Manipur CM cites historical hill outreach to pitch for lasting peace
At an event in Imphal on Tuesday, he said most Manipuri kings spent 100 days a year in the hills to facilitate interaction among the different communities
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh highlighted the hill outreach of Manipuri kings in history to promote lasting peace amid the ethnic conflict gripping the State. Speaking at an event to commemorate the 228th death anniversary of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra, Singh cited historical sources to illustrate how Manipuri or Meitei monarchs spent a significant portion of their year in the hills.
He explained that these historical experiences underscored how elders facilitated interaction and unity among the State's diverse communities, thereby strengthening the concept of a united Manipur. Located approximately 90% in hills encircling the Imphal Valley, Manipur's ethnic landscape comprises the dominant Meitei population in the valley and the Kuki-Zomi and Naga communities in the surrounding hills.
The State has experienced conflicts among these groups and others over the past decades, with the most recent and severe outbreak starting in May 2023. Singh emphasized that the cultural and historical ties between Manipur and neighboring regions in Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, maintained through institutions and settlements called Rajbari, demonstrate the enduring bonds between Manipur and its neighbors.
He argued that these historical connections and the visionary leadership of Manipur's kings are key to achieving peaceful coexistence among all communities, essential for the State's development. The Chief Minister also lamented the economic toll of the conflict, noting its severe impact on daily wage earners and other sectors reliant on regular economic activity.
He urged the people and civil society groups to resolve differences through dialogue rather than through shutdowns or highway blockades. Drawing a parallel with the rejuvenation of a withered flower post monsoon, Singh called for collective efforts to restore peace and economic activity in Manipur, which has seen over 300 deaths and the displacement of more than 60,000 people amid the ongoing ethnic conflict.
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