Manipur Tamil community

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The northeastern Indian state of Manipur has a relatively large population of Tamils, largely concentrated near the border of Myanmar. The town of Moreh in particular has an estimated 17,000 Tamils. [1] Tamils in Manipur have relatives and business contacts in Myanmar, which is a valuable network facilitating cross-border trade.

Contents

History

Tamils from Burma came back to India when General Ne Win nationalized banks, shops, and factories. Some of them found life in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu very hard, so they decided to return to Burma through land. They were stopped by Burmese immigration at the border town of Moreh and settled there as a result. [2]

Around 1992, there were clashes between the Tamil and Kuki communities due to attempts by Kuki militants to impose heavy taxes on Tamil businesses. [3]

Very recently, the Tamil community has been involved in a legal battle to prevent the Manipur government from giving up land occupied by Sri Angala Parameshwari Sri Muneeswarar temple to Myanmar. [4] [5] One of the gates of this temple is in Burmese territory. [6]

Religion

Other than the Sri Angala Parameshwari Sri Muneeswarar temple mentioned, the Tamil Hindu temples in Moreh are Sree Veeramma Kali Temple, Sree Badrakaali Temple, and the Sree Periyapalayathamman temple. There is also a Tamil mosque, known as the Tamir-E-Millath Jamia Masjid, and a Tamil Catholic church, the St. George Church, in Moreh. [7]

The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham has been involved in spiritual activities in Manipur. [8]

Entertainment

Over the past several years, Tamil films have become slowly popular in Manipur partly due to a ban on Hindi language entertainment by militant groups such as the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK). [9] [10] [11]

Impact of 2023 Manipur Violence

More than 45 houses and shops of Tamils in Moreh were burned down by Kuki militants and mobs during the 2023 ethnic clash between the Meiteis and the Kukis. Tamil businessmen were forced to pay taxes ranging from Rs.30,000 to Rs.10,00,000 to Kuki militant outfits as support to the ongoing conflict. [12] [13] [14] [15]

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Indian literature refers to the literature produced on the Indian subcontinent until 1947 and in the Republic of India thereafter. The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India has 22 officially recognised languages. Sahitya Akademi, India's highest literary body, also has 24 recognised literary languages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei language</span> Tibeto-Burman language of India

Meitei, also known as Manipuri, is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and one of the official languages India. Meitei is the most widely-spoken Tibeto-Burman language of India and third the most used language of northeast India after Assamese and Bengali. There are 1.76 million Meitei native speakers in India according to the 2011 census. Most of these, or 1.52 million, are found in the state of Manipur, where they represent majority of its population. There are smaller communities in neighbouring Indian states, such as Assam (168,000), Tripura (24,000), Nagaland (9,500), and elsewhere in the country (37,500). The language is also spoken by smaller groups in neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meitei people</span> Ethnic group of South Asia

The Meitei people, Meetei people, or Manipuri people is an ethnic group native to Manipur. They form the largest and dominant ethnic group of Manipur in Northeast India. They speak the Meitei language, one of the 22 official languages of the Indian Republic and the sole official language of Government of Manipur. The Meiteis primarily settled in the valley areas in modern-day Manipur, though a sizeable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. There is also a notable presence of Meitei people in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuki people</span> Ethnic group in India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar

The Kuki people are an ethnic group in the Northeastern Indian states of Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, as well as the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Kukis form one of the largest hill tribe communities in Northeast India, along with the adjoining regions of Bangladesh and Myanmar. In Northeast India, they are present in all states except Arunachal Pradesh. The Chin people of Myanmar and the Mizo people of Mizoram are kindred tribes of the Kukis. Collectively, they are termed the Zo people.

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Senapati, is one of the 16 districts of the Indian state of Manipur. The present Senapati district was formed in December 2016, after spawning off the Sadar Hills region in the south into a separate Kangpokpi district. The district headquarter is located in the municipality of Tahamzam.

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The history of Manipur is reflected by archaeological research, mythology and written history. Historically, Manipur was an independent sovereign kingdom ruled by Meitei dynasty but at different point of time it was invaded and rule over by other state and authority. The Kangleipak State developed under King Loiyumba with its first written constitution in the early 12th century. Manipur under the 18th-century king Pamheiba saw the legendary burning of sacred scripture.

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References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ↑ "About Tamil Sangam in Moreh State, Coming of Tamils to Morh, Manipur State". Archived from the original on 5 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "Fencing at border pillar 78 turning controversial — Indo-Burma News". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  5. ↑ "Eastern Mirror | The latest and breaking news from Nagaland, northeast India and India, current affairs in regional politics, latest updates on business news, sports and entertainment". www.easternmirrornagaland.com. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Kendra Activities at Manipur". Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "About Tamil Sangam in Moreh State, Coming of Tamils to Morh, Manipur State". Archived from the original on 5 July 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  8. ↑ "Kendra Activities at Manipur". Archived from the original on 19 November 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  9. ↑ Pike, John. "People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK)" . Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "No Amitabh, SRK films in Manipur – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Korea Comes to Manipur". Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "Manipur : 'Rioters tried to enter my house. When they couldn't, they burned it'". The Times of India. 10 August 2023. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  13. ↑ Ghosh, Partha S. (24 September 2023). "Manipur's Tamil connection, via Myanmar: How ethnic polarisation has marooned the community again". Scroll.in. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  14. ↑ Sabir, Aaisha (2 September 2023). "Tamils caught in the crossfire in strife-torn Manipur". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "Manipur violence: Abandoned houses belonging to Meiteis torched at India-Myanmar border town". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
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