Dr Kalpana Bora
(kalpana.bora@gmail.com)
I happened to visit Imphal, Manipur (which means ‘land of Jewels’) in the last week of May 2025. This was my second visit to Imphal – the first one being in December 2024. After the Meitei-Kuki conflict started in May 2023, we have been witnessing so much unrest, and as per open sources, more Hindus (Meiteis) are being killed. Here, I have tried to share the experience of my two visits to Imphal, reflecting through conversations with her people.
The Journey to the Land of Jewels
During my first visit, as I moved out of Imphal airport, I didn’t feel that the place was much different from Assam – be it the views and smell of lush green landscapes, the structure of houses or the small stalls of fresh vegetables and fruits on the roads. But there was an untold tension in the air; people looked subtly gloomy in general, as if something precarious might just happen at any moment. As if people hadn’t slept a serene night for long! I started talking to the taxi driver, who was a Meitei (Hindu) – a young man who used to sing and used to run a coffee shop as well. But now, all his business has gone down the water! From the window of the taxi, I also happened to see a woman of about 40 years who was begging on the street, but otherwise she didn’t look like a beggar at all! The taxi driver said that many women have been forced to resort to begging or engage in other unpleasant activities just to make their ends meet! Earlier, they used to engage in agricultural or other activities. Thousands of Meiteis have been displaced. Lost everything; children have not been able to go to schools regularly.
During my first visit, I didn’t have the courage to move out into the city. I was scared. However, during my second visit in May 2025, I gathered all my courage and went out to see the city of Imphal – Govindjee ka Mandir (Imphal East district), Kangla Fort (Imphal West district), INA memorial in Moirang and Loktak Lake (Bishnupur district). And after visiting these places, I earned more confidence and started connecting to the place and people more empathetically. A feeling of warmth was connecting me to Manipuris. The purpose of my visit to these places was not just tourism; tourism was an excuse – I wanted to feel the place, the pulse of it. I wanted to connect with people to feel their pain. I talked to a spectrum of people in the society. Since President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, 2025, we expected things would improve. Hence, I posed this question before people – and to my surprise, almost all of them replied that though things appear to improve on the surface, they have not improved in actuality. The problem is still smouldering beneath the ashes – unfortunately, little air would be sufficient to light the fire again!
Eclipses and Wounds
Manipur has been afflicted with conflicts and invasions for a long time. Once very powerful, the Kingdom was weakened due to incessant invasions by surrounding tribes, including the Burmese, Kuki and Naga. Some sources suggest that in 1250 AD, a Chinese force invaded eastern Manipur and was defeated. The current Meitei-Kuki conflict started in May 2023. Kukis first started settling in the hills of Manipur in the 18th century during the times of Maharaja Pamheiba (also called Garibniwaj, ruled 1709-1751). They were pushed by powerful people of Burma, and the British encouraged the settlement of Kukis from Myanmar in the hills of Manipur, surrounding the valley, during seven years of devastating Burmese invasions (1819-1826). Manipur became a protectorate under the British in 1824. In the Anglo-Manipuri War of Khongjom, Veer Yuvraj Tikendrajit, along with General Thangal, was hanged publicly on August 13, 1891, for their fight against the British, after which the British gained control of Manipur in 1891. Kukis were initially used as a buffer by the British between the Nagas and the Meitei kingdom and served as mercenaries to protect the Manipur valley from the raids of Naga tribes. Kukis who settled earlier became an integral part of Manipur and had been living peacefully in harmony with Meiteis.
Current Conflict – A Retrospection
However, of late, there have been conflicts between the two ethnic groups. The Kukis illegally immigrating from Myanmar started creating disturbances, even instigating Kukis who have been living peacefully for years in harmony with Meiteis. As narrated by people, poppy cultivation has been one of the reasons behind the unrest. As the lands in neighbouring Myanmar started becoming void of soil nutrition due to continuous farming of poppy on their land, the infamous Golden Triangle, known for decades for manufacturing drugs, has shifted west towards the Manipur-Myanmar border. And everyone wants to grab this easy money. The public in Imphal is aware that one of the reasons for the disturbance in Manipur is the power of money behind this dirty business – drugs have been devastating our youth and civilization. Why can’t people realise the ugly faces of the drug business? They care only about money? People of Manipur know who is engaged in this business and who is instigating and supporting the violence for their political gains.
Besides the internal political and other motives, some external forces are also playing a role in disturbing the area. Now, Kukis have been demanding a separate “Kukiland” for them. Who does not know the sinister designs of external forces to create a separate nation out of parts of Myanmar, Bangladesh, and some parts of India? And what will be its religion? The concept of “Crown Colony” seems to be still alive! The illegal Kuki immigrants have been receiving arms and weaponry supplies from external forces, as told by some Manipuris. Many Manipuris raised questions – “Why is PM Modi not visiting Manipur? Doesn’t PM Modi care about Manipur and Manipuris? If PM Modi can execute Operation Sindoor against terrorism backed by Pakistan, why not in this region?”
Though external forces have been playing a corrosive role, strong and honest political willpower to solve the current Meitei-Kuki conflict is needed today. Has the President’s rule in Manipur been changing the situation in reality? Manipuris say no because the root cause has not been tackled. Unless the infection is annihilated by giving antibiotics, fever won’t go just by giving paracetamol, though it can be suppressed for some time. Something of this sort is happening in Manipur.
Possible Roadmap for Solution
To solve the situation, first the cause of the problem has to be understood – sensitively, empathetically, by talking affectionately to people at roots, by touching their hearts and nerves. People don’t forget wounds that history has given them. And for Manipur, these wounds date back to times even before those of the British. Though the complex situation will take some time to settle down, the possible roadmap could be
1. After taking some healing and corrective measures, PM Modi should visit Manipur at the earliest and talk to people. Manipuris need the love and affection of PM Modi to heal their bleeding wounds.
2. The political leaders of Meitei and Kuki in Manipur should talk amicably and sort out the solution fruitfully for the people. Constructive and sustainable solution. Internally, the solution lies with them only. How long will people be victimised?
3. The central government should try to sort the problem at the borders, especially of illegal immigration from Myanmar. Be it by improving trade relations with Myanmar or executing something like Operation Sindoor, some decisive action must be taken. Peace, progress and development in Myanmar are also needed so that their youth give up unlawful activities and can be engaged there in fruitful activities to make their living.
4. Progress and development should be accelerated in Manipur. Tourism, agriculture, handloom and textiles, horticulture, and handicraft industries have immense potential and can bring prosperity to Manipur. The central government should take measures to increase exports from the state, as well as trade to other states of India. Moreover, special focus should be paid to education, sports, production, IT, and the AI sector as well.
Strategical and geographical importance of Manipur for India and her security must be kept in mind too – and this should catalyse the long-deserved solution. The formula that worked in the last election may not work again! Manipur deserves a peaceful, happy life with progress, development and prosperity, synchronising the pace with the aim of ViksitBharat@2047. Manipuris and their children deserve to smile, flourish and relish peaceful sleep at night. Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah.