Who are Meiteis: Protest against ST demand turns violent in Manipur, curfew imposed in entire state

Source: The post is based on the article “Protest against ST demand turns violent in Manipur, curfew imposed in entire state” published in Indian Express on 4th May 2023

What is the News?

The Manipur government has imposed a curfew in most of the districts and suspended mobile internet services in the entire state after a mass rally organized by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) turned violent.

The rally was organized in protest against the demand for inclusion of the state’s Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

Who are the Meitei community?

The Meiteis are the largest community in Manipur.

Language: They speak the Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), one of the 22 official languages of India and the sole official language of Manipur State.

Distribution: The Meiteis are primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, though a sizable population has settled in the other Indian states of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. 

– There is also a notable presence of Meitei in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. 

Clans: They are divided into clans, the members of which do not intermarry.

Religion: A majority follow Hinduism while more than 8% are Muslims, locally known as Pangals.

Festivals: The various types of festivals that are the most significant, and are celebrated with great joy by meiteis are Lai Haraoba, Cheiraoba, Yaosang among others.

– The Manipuri martial art Thang-ta is a combative sport which had its origin in the Meitei knights during the king’s rule