Points for Election Manifesto for the 2014 LS polls in Manipur ?
- Part 2 -

Dr Khomdon Singh Lisam *

Voters during an election at Chandel District in March 2012 :: Pix - Bullu Raj

Manipur belongs to Nagas, Kukis , Meiteis, Meitei Pangans. Without Nagas , there can not be Manipur. Without Kukis , there can not be Manipur. We have common ancestors and common origin. The Manipur kings used to dress as Tangkhul at the time of coronation. There are many folk tales and rituals like " Mera Houchongba" " Mera Thaomei Thanba", " Tangkhul Nurabi" indicating common origin, common ancestors of Tangkhuls, Maos, Kabuis and Meiteis . The names of Manipuri kings like Taothingmang (264-364) , Naothingkhong ( 663-763) , Naofangba(428-518), Naokhamba (411-428) Sameirang (518-568) tend to suggest that they may not be Meiteis but Khongjais. Many smaller hill tribes were absorbed into Meitei community . In fact , in olden time, there was no Nagas, no Kukis , no schedule Tribe . This is the fact . This is the history . We were one people with common ancestors and common origin .

The terms like schedule Tribe and Nagas or Kukis.were invented by the British to serve their vital interest of "divide and rule" and to woo them to accept Christianity in the name of protecting them.

Unfortunately , the same policy of "divide and rule" was continued by the Government of India by incorporating all the discriminatory provisions in the Indian Constitution under Article 371C. When Manipur was merged into India in 1949, the Government of India divided Manipur into Hill and Valley and Manipuri people into Schedule Tribe and General .

History says that Manipur existed as an independent kingdom for more than 2000 years. Roman empire lasted for 503 years, 7 months , Mongol Empire- 162 years (1206 -1368) , Mughal empire lasted 333 years , , Gupta empire lasted only 180 years (320 A.D to 500 A.D), Maurya empire-137 years, Nizam of Hyderabad -234 years (1713-1947) , Maratha kingom 144 years (1674 to 1818) , Mysore kingdom lasted for 548 years (1399 -1947), How and why Manipur kingdom lasted for more than 2000 years. What is the secret ?

The Manipur kings used to say to the village chiefs " As I am the king of Manipur, you are the king of the village. The kingship will be hereditary. You can exercise maximum autonomy regarding religion, customs , traditions, customary laws. My responsibility is to protect you from inter village conflicts and head hunting for which you have to pay some tributes and perform "Lallup". But we have to fight together at the time of external aggression and you have to pay tribute.

He used to say – All the ethnic groups are the flowers in the garland and I am the thread of this garland. He used to sing "Chingna Koina pansaba, Hau na koina panngakpa". Here the terminology " Hau " was originally used out of love to indicate the origin of Tangkhuls from Hau , the capital of Zhou dynasty in China ( about 560 km from Beijing) during 2000-3000 years BC.

The villages chiefs were happy with this arrangement because during those days inter-village conflict and head hunting was very common. This is the secret of keeping Manipur is peace and stability for more than 2000 years. The village chiefs came to the valley to meet the king and talked in Meiteilon. Meiteilon was considered as the language of the king. Anybody who can talk in Meiteilon in the hill was highly respected.

Manipur had its own de jure constitution before India wrote her own. Manipur had a democratic form of Government before India become a democratic country in 1950. No Manipuri was included in the Constituent Assembly formed on 1946. Tripura can not represent Manipur. No Manipuri participated in the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly on 26 November, 1948. No referendum was conducted in Manipur regarding introduction of Indian Constitution in Manipur. The Indian Constituion was never ratified by the Manipur Assembly . Rather the Constitution of India was imposed on Manipur with the forced annexation of Manipur.

In this respect, we may refer to the statement of G.K. Pillai, former Union Home Secretary, which was published on 27 September, 2011 in the Telegraph newspaper. According to him, the repeal of the draconian act AFSPA -1958 was one of the first steps towards resolving the vexed conflict of Manipur's valley and hills. He said that " the ancient kingdom of Manipur had a constitution even before India wrote her own and had a proud history and was overnight turned into a C-category state in 1948. He further added " we have to build trust by dealing with the core issues . An apology , say by the Prime Minister or the Home Minister, for the past mistakes could be a start".

We feel that an apology is not sufficient. These blunders remained as a source and the genesis of all conflicts in the Manipur today . The Government of India should take corrective actions through amendment of Indian Constitution to restore equality, communal harmony, social integrity, solidarity and unity of all ethnic groups in Manipur . We are one people .

We need to stand united and strong . We need to ensure solidarity and unity among Nagas, Kukis, Meiteis, Meitei Pangans. The mutual trust and respect between Manipur and the Government of India can be restored only by way of constitutional amendments and not through political domination or manipulation. The Indian Constitution is extremely discriminatory against the Manipuris .

The proposed constitutional amendments are as follows :-

1 The whole state of Manipur should be declared as a Hill State

2 The Article 3 of Indian Constitution regarding alteration of state boundaries shall not apply to Manipur to protect the 2000 year old territorial integrity of Manipur.

3 All the ethnic groups in Manipur may be brought under one uniform Land Law

4 The Meiteis may be included under Schedule Tribe category of the Indian Constitution to restore equality of social status with our brothers who have common ancestors and common origin with the Meiteis.

5 The rights , identity, customs , culture, traditions , religion , land , language, script , mineral resources of indigenous people of Manipur will be protected.

6 All indigenous religions of the Manipur may be recognized by the Government of India

7 The Manipuri script ( Meitei Mayek) should be included in the coins and currency bank notes

8 The Constitution of India may provide for establishment of an Upper House ( State Legislative Council) with a minimum of 40 members with provision for 10 nominated members.

9 Implementation of Inner Line Permit System to protect the indigenous people of Manipur .

All the political leaders and political parties may kindly remember that the Indian Constitution is not "Koran" or "Bible" or "Gita". It can be amended to remove the discriminatory provisions and to restore equality, solidarity and unity of all ethnic groups in Manipur and to bring about peace, prosperity, development and stability in Manipur .

We, Manipuris have never proposed amendment of Indian Constitution during the last sixty years and never exercised our constitutional rights. If the political parties come out with a clear cut election manifesto incorporating the nine points mentioned above and promise to do everything possible to fulfil the aspirations of the people, they will be worshipped and remembered as the true patriot of Manipur.

Our Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri O. Ibobi Singh and Shri Gaikhangam are in a strong position with absolute majority in the Manipur State Assembly. They are enjoying the confidence of the central leadership . God has given them this opportunity to do something good for the people . This opportunity may not come again . They may take a strong resolution in the Manipur State Assembly to urge the Government of India to amend the constitution on the lines proposed above. That way, their lives will remain immortal in the hearts of the people.

Concluded...