All speak Meiteilon or otherwise known as Manipuri to the outsiders. In addition to Meiteis, the valley is also inhabited by Nepalis, Bengalis, Marwaris and other Indian communities. At present several people from the hill have also migrated and settled in the valley. The Naga group consists of Zeliangrong (composed of three related tribes, namely, Rongmei or Kabui, and Liangmei and Zemei or Kacha Nagas), Tangkhul, Mao, Maram, Maring and Tarao. The Chin-Kuki group consists of Gangte, Hmar, Paite, Thadou, Vaiphei, Zou, Aimol, Chiru, Koireng, Kom, Anal, Chothe, Lamgang, Koirao, Thangal, Moyon and Monsang. In recent times, several Chin-Kuki communities have identified themselves as Nagas e.g. Anal, Kom, Thangal, etc. depending on socio-economic and geo-political advantages to the tribes. The term Chin is used for the people in the neighboring Chin state of Myanmar whereas Chins are called Kukis in the Indian side. Other groups like Paite, Zou, Gangte, and Vaiphei identify themselves as Zomi and have distanced themselves from the name, Kuki. Thadous remain the major Kuki population in this Chin-Kuki group while Hmar identify closer to the Mizo or Lushei group. The legend of all tribes including Meiteis claim that they originated somewhere in the north from a cave. The difference came only in later parts of the history after Meiteis were converted to Vaishnavism and the hill inhabitants became Christians.

Payments of monthly dues to these groups have become routine. Insurgents claim that the money collected is being used to fight for freedom.