Bishnupriya people

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Bishnupriya Manipuri
(Bishnupriya Meitei)
Bishnupriya Manipuri.svg
Bengali-Assamese transliterations of the terms "Bishnupriya Manipuri" and its synonym "Bishnupriya Meitei"
Total population
119,646 [1] [2]
Regions with significant populations
Flag of India.svg India
Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh
Flag of India.svg India 79,646 (2011) [1]
Flag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh 40,000 (2003) [2]
Languages
Bishnupriya Manipuri (L1)
Meitei (L2) [3]
Bengali (significantly used)
Religion
Hinduism (Vaishnavism) [4]
Related ethnic groups
Other Bengali–Assamese-speaking peoples, Meiteis

The Bishnupriyas, also known as the Bishnupriya Manipuris or Bishnupriya Meiteis, [5] [6] is an ethnic group found in parts of the Northeast Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Manipur and in northeastern Bangladesh. [7] They speak Bishnupriya Manipuri, a language belonging to the Bengali-Assamese branch. Initially regarded as a creole of Bengali and Meitei languages, later studies found that it retains its pre-Bengali features and is closer to both Bengali and Assamese languages. [8] [9] [10] The most distinctive feature of the language is it is replete with Tibeto-Burman elements. The culture of the Bishnupriya people is strongly influenced by that of the Meitei people. [11] They follow Vaishnavism. [4] [12]

In the 2020s, the Bishnupriya asked be given the status of an indigenous people of Assam and treated like other indigenous communities of the state. [13] The Government of Assam categorises them as an Other Backward Class, but otherwise, they have no legal recognition or official status. The Tripura Government categorised their language under the Tribal Language Cell of the State Council of Educational Research and Training. [14]

The Meitei language in Bangladesh is used as a second language by the Bishnupriya people. [3]

References and notes

    1. 1 2 "Abstract of Speakers' Strength of Languages and Mother Tongues - 2011" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
    2. 1 2 "Bishnupuriya". Ethnologue. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
    3. 1 2 "Meitei | Ethnologue". Ethnologue . Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2023. Used as L2 by Bishnupuriya [bpy].
    4. 1 2 Prakash, Col Ved (2007). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. pp. 1519–1525. ISBN   978-81-269-0706-9.
    5. ↑ Sahoo, Ajaya K. (30 March 2021). Routledge Handbook of Asian Diaspora and Development. Taylor & Francis. p. 109. ISBN   978-1-000-36686-0. The Bishnupriya Meiteis from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Tripura and Assam used the Bengali script and speak their own language, which is influenced by Meiteilon (Manipuri).
    6. ↑ "FAMILY-WISE GROUPING OF THE 122 SCHEDULED AND NON-SCHEDULED LANGUAGES – 2001". censusindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
    7. ↑ Sinha, Kalī Prasad (2017). The Bishnupriya Manipuris: Their Language, Literature & Culture. Bishnupriya Manipuri Sahitya Sabha.
    8. ↑ Frawley, William (2003). International Encyclopedia of Linguistics: 4-Volume Set. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 481. ISBN   978-0-19-513977-8.
    9. ↑ Haokip, Pauthang (2011). Socio-linguistic Situation in North-East India. Concept Publishing Company. p. 8. ISBN   978-81-8069-760-9.
    10. ↑ Asher, R. E.; Moseley, Christopher (19 April 2018). Atlas of the World's Languages. Routledge. p. 97. ISBN   978-1-317-85108-0.
    11. ↑ Sahoo, Ajaya K. (30 March 2021). Routledge Handbook of Asian Diaspora and Development. Taylor & Francis. p. 109. ISBN   978-1-000-36686-0. The Bishnupriya Meiteis from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Tripura and Assam used the Bengali script and speak their own language, which is influenced by Meiteilon (Manipuri).
    12. ↑ Zehol, Lucy (1998). Ethnicity in Manipur: Experiences, Issues, and Perspectives. Regency Publications. ISBN   978-81-86030-51-6.
    13. ↑ "Plea for indigenous status". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
    14. ↑ "Bishnupriya Manipuris demand satellite autonomous council". The Sentinel . 24 November 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2022. The Tripura government has categorized and placed the Bishnupriya Manipuri language under the Tribal Language Cell of the State Council of Educational Research and Training, while in Assam they are considered among Other Backward Classes (OBC), whereas in Manipur from where these people originated remains status-less


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