Perceived class conflict triggers friction among ethnic groups in Manipur

Sunil Thongam *

Manipur has 33 recognised tribes of two different conglomerates--the Nagas and Kukis. It is inhabited by three major ethnic groups--the Meiteis in the valley and the Nagas and the Kuki-chin tribes in the hills. Manipur is also inhabited by the Meitei Pagan, or Meitei Muslims, a minority community.

The tribals in Manipur are displeased by what they say lack of adequate representation in public and political institutions. They are unhappy over alleged discriminatory legislation. The Nagas and Kukis want more participation in the State decision-making processes.

For instance, the Hill Areas Committee (HAC)-recommended draft Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) Amendment Bill, 2021 seeks greater financial and administrative autonomy in the hill region. However, the Government of Manipur is unwilling to consider the demand as it thinks the Bill seeks right of self-Government.

Such denial is prone to strong agitation from the tribal groups causing serious disturbances to the life of the people. Such a situation often creates ethnopolitical issue. The potential of violence should always be made low via inclusion and reaching consensus among all stakeholders in the political process.

Most importantly, any move by a particular ethnic group that has the potential to disintegrate Manipur's territorial integrity and administration is unacceptable to the Government. Political demands should always aim at distribution of social goods.

We must agree that the ethnic communities in Manipur exhibit common problems. Discriminatory economic system and low standard of living generate resentment and also contribute to tensions and destabilization.

We are facing many unresolved issues in landlocked Manipur. Lack of job opportunities and poor educational system in the State has induced labour migration as well as student migration to mainland Indian States. Nonetheless, Manipur has been witnessing increasing competition among the ethnic communities which reflects intergroup conflicts.

The Government will have to invent various steps to promote economic development and social stability or else movement of separatism will continue to persist. We can perceive class conflict in the State. Neither Nagas nor Kukis want to remain as second class citizens.

It can be easily made out that class struggle and class warfare has triggered friction among the ethnic groups which can be termed as political tension. Antagonism does exist in Manipur. The Meiteis, Nagas and Kukis have disagreed on which group has greater historical claim to Manipur. They believe their respective ancestors were indigenous to the region.

Insurgency and other social movements have reinforced ethnic identities and long standing cultural differences have resulted in resentments among the ethnic groups. Supremacism is the belief that a certain group of people is superior to all others. The Meiteis are the dominant population and most important ethnic group in Manipur.

The ethnic communities in Manipur believe in nativism. Each group claims they are indigenous people of the land. The NSCN-IM a few years back had claimed that the Meiteis and Nagas are the only two indigenous communities that have been recorded to be living in Manipur since time immemorial.

It's said ethnicity is linked with cultural expression and identification and race is usually associated with biology and linked with physical characteristics such as skin color or hair texture. However, scientists have argued that race is a social construct.

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