Why do we need Constitutional Amendment : 9 points agenda for OSUNE-INDIA, Manipur
- Part 2 -

Dr Khomdon Singh Lisam *

Constitutional of India

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

In the name of democracy and secularism, there is a silent war without arms –that is population invasion by migrants from other states in India.

In 1901, the Manipur Durbar devised a very effective system of controlling the entry of foreigners (Non-Manipuris) called the Permit or Passport system when the population of Manipur was only 284,465( 1901 Census). In 1948, the Government of India had officially approved retention of the permit system in Manipur vide Mr. G.E.D Walker, Advisor to the Governor of Assam letter no. 120/47/C- 26-27 dated 17th January, 1948. This Permit system was abolished arbitrarily by Mr. Himmat Singh, the then Chief Commissioner on 18 November, 1950 allowing free entry, unchecked influx of outsiders from other states. According to 2001 Census, the population of outside migrants in Manipur was 707,488 as against the Meitei population of 751822, tribal population of 670,782 (UCM). The influx of outsiders has reduced the indigenous tribal population into minority. Within 20 to 30 years, the Meiteis also will be reduced to microscopic minority as happened in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Tripura and other places.

The influx of outsiders from other states has posed a threat to the Manipuri identity and culture of the indigenous people of Manipur. It has posed a threat to Manipuri language, scripts and local dialects due to ever increasing influence of Hindi as the link language and "Bazar Bhasa "in trade and commerce. It has deprived the indigenous Manipuri population of their ancestral land, food, employment, manual work, education. It has posed a threat to reservation quota for scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes as many of them are also eligible under the same reservation quota. It has deprived the job opportunities of indigenous population. It has posed a threat to survival of local labourers due to controlled and unchecked influx of cheap labourers from other states, from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. It has posed a threat to survival of small ethnic tribal groups like Aimol (2643/2001), Chothe (2675/2001), Koirao (1200/2001), Koireng (1056/2001), Monsang- (1634/2001), Moyon (1,710/2001), Ralte (110/2001), Salhte (311/2001)

It is therefore proposed that the Constitution of India may specifically mention to protect the rights, identity, customs, culture, traditions, religion, land, language, script, mineral resources of indigenous people of Manipur.

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

The Government of India presently listed Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Budhism in the Census records of India and nothing is mentioned about the indigenous religions of Manipur like Sanamahi pakhangba which is one fo the oldest religion in South East Asia with a sizable population. Similarly, Kabuis and Marams have indigenous religions. All these religions may be recognized by the Government of India.

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

The evidence of partisan attitude , encouragement for disunity and inciting communal conflict is evident in the wording of the full text of the Article 371C of the Indian Constitution. In order to satisfy the Indian Political Leaders, the Government of Manipur enacted the Manipur Land Revenue Act-1960 which is discriminatory to the extreme. The hill region, comprising about 90 percent of the total area of the State, contains only 35.45 percent of the State's total population, while the valley region with only 10 percent of the total area has to support 64.55 percent of the total population. The Government of Manipur does not give proper attention to proper development and utilization of lands in the hills including forest lands. They forget that Manipur can not become a rich state unless the hill people become rich. Originally the valley people and hill people were living in peace and harmony and respecting each other. The Meiteis people can not purchase land and settle in the hills whereas hundreds of thousands of hill people comprising of all ethnic groups are purchasing land and settled in the valley. The valley people can not even buy back the land from the hill people. This is a gross discrimination of the valley people. The Meities are very peculiar race – they will never leave their homestead in the valley and settle in the hill areas. They never did so in the last 2000 years and they will never do it. The benefits will only go the people in the hills. But this will definitely bring emotional integration and oneness among the people in the hills and the valley.

In order to bring solidarity and unity of all ethnic groups in Manipur, it is proposed to the Government of India for making amendment of the Indian Constitution to bring uniform land laws for all ethnic groups in Manipur.

4.6. The Constitution of India should provide for establishment of an upper house (Legislative Council) with a minimum of 40 members with provision for 10 nominated members.

Under the existing Indian Constitution, the parliament is out of reach for a small state like Manipur. Electing an MP has been reduced to the state of just formality.

Even if Shri Krishna is sent to the Indian Parliament from Manipur as a Lok Sabha MP, he will not be able to become Prime Minister of India. So our only consolation is the State Assembly and State Councils as provided under the Indian Constitution. Article 169 of the Indian Constitution empowers the Parliament to create a Legislative Council of state. Further, we need experts and informed opinion on many matters of great importance to Manipur. We feel that the prominent academicians, professionals, intellectual groups, who will never contest elections should have a say in the planning, administration of the state at the legislative level.

It is therefore proposed that the Indian Constitution be amended to create one Legislative Council of 40 members with provision for 10 nominated members for Manipur.

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

Since 20 August 1992 Manipuri Language has become the first TB (Tibeto Burman) language to receive recognition as a schedule VIII language of the Government of India. The Manipuri language (Meiteilon) has it own script. Earlier, the alphabets of the Manipuri language could not be finalized due to conflicting claims as the original documents were burnt down by King Garib Niwaj in 1732 at the time of conversion to Hinduism. Now after painstaking research, the alphabets have been finalized. Only very few nations in the world have their own scripts. This script should be respected and given due recognition by the Government of India.

It is therefore proposed that the Government of India may kindly consider including the Manipuri( Meitei Mayek) Script in the coins and currency notes of India without further loss of time.

4.8. The Meitei/Meetei of Manipur may be put under Scheduled Tribe category of the Indian Constitution.

The Meiteis / Meeteis and the Tangkhuls and Marams have common ancestors and common origin. The wording of Meitei / Meetei should not be interpreted as disunity among the Meities /Meeteis. It only shows the richness of the Manipuri language. The people of England are known as English or British. Earlier, we were living in peace and harmony united as one nation. The Meiteis / Meeteis Kings used to dress in Tangkhul dress at the time of coronation to remember their common ancestors. The dress and traditions of Tangkhul are found incorporated in many festivals and ceremonies of Meities.

The arrival of Hinduism has built a wedge between Meiteis and the hill people introducing concept of pollution and Mangba –Sengba culture. Taking advantage of the then Mangba-Sengba culture during the monarchy, the British introduced a policy of further divide and rule in the name of protecting hill people and wooing them to accept Christianity. This policy of divide and rule is further perpetuated by the Government of India and formalised it by incorporating it in the Indian Constitution. The Government of India classify the hill people as Scheduled Tribes whereas the other tribe namely the Meiteis /Meeteis were classified as General.

The result – we are prevented from being united. The Government of India encouraged us to fight with one another in the name of general and tribal. The tribal people complained that the general people (Meiteis /Meeteis) looked down the tribal as some inferior race leading to conflicts and tensions among the ethnic groups who have been living together as one harmonious people before the advent of Hinduism, Christianity and British Rule. If the hill people are tribals, the Meiteis. Meeteis are also tribal. We want the restoration of the original status of Meities. Meeteis to the tribal status.

The Meiteis /Meeteis are also Tribal as they fulfilled all the four criteria of being a tribal, The four criteria are:-

1. The tribal people should belong to the Mongoloid race. Meiteis belonged to the Mongoloid race.

2. The tribal should practice animism, a primitive form of religion where ghosts and spirits are worshipped. The Meiteis do worshipped ghosts and spirits particularly on the first Saturday of Lamda month (March) even today. The Meiteis therefore practice animism.

3. The Tribal should be partially Hindunised. Meiteis are partially Hindunised even today. Swami Vivekanand said that Hinduism is a racial religion and one becomes a Hindu by birth. All the so called Hindus of Manipur become Hindu by conversion. They still worship Sanamahi in every house. The Hindu Meities are still following the costumes and traditions of Sanamahism at the time of birth, marriage, death and festivals. This shows that the Meiteis are partially Hindunised.

4. The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in cases no 8 SCC 191 (277) AIR 977 SC 3297, 1997 (6) JT449, 199 (4) Scale 746; 1997 (6) Supreme 530 etc stated that Tribal should be first settlers in the country. The Meiteis/Meeteis were the first settlers of Manipur as evident from many scientific research.

Considering these facts, it is proposed that the Government may kindly consider putting Meiteis/Meeteis under the Scheduled Tribe category of the Indian Constitution.

4.9. A separate Manipur Regiment of about 10,00 capacity under Indian Army should be created. 10% of Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF posted in North East should be manned by Manipuris. A special recruitment drive may be conducted to recruit Manipuris in the Railways, Coal Mines and other central services.

The Government of India had created the Naga Regiment of the Indian Army in 1970 in Ranikhet. But Manipuris were denied of any such job opportunities. The Indian Army is presently having a shortfall of 95,000 riflemen. A separate Manipur Regiment of about 10,000 capacity mixed with Punjabis, Kumaon, Garhwal and Gorkha etc. may be created to make up this shortfall. The biggest employers like Railways, Coal Mines and other central services have very little number of Manipuris on their pay roll.

The Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF posted in North East do not respect the human rights of the Manipuris because these are exclusively manned by outsiders. The Manipuris will take the Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF as their own force once the Manipuris are also allowed to join these security forces. The Government of India had conducted special recruitment drives of the Kashmiris on various occasions. The Government of India had never conducted any special recruitment drive for the Manipuris. Presently there are more than 6 lakhs educated unemployed persons in Manipur. Getting job without spending huge money in bribery is out of question in Manipur. This leads to frustration, psychological tension and disappointment of the Manipuri youths.

In order to bring solidarity and unity among all Indians and for building an United India, we would like to propose that a separate Manipur Regiment under Indian Army should be created. 10% of Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF posted in North East should be manned by Manipuris. A special recruitment drive may be conducted to recruit Manipuris in the Railways, Coal Mines and other central services.

Concluded ...