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What's the article about?
- It talks about the underlying causes of the ongoing ethnic violence in the Northeast, especially in Manipur.
Relevance:
- GS2: Linkages between Development and Spread of Extremism;
- Prelims
Context:
- Manipur violence has claimed more than hundred lives over a month.
- It was believed that the development in the NE region, especially in the Manipur region, has united all the inhabitant tribes of the region.
- But this ethnic violence shows that the tribes are still divided (the Meiteis and the Kuki-Chin-Mizo-Zomi-Naga tribes) on various issues.
- In this article, the writer analyses the causes behind such a divide.
What was the immediate cause of the Manipur violence?
- The Manipur High Court (HC) directed the State to pursue a 10-year-old recommendation to grant Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the non-tribal Meitei.
- The violence escalated after the All-Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) organized a “tribal solidarity rally” against the alleged move to include the Meiteis on the ST list.
Manipur’s ethnic composition:
- Manipur is a state in northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital.
- The Meitei people represent around 53% of the population of Manipur state, followed by various Naga ethnic groups at 24% and various Kuki/Zo tribes (also known as Chin-Kuki-Mizo people) at 16%.
- While a majority of the Meiteis are Hindus followed by Muslims, the 33 recognised tribes, broadly classified into ‘Any Naga tribes’ and ‘Any Kuki tribes’ are largely Christians.
Analysis:
- Development has reduced the divide:
- Most people across the country believe that the northeast had over time become well and truly integrated. But, notwithstanding improved communications, better transit facilities, and support for the special needs of the region, there does still exist a divide between the tribes and plains people within the region.
- Other forms of divide:
- An additional dimension in the northeast is the presence of ethnic sub-nationalism and identity politics in an aggravated form.
Ethnic allegiance had oftentimes been in conflict with mainstream nationalism or vice-versa previously, but it was hoped that such tensions had subsided. The Manipur developments imply that in much of the northeast, ethnic identities still overshadow and overwhelm all other considerations.
- An additional dimension in the northeast is the presence of ethnic sub-nationalism and identity politics in an aggravated form.
- Resurgence of old issues:
- According to some reports from the region, consolidation efforts by different tribal entities were resulting in subterranean pressures, and the result is that many issues which were deemed settled seem to have been reopened. This applies specially to Manipur where, of late, there have been incipient signs of a resurgence of ultra-nationalistic tendencies.
The confrontation between Meitei versus Kuki-Naga ultra-radicalism, as evidenced in Manipur these past weeks, needs to be viewed in the larger context of the conflict between the plains Meiteis and the Kuki-Mizo-Chin-Zomi-Naga hill tribes.
- According to some reports from the region, consolidation efforts by different tribal entities were resulting in subterranean pressures, and the result is that many issues which were deemed settled seem to have been reopened. This applies specially to Manipur where, of late, there have been incipient signs of a resurgence of ultra-nationalistic tendencies.
- Steps taken by the Union government:
- A judicial probe into the ethnic violence and of a three-member committee headed by a judge has been announced. Also the Central Bureau of Investigation is inquiring into specific incidents of violence.
Way Forward:
- The confrontation between Meitei versus Kuki-Naga ultra-radicalism, as evidenced in Manipur these past weeks, needs to be viewed in the larger context of the conflict between the plains Meiteis and the Kuki-Mizo-Chin-Zomi-Naga hill tribes.
- What is needed at this time is for saner voices to play a leading role. Notwithstanding the fact that the northeast has been spared serious violence for some years now, the reality is that it is still a volatile region. It is in the process of changing and adapting to newer circumstances.
- What the Centre needs to achieve is an ‘optimal positioning’ even if it may seem like giving far too many concessions.
- Understanding cultural factors are critical, specially in times of conflict. The Meitei versus Tribal divide is both a cultural and sociological phenomenon.
- A solution demands a combination of adjusting to realities, coupled with an understanding of the moral imperatives of the numerous tribal communities that dot the northeastern landscape.
- The art is to come up with an agreement in which both or more parties to the dispute think it is the best from their point of view.
