Opinion: The only way forward is to redefine the idea Of Manipur

Manipur has been evolving as an entity through the ages under different rulers with varying degrees of administrative and political control over hill areas. Dramatic changes in the Meitei society took place during the reign of Maharaj Pamheiba when Shantidas Gosai, a Hindu priest came to Kangleipak. 

He renamed the Maharaj as ‘Garib Nawaz’, and the kingdom as ‘Manipur’ alluding to the epic and the Aryan race. A new religion and culture was transplanted and Manipur witnessed a period of social and cultural influence that modified their traditional religion and culture.

Manipur then went through a period of invasion and rule by the Burmese kingdom at various points in time before it became a protectorate of the British East India Company from 1824, and a princely state of the British Raj in 1891 till it experienced a very brief period of independence in 1947-49 after which it was merged into the union of India. The different communities of Manipur existed peacefully in their shell of exclusivity without assimilating the culture of the dominant community during the chequered history of Manipur.