Manipur Violence: Historical Background & Reasons - UPSC Notes

The Manipur Violence refers to violent conflict that began in the year 2023 in the Indian northeastern state, Manipur. This violence between two major ethnic groups, including the Meitei and Kuki, followed a series of clashes between two main ethnic communities, which has been brewing since years. Many lives were lost, and the violence also left people running out of their houses, damaging so much property in the process. Issues at the grassroots levels were primarily political issues, rights-related issues, and the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. Things reached a boiling point when all three elements came together on ethnic, political, and social issues. Security forces were called in to restore order, but peace remains elusive.

The Manipur violence issue is relevant to General Studies Paper II, which deals with Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International relations for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It relates to themes such as governance, ethnic conflicts, social justice, and the role of the state in maintaining law and order. The current situation in Manipur also brings out the intricacies of managing a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

Historical Background of Manipur Violence

Manipur is an Indian state which lies in the northeast side of India. Among all these states, there has always been a state like Manipur which had ethnic diversities in it and political as well as social strings in it were mostly due to such ethnic differences. Such a situation with regard to 2023 violence traces its origins in issues many decades old. Ethno-communal conflicts often flare in the state due to frequent clashes between the majority resident Meitei people residing in the Imphal Valley and the hill-residing tribes Kuki and Naga, who are also major residents in the hills.

The region historically holds a well-defined culture: the Meitei community mainly follows the Hindu way of life, whereas the Kuki and Naga communities follow mainly Christianity. The above factors combined with territorial issues and resource competition led to ethnic conflicts. The political demand of the Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe status was seen as a threat by the Kuki and Naga communities, and clashes erupted over it in 2023.

Read the article on the Restoration of Peace and Normalcy in Manipur!

Manipur’s Ethnic Composition

Manipur is a multi-ethnic state, inhabited by several communities that have their own cultures, customs, and ways of life. The three prominent communities in the state are Meiteis, Kukis, and Nagas.

Meiteis

The Meitei are the largest ethnic group in Manipur, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the population. They reside mainly in the Imphal Valley, the heart of the state. Meiteis are mostly Hindus. Their culture and language, Meitei or Manipuri, are central to the identity of the state.

Kukis

The Kuki people are one of the largest tribal groups in Manipur. They inhabit the hilly regions surrounding the Imphal Valley. They are mostly Christians and have their own languages and customs. The Kuki community has been in conflict with other tribal groups, especially the Nagas, over control of land and resources.

Nagas 

The Naga community in Manipur has always been part of the wider Naga ethnic group that spans across the border into Nagaland. The Nagas are Christians, and their cultural practices differ from the Meitei community. The clash between the Kuki and Naga groups has been an issue for a long time, resulting in clashes and disputes over land ownership.

Read the article on the Ethnicity in Indian Politics!

Reasons Behind the 2023 Manipur Violence

The violence of 2023 in Manipur is a result of several complex factors, including historical grievances, political issues, and social divisions. Some of the crucial reasons for the violence are listed below:

• ST Status Demanded by Meitei Community: One of the most important demands of the violence was from the Meitei community who demanded ST status. This will make them eligible to have reserved jobs, educational benefits, and many more for other tribal groups in India. However, the demands of the Meitei community were resisted by the Kuki and Naga communities, for they feared that this may result in the Meitei people eventually becoming the dominant group in the state and thus their rights and privileges would be compromised.
• Ethnic and Territorial Conflicts: There is a long history of rivalry between the Meitei and other tribes such as the Kukis and Nagas, who have been in conflict with one another due to competition for land and resources. A significant part of the dispute between the two groups has involved which group will dominate the hills around the Imphal Valley.
• Political Instability and Governance Issues: Manipur has been the victim of political instability for a long time. Political groups, using ethnic identity as a source of their power, have tended to widen the gap between the different communities more often than otherwise. Weak governance and failure to take up issues of different communities further fueled the outbreak of violence.
• Religious Tensions: The Meitei community is largely Hindu, whereas the Kuki and Naga communities are largely Christian. Religious tensions combined with ethnic differences have made it difficult to reconcile the two communities.

Read the article on the Ethnic conflicts and political development!

Meitei Argument Supporting the Demand for ST Status

The Meitei community has argued that ST status is an essential requirement for their development and protection. Some of the major reasons cited for their demand include:

• Economic and social benefits: The community feels that, with the ST status, it will give some definite set of benefits, i.e., a guaranteed seat in institutes of learning or government jobs to them. So far, tribal communities in hills have been benefiting from it for decades; hence, these benefits will reduce the gaps between economic dispositions between these groups and them quite considerably.
• Preservation of Identity and Culture: Meiteis are of the view that their small tribal communities have been overridden by the dominant tribes. If the ST status is granted, then they feel their culture will be preserved along with their language and traditions.
• Political Representation: ST status is also associated with greater political representation. The Meitei community feels that the lack of ST status has minimized their political influence in a state wherein the voice of tribal communities is mostly taken into consideration while making decisions.

Read the article on the Classification of Tribes in India!

Steps to be Taken to Normalize the Situation in Manipur

The violence in Manipur requires immediate and long-term solutions to ensure peace and stability. Some of the steps that need to be taken include:

• Immediate and Long-Term Solution: The violence in Manipur needs immediate and long-term solutions to ensure peace and stability. Some of the steps needed are as follows:
• Restoration of Law and Order: The first priority should be the restoration of law and order by deploying adequate security forces so that violence does not spread. The government must ensure that the security forces remain neutral in the conflict and do not take sides.
• Dialogue and Negotiation: The Center and the States must have open dialogue with each community, for example, with the Meitei, the Kuki or the Naga groups, where their fears are understood and issues are addressed amicably, only through dialogues.
• Address Socio-Economic Issues: The root cause of the violence lies in socio-economic disparities. Socio-economic imbalances can only be sorted by the government if it aims at development programs benefiting all communities, especially the tribal areas. This includes developing infrastructures, good health, and educational facilities.
• Encouraging Inter-Ethnic Unity: The government should make it a point to promote the idea of unity among the ethnic groups in Manipur. Cultural exchange, awareness campaigns, and emphasis on common values and historical aspects of the people of Manipur would do much good in this regard.

Read the article on the Reduction in 'Disturbed Areas' under AFSPA!

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