Manipur (, ) is a state in northeastern India, with Imphal as its capital city. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically the Sagaing Region to the east and Chin State to the southeast. Covering an area of 22,330 square kilometers (8,621 mi²), the state consists mostly of hilly terrain with the 1813-square-kilometre (700 mi²) Imphal Valley inhabited by the Meitei (Manipuri) community, historically a kingdom. Surrounding hills are home to Naga and Kuki-Zo communities, who speak Tibeto-Burman languages. The official language and lingua franca, Meitei (Manipuri), also belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family.
During the days of the British Raj, Manipur was one of the princely states. Prior to the British departure in 1947, Manipur acceded to the Dominion of India, along with roughly 550 other princely states. Manipur's ethnic groups practice a variety of religions. According to 2011 census, Hinduism and Christianity are the major religions of the state. or Meiteileipak (). Later, the work Dharani Samhita (1825–34) popularised the Sanskrit legends of the origin of Manipur's name.
Other names include Sanaleibak (), not given because Manipur has a lot of the gold mines, but because of its happiness and prosperity. This name was mentioned in the 11th-12th century constitution, the Loiyumba Shinyen. and is still heard in the official song of Manipur, "Sana Leibak Manipur".
History
Antiquity
thumb|300px|A match of depicted in a stamp of the [[Republic of India]]
The history of Manipur Meiteis is chronicled in Puyas or Puwaris (stories about the forefathers), namely, the Ninghthou Kangbalon, Cheitharol Kumbaba, Ningthourol Lambuba, Poireiton Khunthokpa, Panthoibi Khongkul, and so forth in the Meitei script, which is comparable to the Thai script. The historical accounts presented here were recordings from the eyes and the judgment of Meitei kings and (Meitei scholars).
The Kingdoms of Möng Kawng and Möng Mao
According to the Tai chronicles, Manipur (Kahse) is one of the territories conquered by Sam Lông Hpa (1150–1201), the first Chao Pha of Möng Kawng. A 14th-century inscription from Pagan, Myanmar, mentions Kasan (Manipur) as one of the 21 states under the Mong Mao ruler Thonganbwa (1413–1445/6); he later was captured by the Governor of Taungdwingyi.
Medieval
Vassal State of the Toungoo empire
Bayinnaung, the ruler of Toungoo dynasty ordered the invasion of Manipur in 1559. He had recalled Binnya Dala from Chiang Mai to lead the invasion. The three armies mostly made up of army from Kale, Mohnyin, Mogaung, Momeik and Sanda led the invasion, the King of Manipur surrendered without any resistance and Manipur became a vassal state of the
Toungoo empire.
thumb|right|Toungoo empire in 1580
Vassal state of Konbaung dynasty
In the 18th century, Bodawpaya, the king of Burma acquired the Manipur (1814) along with the western kingdoms of Arakan (1784), Assam (1817).
By the medieval period, marriage alliances between the royal families of Manipur, Ahom kingdom and Burma had become common. Medieval era manuscripts discovered in the 20th century, particularly the Puya, provide evidence that Hindus from the Indian subcontinent had married Manipur royalty by at least the 14th century. In centuries thereafter, royal spouses came also from what is now Assam, Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh and from other South Indian kingdoms as well. Another manuscript suggests that Muslims arrived in Manipur in the 17th century, from what is now Bangladesh, during the reign of Meidingu Khagemba.
British colonial period
In 1824, the ruler of Manipur entered into a subsidiary alliance with the British Empire in the Indian subcontinent, which became responsible for Manipur's external defence. The British recognised that the state remained internally self-governing, as a princely state. During World War II, Manipur was the scene of many fierce battles between Japanese invaders and British Indian forces. The Japanese were beaten back before they could enter Imphal, which was one of the turning points of the overall war in South Asia. The Battle of Imphal, known to the Manipuris as Japan Laan, are among the lesser-known battles of the Second World War. Yet the Allied Victory in this battle was a turning point against the Japanese in East Asia.
Post-colonial history
After the war, the Maharaja took the advice of the British Cabinet Mission and the Chamber of Princes to introduce democratic reforms in the state.
The Manipur State Constitution Act of 1947 was promulgated in July 1947 to give the state an elected legislative assembly and an appointed prime minister.
Elections to the assembly were held only in the following year.
Following the decision to partition British India, all the princely states were advised to "accede" to one of the new dominions. The Maharaja acceded to India on 11 August 1947 and signed a standstill agreement to continue all the pre-existing arrangements it had with British India.
Some Meitei people argue that the king was in no legal position to sign the instrument of accession at the time.
Over the next two years, the multitude of princely states of India were extensively reorganised as India moved towards becoming a constitutional republic. Proposals for reorganisation were also made for Manipur but discarded as being unsuitable. Eventually Manipur was turned into a centrally administered province (called a 'Part C' state, later renamed union territory) by asking the Maharaja to sign a merger agreement. He is believed to have signed it under duress.
Later, on 21 September 1949, he signed a Merger Agreement, disputed as having been done without consultation of the popular ministry under Manipur State Constitution Act 1947 and denial of the king's request to return to Manipur to discuss the same with his people.
Under 'duress' and 'coercion' Bodhachandra Singh signed the merger agreement merging the kingdom into India, which led to its becoming a Part C State.
The legislative assembly was dissolved and a centrally appointed Chief Commissioner handled the state's administration, as per the Constitution of India. An advisory council with nominated members was provided to advise the Chief Commissioner. In 1956, the advisory council was replaced by a territorial council with mostly elected members.
thumb|Kangla Gate, the west entrance to the [[Kangla Palace|Kangla Fort]]
Manipur has a long record of insurgency and inter-ethnic violence. Its first armed opposition group, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), was founded in 1964 aiming to achieve independence from India and establish Manipur as a new country. Over time, many more groups formed, each with different goals, and deriving support from diverse ethnic groups in Manipur. The People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) was formed in 1977, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1978, suspected by Human Rights Watch of receiving arms and training from China. In 1980, the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) was formed. These groups began a spree of bank robberies and attacks on police officers and government buildings.
"Disturbed area" designation
From 1980 to 2004, the Indian government referred to Manipur as a disturbed area. This term (designated by the Ministry of Home Affairs or a state governor) refers to a territory where extraordinary laws under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act can be used. The laws allow the military to treat private and public spaces in the same manner, detain individuals for up to 24 hours with unlimited renewals, perform warrantless searches, and to shoot and kill individuals who break laws, carry weapons, or gather in groups larger than four. Legal immunity applies to the military. Since 1980, the application of the AFSPA has been at the heart of concerns about human rights violations in the region, such as arbitrary killings, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and forced disappearances. Its continued application has led to numerous protests, notably the longstanding hunger strike by Irom Sharmila Chanu.
In 2004, the government lifted the disturbed status after a violent attack on a local woman. The rape of a Manipuri woman, Thangjam Manorama Devi, by members of the Assam Rifles paramilitary had led to wide protests including a nude protest by the Meira Paibi women's association.
18 June Uprising
On 18 June 2001, a massive protest broke out in Imphal Valley. The protest was triggered by the Government of India's decision to extend the ceasefire agreement with the NSCN-IM "without territorial limits", which was widely perceived as a threat to Manipur's territorial integrity. Demonstrators set fire to the Manipur Legislative Assembly and other government buildings in Imphal. Security forces opened fire to stop the crowds, killing 18 people.
2023 Manipur violence
On 3 May 2023, ethnic violence broke out between Meitei people and Kuki people led to extensive violence and arson, resulting in the displacement of 60,000 people from their homes and hundreds more dead and hospitalised. According to data released by Manipur Police, as on September 15, 2023; 175 people were killed; 1,118 people were injured, and 33 people were missing. 96 bodies remained unclaimed. 5,172 cases of arson including destruction of 4,786 houses and 386 religious places, out of which there were 254 churches and 132 temples, were reported since May. Out of 5,668 arms lost; 1,329 arms, 15,050 ammunition and 400 bombs were recovered. Indian army troops were deployed to control the situation. International outrage resulted on 20 July 2023, from a viral video that two Kuki women had been paraded naked and allegedly gang-raped by a mob of Meitei men.
Geography
thumb|left|[[Loktak Lake, the largest fresh water lake in the state.]]
The state lies at a latitude of 23°83'N – 25°68'N and a longitude of 93°03'E – 94°78'E. The total area covered by the state is . The capital lies in an oval-shaped valley of approximately , surrounded by blue mountains, at an elevation of above sea level. The slope of the valley is from north to south. The mountain ranges create a moderate climate, preventing the cold winds from the north from reaching the valley and barring cyclonic storms.
The state is bordered by the Indian states of Nagaland to its north, Mizoram to its south, Assam to its west, and shares an international border with Myanmar to its east.
thumb|right|A tree amid Manipur hills.
The state has four major river basins: the Barak River Basin (Barak Valley) to the west, the Manipur River Basin in central Manipur, the Yu River Basin in the east, and a portion of the Lanye River Basin in the north. The water resources of Barak and Manipur river basins are about 1.8487 Mham (million hectare metres). The overall water balance of the state amounts to 0.7236 Mham in the annual water budget. (By comparison, India receives 400 Mham of rain annually.)
The Barak River, the largest of Manipur, originates in the Manipur Hills and is joined by tributaries, such as the Irang, Maku, and Tuivai. After its junction with the Tuivai, the Barak River turns north, forms the border with Assam State, and then enters the Cachar Assam just above Lakhipur. The Manipur river basin has eight major rivers: the Manipur, Imphal, Iril, Nambul, Sekmai, Chakpi, Thoubal and Khuga. All these rivers originate from the surrounding hills.
thumb|left|Landscape view for dawn at Senapati, Manipur
Almost all the rivers in the valley area are in the mature stage and therefore deposit their sediment load in the Loktak Lake.
Flora
thumb|right|Flowers carpeting the foothills
Natural vegetation occupies an area of about , or 77.2% of the total geographical area of the state, and consists of short and tall grasses, reeds and bamboos, and trees. About a third of Manipur's forests are protected: 8.42% of the forested land is categorized under Reserved Forests, and 23.95% under Protected Forests.
There are six major types of forests in Manipur, and 10 subtypes. The six major forest types, according to the state's Forest Department, include Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest, Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests, Sub-Tropical Pine Forest, Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest, Montane Wet Temperate Forest and Sub-alpine Forest.
Demographics
Population
Manipur had a population of 2,855,794 at the 2011 census. Of this total, 57.2% lived in the valley districts and the remaining 42.8% in the hill districts. The valley (plain) is mainly inhabited by the Meitei speaking population (native Manipuri speakers). The hills are inhabited mainly by several ethno-linguistically diverse tribes belonging to the Nagas, the Kukis and smaller tribal groupings. Naga and Kuki settlements are also found in the valley region, though less in numbers. There are also sizable populations of Nepalis, Bengalis, Tamils and Marwaris living in Manipur.
The distribution of area, population and density, and literacy rate as per the 2001 Census provisional figures are as below:
{| class="wikitable floatright collapsible" style="margin-left:3em; width:24em;"
|+ Demographics of Manipur (2011)
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;"| Total Population || 2,855,794
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;"| Male Population || 1,438,586
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;"| Female Population || 1,417,208
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;"| Rural Population ||1,736,236
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;"| Urban Population ||834,154
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;"| Child Sex Ratio || 936 female to 1000 male
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;"| Density (per km<sup>2</sup>) ||115
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;"| Literacy || 1,768,181 (85.4%)
|-
| style="padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 2em;"| Towns || 33
|}
People
The Meiteis (synonymous to the Manipuris) constitute the majority of the state's population. They inhabit the Imphal Valley. Nagas and Kuki-Zo are the major tribe conglomerates of tribes inhabiting the surrounding hills. The Kuki-Zos consist of several tribes including Gangte, Hmar, Paite, Simte, Sukte, Thadou, Vaiphei, Zou, and some smaller tribes. They speak Kuki-Chin languages and predominate the southern hill districts of Manipur. The prominent Naga tribes are Mao, Maram, Maring, Liangmai, Poumai, Rongmei and Tangkhul, each speaking its own language. They predominate the northern hill districts of Manipur. In addition, several smaller tribes that were classified as "Old Kuki" by the British administrators populate Chandel and neighbouring districts. Some of them now classify themselves as Nagas while others retain the Kuki classification.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!|All Scheduled Tribes
!Population
!Percentage
of Total Pop.
|-
|Kuki-Zo tribes
|448,197
|15.7%
|-
|Naga tribes
|623,441
|21.8%
|-
|Old Kuki/Naga
|74,978
|2.6%
|-
|Total
|1,167,422
|40.9%
|}
Languages
The official language of the state is Meitei (also known as Manipuri). It is a scheduled language in the Republic of India, and serves as the lingua franca in Manipur.
Other than Meitei language, in Manipur, there is considerable linguistic diversity, as is the case in most of the Northeast India. Almost all of the languages are Sino-Tibetan, with many different subgroups represented. There are multiple Kuki-Chin languages, the largest being Thadou and is spoken in all the hill districts. Another major language family is the Naga languages, like Tangkhul, Poula, Rongmei and Mao. Less than 5% speak Indo-European languages, mostly Nepali and Bengali, which is the major language of Jiribam district.
The Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation (AKA Department of Language Planning and Implementation) of the Government of Manipur works for the development and the promotion of Meitei language and other local vernaculars of Manipur.
Linguistic events
- Meitei language day (Manipuri language day)
- Meitei poetry day (Manipuri poetry day)
- Meitei language movements
- Meitei classical language movement (ongoing)
- Meitei linguistic purism movement (ongoing)
- Meitei scheduled language movement (successful)
Administrative divisions
Districts
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" width="98%"
! width="30%" | District
! width="30%" | Population (2011)
! width="20%" | Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! width="15%" | Density (/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
|Bishnupur || 240,363 || 496 || 415
|-
| Thoubal || 420,517 || 324 || 713
|-
| Imphal East || 452,661 || 497 || 555
|-
| Imphal West || 514,683 || 519 || 847
|-
| Senapati || 354,772 || 1,573 || 116
|-
| Ukhrul || 183,115 || 2,206 || 31
|-
| Chandel || 144,028 || 2,100 || 37
|-
| Churachandpur || 271,274 || 2,392 || 50
|-
| Tamenglong || 140,143 || 3,315 || 25
|-
| Jiribam || 43,818 || 182 || 190
|-
| Kangpokpi || || 1,698||
|-
| Kakching || 135,481 || 190||
|-
| Tengnoupal || || 1,213||
|-
| Kamjong || 45,616 || 2,338 || 23
|-
| Noney || || 1,076||
|-
| Pherzawl || 47,250 || 2,128 || 21
|}
Subdivisions
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" width="98%"
! width="30%" | Districts
! width="65%" | Subdivisions
|-
|Bishnupur
|Nambol, Moirang, Bishnupur
|-
| Thoubal
|Thoubal, Lilong
|-
| Imphal East
|Porompat, Keirao Bitra, Sawombung
|-
| Imphal West
|Lamshang, Patsoi, Lamphelpat, Wangoi
|-
| Senapati
|Tadubi, Paomata, Purul, Willong, Chilivai Phaibung, Songsong, Lairouching
|-
| Ukhrul
|Ukhrul, Lungchong Maiphai, Chingai, Jessami
|-
| Chandel
|Chandel, Chakpikarong, Khengjoy
|-
| Churachandpur
|churchandpur, Tuiboung, Sangaikot, Mualnuam, Singngat, Henglep, Suangdoh, Kangvai, Samulamlan, Saikot
|-
| Tamenglong
|Tamenglong, Tamei, Tousem
|-
|Jiribam
|Jiribam, Borobekra
|-
| Kangpokpi (Sadar Hills)
|Kangpokpi, Champhai, Saitu Gamphazol, Kangchup Geljang, Tuijang Waichong, Saikul, Lhungtin Island, Bungte Chiru
|-
|Kakching
|Kakching, Waikhong
|-
| Tengnoupal
|Machi, Moreh, Tengnoupal
|-
| Kamjong
|Kamjong, Kasom Khullen, Sahamphung, Phungyar
|-
| Noney
|Nungba, Khoupum, Longmai, Haochong
|-
| Pherzawl
|Pherzawl, Parbung Tipaimukh, Vangai Range, Thanlon
|}
Religion
thumb|upright=1.6|