The Meitei Community and Its Remarkable Journey in India

By: Jeremy Asem

First semester,BA Political science,St Joseph’s College,Ukhrul, Manipur.

India is a country with many communities, languages, cultures and traditions. When we travel from one part of India to another, we see differences in how people live, eat, dress and celebrate. I think this is one of the beautiful things about our country. Every community has its own story. In this essay, I want to tell my fellow Indians a little about the Meitei community, its history, culture and contributions to India.

I come from both Tangkhul Naga and Meitei roots. Because of this, I have always felt that learning about different communities is important. It has made me curious about the many communities that live in India.

When I came to know that my writing would be published on the internet and that anyone from our country could read it, I started thinking about what I could write. Then I thought, what could be better than using this opportunity to tell my fellow citizens about my community and its history, culture and contributions? I felt it would be nice if someone in another part of India could read this essay and learn something new about the Meitei community. In the same way, I would like to learn about other communities because every community has its own unique story.

The Meitei community is the largest ethnic community of Manipur and has a long history and rich culture. Meitei people have contributed in dance, music, literature, cinema, sports, handloom, agriculture and public service. These contributions are also part of the larger story of India.

Manipur is well known for Manipuri classical dance, one of India’s recognised classical dance forms. It is known for graceful movements and devotional themes, with Ras Lila as an important tradition. Guru Bipin Singh and the Jhaveri sisters helped promote Manipuri dance outside Manipur.

Another beautiful tradition is Sankirtana, which includes singing, drumming and dancing. UNESCO included Sankirtana of Manipur on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. It shows how a local tradition can become known around the world.

Handloom is another important part of life in Manipur. Moirang Phee is known for its beautiful designs, while Shaphee Lanphee has also received geographical indication recognition. These textiles show the skill of weavers who have carried their knowledge through generations.

People from Manipur have also achieved a lot in sports. Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in weightlifting at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Kunjarani Devi became a well known Indian weightlifter, while boxer Laishram Sarita Devi also brought recognition to India. In football, Jeakson Singh became the first Indian player to score a goal in a FIFA Under 17 World Cup match in 2017. These sportspersons can inspire young people like us.

Manipur also has a traditional martial art called Thang Ta. It uses weapons such as the sword and spear as well as unarmed techniques. It teaches discipline, training and control. Keeping it alive is important because it is connected with the history and culture of the people.

The history of the Meitei people has many important chapters. One is the Anglo Manipur War of 1891. Yuvraj Tikendrajit and General Thangal were important figures of that period and were later executed by the British. Their lives remain part of Manipur’s history.

Major Laishram Jyotin Singh of the Indian Army’s Army Medical Corps was awarded the Ashoka Chakra after his death for his bravery during the 2010 attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul. His sacrifice is remembered as an example of courage and service.

Polo is another interesting part of Manipur’s history. The traditional Manipuri form is called Sagol Kangjei. British officers saw the game in Manipur during the nineteenth century and later helped spread polo elsewhere. The Manipuri pony is closely connected with it, and Mapal Kangjeibung in Imphal is a historic polo ground.

The Meitei community also has a rich literary tradition. Meitei literature has developed over many generations, and Meitei Mayek is an important part of its cultural heritage. Writers such as M. K. Binodini Devi have made important contributions to Manipuri literature.

Cinema is another field where people from Manipur have made their mark. Filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma is an important name in Manipuri cinema. Films such as Imagi Ningthem and Ishanou took stories from Manipur to wider audiences. Ishanou was also shown at Cannes in 1991.

Food and agriculture are also important parts of our culture. Chak Hao, the famous black rice of Manipur, is known for its colour and taste and has received geographical indication recognition. Loktak Lake is closely connected with people’s lives and livelihoods, including traditional fishing. Culture is not only about festivals or famous artists. It is also about our food, crops and everyday life.

When we learn about the Meitei community, we are learning about one part of the larger Indian story. We can see how people have protected their traditions while taking part in modern India. We should also remember that there are many other communities in India whose stories we still do not know.

I feel that India belongs to all of us. We may speak different languages and follow different traditions, but we all share the same country. Since I have both Tangkhul Naga and Meitei roots, learning about different communities is very meaningful to me. It makes me understand that our differences do not have to keep us apart. They can also give us a chance to learn from one another.

I think we all should learn about each other, visit each other’s places and spend time with each other. We should eat together, talk to each other and experience each other’s way of life. When we meet people personally and share our everyday experiences, many confusions and misunderstandings can slowly go away. Sometimes we may have wrong ideas about a community simply because we have never met its people or experienced its culture. A visit, a conversation or even sharing a meal can teach us things that we may never learn from books alone.

I think we young people should be interested in learning about the history and culture of communities other than our own. We can learn many things from books, teachers, our elders and from people we meet in our daily lives. We can also visit different places, taste their food and experience their festivals and traditions. When we learn about each other, we become more open minded and understand one another better. We also realise how many different and interesting stories are part of our country.

The story of the Meitei community is also a part of the story of India. We have our own traditions in dance, music, handloom, sports, literature, cinema and agriculture. Many people from our community have also served the country in different ways. I hope that someone reading this essay from another part of India will become interested in learning more about Manipur and the Meitei community. Maybe one day you will visit Manipur, see our beautiful places, taste our food, meet our people and experience our culture. Come, visit us, spend time with us and stay with us. We would be happy to welcome you and share our way of life with you.

I hope we will all take interest in learning about other communities. When we know each other better, we can understand and respect each other better. We may belong to different communities, but we all live in the same country. We all have stories to share and things to learn from one another. India belongs to all of us.