Manipur is a state in northeastern Indiamaking 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, who live primarily in the state's valley region, is one of the primary ethnic groups. Their language,Meiteilon (also known as Manipuri), is also the lingua franca in the state. It was recognized as one of India's national languages 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.

History

The history of Manipur dated back to 33 A.D ruled by a total of more than 109 kings and Manipur was known by different names at various periods in its history, such as, Tilli-Koktong, Poirei-Lam, Sanna-Leipak, Mitei-Leipak, Meitrabak or Manipur (present day). The legendary first King of Manipur who made Kangla his capital was Lord Pakhangba who ruled the kingdom from 33 A.D.Maharaja Bhagyachandra [1] (1762 - 1798 A.D.), is another famous king of Manipur. He had to fight off the Burmese several times, once running away to seek refuge with the Ahoms. He started the Ras Lila dance. [2] He is also credited with spreading Vaishnavism in Manipur after his grandfather Pamheiba Rajah madeHinduism the official religion and for creating a unified Manipur.[3]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 pulled 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. Thus in 1891 AD, after the defeat of Manipur by the British in the Anglo-Manipuri war of Khongjom, Manipur's sovereignty for more than three millennia was lost.During the Second World War, Manipur was the scene of many fierce battles between the Japanese and Allied forces in the so-called Burma Campaign. The Japanese swept over East Asia and came up to Manipur. They and factions of Indian National Army under command of Subhas Chandra Bose were beaten back by the Allies before they could enter Imphal, proving to be one of the turning points of the War (Central Front 1943/44).There are two cemeteries maintained by the British War Graves Commission in Manipur, which are the final resting places of several Indian and allied soldiers who died here.On August 28,1947, with British Parliament's repeal of British Paramountcy, in preparation for Indian independence, Manipur became an independent kingdom once again but not for long.The King, Maharaja Budhachandra, began a process of democratization of the state, enacting the Manipur Constitution Act, 1947, which established a democratic form of government with the Maharaja as the Executive Head and an elected legislature.In 1949, the King Budhachandra was invited to Shillong, the capital of the Indian province of Assam, where he was forced to sign an agreement for annexation of the kingdom into India (Arunkumar 2005). The King had already signed a Standstill Agreement with the Indian Dominion in 1947; the Standstill Agreement froze the status quo, i.e., the Indian Union as the de facto Paramount Power over and above the King.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. Later on it was further degraded to the status of a union territory from 1956 onwards.In 1972, Manipur was elevated to the status of a state.

People of Manipur

According to the 1991 census report, the total population of Manipur was 1,826,000 (18.26 lakhs) but in the 2000 census, it is expected to reach over 2.2 million (22 lakhs). The people of Manipur are grouped into three main ethnic communities: the Meiteis, those inhabiting the valley, and the 29 major tribes in the hills which are further divided into two main ethno-denominations, namely Nagas and Kuki-Chins. The Meiteis are themselves divided in the Meitei (the natives in the valley), Bamon (originally of Bengali-Brahmin) and Meitei Pangans (originally migrants from Bangladesh). All speak Meitei. In addition to Meiteis, the valley is also inhabited by Nepalis, Bengalis, Marwaris and people from other Indian communities. At present several people from the hills 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, Poumai, Mao, Maram, and Tarao. The Chin-Kuki group consists of Tedim Chin (officially recognised by the Indian Union as Sukte) Gangte, Hmar, Paite, Thadou, Vaiphei , Zou, Aimol, Chiru, Koireng, Kom, Anal, Chothe, Lamgang, Koirao, Thangal, Moyon, Maring 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. Other groups like Paite, Vaiphei,Zou, Simte, Gangte and Tedim Chin (Sukte) 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 themselves closer to the Mizo or Lushai group.

Problems facing Manipur

Since the implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in 1958 and the designation of Manipur as a "disturbed area" human rights organisations have recorded numerous breaches of Human Rights by the military in the area. The AFSPA allows the armed forces to use “force as may be necessary” based on their “opinion” and “suspicion”, to effect “arrest without warrant” or “fire upon or otherwise use force, even to causing death” (Section 4). Furhermore, “No prosecution, suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government in respect of anything done or purported to be done in exercise of the powers conferred by this Act”. There is a very fervent opposition to the act and it is one of the main electoral issues in local state elections. Among the many groups, organisations and individuals calling for the repeal of the act is the internationally renowned "Iron Lady", Irom Sharmila, who has been on a hunger strike since 2000.There have been some minor border disputes with Myanmar (formerly Burma), which were resolved through treaty of Yandaboo. Manipur is also involved in a border dispute with Nagaland.[citation needed]There have been many social upheavals in the recent past, resulting in mounting tensions between the Meiteis (the valley people) and the so called Nagas residing in Manipur.[citation needed]Some steps have been taken by the central government to appease the Manipuris. The long-standing demand to include the Meitei language in the 8th schedule was finally granted by the 71st amendment of the Constitution in 1992.November 20, 2004 was a landmark date in the history of Manipur when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh fulfilled a long-standing demand of the Manipuri people. He officially handed over the historic Kangla Fort to Manipur state government, which issued an ordinance taking over the administration and control. It had been the headquarters of the paramilitary force, the Assam Rifles, since 1915. It was finally opened to the general public after nearly 114 years.The Prime Minister also upgraded Manipur University into a Central University and laid the foundation stone for a 97.9 km long, Jiribam - Imphal, broad gauge rail line project. The line ends at Tupul, 25 km away from Imphal.

Other facts

• The game polo originated in Manipur from a similar game called Sagol Kangjei. 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 and Thang-Ta, relatively unknown and unique Martial Art, originates 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 god Laiharaoba known as maibi 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 Shiroi Lily (Lilium Macklinae Sealy) is a beautiful lily found only in the upper reaches of the Shiroi Hills in Manipur's Ukhrul District.

• The Indian National Army (INA), led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, planted the Indian Tricolour, which was to become the Indian national flag, at Moirang, Manipur; the second part of British India to which the INA managed to penetrate, the first 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).