By Dr. Khomdon Singh Lisam
When I was in Los Angeles in 1997, I was offered a scholarship in connection with drug abuse and HIV/AIDS by the National Institute of Health, (NIH) Bethesda , Maryland to visit some of the research institutes and NGOs in Washington D.C. New York , San Francisco, Tennessee . I was asked to report to NIH . The NIH through the courtesy of my friend Dr. Patricia Needle , Director, NIH send me the air –tickets and travel itinerary. On the last day of my four days stay in Washington D.C. Dr. Patricia Needle offered me a free tour of Washington D.C in her car . Washington D.C is full of attractions and it is the city where the world is changed on a daily basis.
We visited some of the places like White House, Capitol Building, Lenin’s Memorial, Washington Monument. After a brief working lunch, we came to the National Museum of Red Indians . The museum showcased the lives, history, culture of the native Americans. I was intrigued by an exhibit showing how Christopher Columbus presented one native American in his own distinctive style of dress and headgear to queen Isabella of Spain in March, 1493 as evidence of his discovery of America. The native Americans exactly looked like one of us. The next exhibit was one beautiful native girl standing in a pensive mood reminding the stories of native Americans . I scanned through some of the interesting manuscripts, books, documents, videos about native Americans. The museum vividly showed how the native Americans have been tragically mistreated, disrespected and persecuted over the years . I started liking for them and their way of life. I asked Patricia Needle “ what is the percentage of population of native Americans in USA” . She replied – “America is a country of immigrants and the percentage may be very small probably below 2%. You are going to visit Tennessee state where there are more native Americans. Actually hundreds of thousands of native Americans died of epidemic diseases, genocide , internal conflicts. Many of the original tribes and their dialects become extinct.” This visit ignited my curiosity to know more about aboriginal /indigenous populations of America and also other countries.
1. Fate of indigenous people in America
The native Americans have been living in America for the last 60,000 years. The estimated number of Native Americans in North America before arrival of Christopher Columbus on 12 Oct , 1492 ranged from a low of 2.1 million (Ubelaker 1976) to 7 million people (Russell Thornton) to a high of 18 million (Dobyns -1983 Microchronology and Demographic Evidence Relating to the Size of Pre-Columbian North American Indian Populations”. Science 16 June 1995: Vol. 268. no. 5217, pp. 1601–1604 DOI: 10.1126/science.268.5217.1601). In the beginning , the European settlers were amazed to see the lives of native Americans who enjoyed freedom with abundant nourishment without laws, without police and without religion . .(Jean Jacques Rousseau, Jesuit and Savage in New France( Tiya Miles-2008, Ties that Bind :The Story of an Afro-Cherokee Family in Slavery and Freedom. University of California Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=xpusu6xQq6QC&pg=PA33&dq=afro+cherokee+smallpox&lr=#v=onepage&q=afro%20cherokee%20smallpox&f=false)
The arrival of Columbus and subsequently by other settlers from Europe during the nineteenth century wrecked the identity, culture, customs, traditions, language of the native people. From the 16th through the 19th centuries, the population of native Americans declined due to epidemic diseases brought from Europe; genocide and warfare at the hands of European explorers and colonists displacement from their lands; internal warfare, enslavement; and a high rate of intermarriage.( , Handbook of American Indians, “Indian Mixed-Blood”,Frederick W. Hodge 1906.) (“A Brief History of Albuquerque”. www..waybackmachine.org. http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20080224114408/http://www.uwec.edu/freitard/GroupAndMinority/Albuquerque/History/albuquerqueHistory.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-29.. By 1800, the native population of the present-day United States had declined to approximately 600,000, and only 250,000 Native Americans remained in the 1890s. ( Thorton, Russel (1990). American Indian holocaust and survival: a population history since 1492. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 43. ISBN 080612220X.). The great strike of gold in the foothills of the central Sierra Nevada, California in 1848 brought misery and death to large number of native Americans. The inter-marriage between Native American women and European men because of preponderance of men among the colonists in the early years is also one of the important factor for declining the native American population.
Earlier, the Native Americans comprised of several hundred ethno-linguistic groups speaking more than 300 dialects . Now many dialects became extinct (The black-and-white world of Walter Ashby Plecker”. Pilotonline.com. http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=74481&ran=162825.)
In most of the states, the percentage of Native American population is between 0.1 % to 0.2%. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that about 0.8% of the U.S. population was of American Indian or Alaska Native descent.(Indian Achievement Award”. Ipl.org. http://www.ipl.org/div/natam/bin/browse.pl/A29 ) . Because of population invasion from Europe, the native Americans have lost their lands, gold, minerals, identity , culture, traditions, language and their existence is felt only in museums.
2. Fate of indigenous people in Australia
The ancestors of Indigenous Australians are believed to have arrived in Australia some 40,000 to 60,000 years ago, but possibly as early as 70,000 years ago.( Peter Hiscock -2008, Archaeology of Ancient Australia. Routledge: London. ISBN 0-415-33811-5, John Mulvaney and Johan Kamminga -1999. Prehistory of Australia. Allen and Unwin, Sydney. ISBN 1-86448-950-2) .
The Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon landed in Australia in 1606 ( J.P.Sigmond and L.H.Zuiderbaan(1979-Dutch Discoveries of Australia.Rigby Ltd, Australia. p.19-30 ISBN 0-7270-0800-5 ). Other European explorers followed intermittently until, in 1770. James Cook charted the East Coast of Australia for Britain and returned with accounts favouring colonisation at Botany Bay (now in Sydney), New South Wales. ( Wendy Lewis, Simon Balderstone and John Bowan (2006). Events That Shaped Australia. New Holland. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-74110-492-9 ) . The First Fleet of British ships arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788 to establish a penal colony ( Lewis, Balderstone and Bowan -2006 p. 25). Between 1788 and 1868, approximately 161,700 convicts (of whom 25,000 were women) were transported to the Australian colonies of New South Wales, Van Diemen’s land and Western Australia.( Jan Bassett -1986, p. 258). Early colonial administrations were anxious to address the gender imbalance in the population brought about by the importation of large numbers of convict men. Between 1788 and 1792, around 3546 male and 766 female convicts were landed at Sydney (B. H. Fletcher. “Biography – Arthur Phillip – Australian Dictionary of Biography”Adbonline.anu.edu.au. , http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A020292b.htm?hilite=arthur%3Bphillip.) .
The population of Indigenous Australians at the time of permanent European settlement has been estimated at between 318,000 and 750,000, ( Year Book Australia, 2002 Australian Bureau of Statistics 25 January 2002 )
Other colonies were established by Britain around the continent and European explorers went deep into the interior throughout the 19th century. Introduction of diseases and conflict with the British colonists greatly weakened Indigenous Australians throughout the period. A smallpox epidemic was recorded in Sydney in 1789, which wiped out about half the Indigenous Australians around Sydney. It then spread well beyond the then limits of European settlement, including much of southeastern Australia, reappearing in 1829–30, killing 40–60 percent of the Indigenous Australian population.( Richard Broome (1984)Arriving. p.27-28., .(Glynn, Ian; Glynn, Jenifer (2004). The life and death of smallpox. Cambridge University Press. pp. 145–146. ISBN 0-521-84542-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=tL4W3YNMYLIC&pg=PA145.) . Later gold rushes occurred at the Palmer River, Queensland, in the 1870s and it has brought many immigrants to Australia from Great Britain, Ireland, continental Europe, North America and China. The Colony of Victoria’s population grew rapidly, from 76,000 in 1850 to 530,000 by 1859. (C.M.H. Clark -1971, Select Documents in Australian History 1851-1900 (Vol 2) p.664-5. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. ISBN 0-207-13426-X.) Migration brought large numbers of southern and central Europeans to Australia for the first time . Some 4.2 million immigrants arrived between 1945 and 1985, about 40% of whom came from Britain and Ireland.( Jan Bassett -1986, p.138-9
The population tripled in six decades to around 21 million in 2010, with people originating from 200 countries sustaining the 14th biggest economy in the world.(DFAT.gov.au”. DFAT.gov.au. 19 April 1984. http://www.dfat.gov.au/aib/overview.html ) .
As of June 2001, the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated the total resident Indigenous population to be 458,520 (2.4% of Australia`s total). (Hughes, Helen (November 2008). “Who Are Indigenous Australians?”. Quadrant. https://www.quadrant.org.au/magazine/issue/2008/451/who-are-indigenous-australians.) . In the 2006 Census, the indigenous population as of end June 2006 was estimated to be 517,200, representing about 2.5% of the population (“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population”. 1301.0 – Year Book Australia, 2008. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 7 February 2008. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/bb8db737e2af84b8ca2571780015701e/68AE74ED632E17A6CA2573D200110075?opendocument )
There were more than 250-300 languages with 600 dialects spoken by Indigenous Australians prior to the arrival of Europeans. Most of these are now either extinct or moribund, with only about fifteen languages still being spoken by all age groups.( Zuckermann, Ghil`ad, “Aboriginal languages deserve revival”, The Australian Higher Education, 26 August 2009). (“Australian Social Trends” Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1999 ) and another 20 languages are considered to be endangered.( Nathan, D: “Aboriginal Languages of Australia”, Aboriginal Languages of Australia Virtual Library, Dnathan.com 2007
Early commentaries often tended to describe Aborigines as doomed to extinction Following the arrival of Europeans. William Westgarth’s 1864 book on the colony of Victoria observed; “the case of the Aborigines of Victoria confirms …it would seem almost an immutable law of nature that such inferior dark races should disappear.” (Westgarth cited in Richard Broome and Alan Frost (1999) The Colonial Experience: The Port Phillip District 1834-1850. p. 122. HTAV, Melbourne. ISBN 1-86446-412-7.) Now nobody cares about the existence of the indigenous population of Australia .
3. Fate of indigenous people in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Andamanese are the indigenous people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The term includes the Great Andamanese, Jarawa, Onge, Sentinelese and the extinct Jangil. The Great Andamanese, who now number just 52, were originally 10 distinct tribes, 5,000-strong when the British colonised the Andaman Islands. Most were killed or died of diseases brought by the colonisers. Most of the Great Andamanese tribes have forgotten their mother tongues and speak in Hindi now. ( Anosh Malekar, “The case for a linguisitic survey,” Infochange Media, August 1, 2011.)
In 1789, the government of Bengal established a naval base and penal colony on Chatham Island in the southeast bay of Great Andaman. It is now known as Port Blair (after the Bombay Marine lieutenant Archibald Blair who founded it-(Olivier Blaise, Andaman Islands, India, PictureTank, http://www.picturetank.com/___/series/ff5d5b4d962b08bc130471b877292c58/en/Andaman_Isl.,_India_(1).html, )
By 1901, 600 were left.( Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Francesco Cavalli-Sforza-1995, The Great Human Diasporas: The History of Diversity and Evolution, Basic Books, ISBN 0201442310, http://books.google.com/?id=ApuuiwUkEZ0C). Contact with whites and the British in particular, has virtually destroyed them. Illness, alcohol, and the will of the colonials all played their part; the British governor of the time mentions in his diary that he received instructions to destroy them with alcohol and opium. He succeeded completely with one group. The others reacted violently
In 1867, a British government communication mentioned about organizing a punitive expedition against Andamanese people on Little Andaman Island. There is evidence that some sections of the British Indian administration were deliberately working to annihilate the tribes. (Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza, Francesco Cavalli-Sforza -1995, The Great Human Diasporas: The History of Diversity and Evolution, Basic Books, ISBN 0201442310, http://books.google.com/?id=ApuuiwUkEZ0C)..This accelerated the decline of the indigenous tribes of Andamans. At the time of first contact with the British there were an estimated 5,000 Great Andamanese.
The population of the Andamans was 343,125 in 2011 having grown from 50,000 in 1960. Of the people who live in the Andaman Islands, a small minority of about 1,000 are indigenous people of the Andamans. The rest are mainly divided between Bengali, Hindi and Tamil people from the mainland. (“Andaman & Nicobar Islands at a glance”. Andamandt.nic.in. http://andamandt.nic.in/profile.htm.) . Thus the influx of outsiders into Andaman had brought complete ruin of the indigenous population there and they are now on the verge of extinction.
4. Fate of indigenous people in Tripura
Tripura was a princely state. A total of 185 Tripuri Kings ruled Tripura for 3000 years until its merger with the union of India in 1949. Tripura was originally land of almost exclusively of Tripuri people till the nineteenth century. Up to the middle of 20th century Tripuri people were still a majority in the state, but by the middle of 20th century, the Tripuri people became minority in their own homeland.
In 1901 AD, the population percentage of different communities in Tripura were approximately viz. the Tripuri and other indigenous people including the Manipuri was 74.68%, the Muslim Bengali 25.9 %, the Hindu Bengali were just 8.6%. Just after 100 years apart the percentage of different ethnic races as per the census report of 2001 AD stands as follows, approximately the Tripuri and other indigenous people including Manipuri came down from 74.68% to 31.82%, the Muslim Bengali went down 25.9% to 8%, where as the Hindu Bengali percentage went up from 8.6% to 60%. This is the price they have to pay for merging with the Union of India in the name of secularism and democracy .
At the time of merger, the Borok peoples of Tripura had high hope and aspirations in the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi that their identity , political right socio-economic right ,cultural right and educational right will be protected and safeguarded . However the reverse is true. From time of partition, the Government of India permitted Bengali refugees from East Pakistan ( now Bangladesh) to enter and settle in Tripura without any restriction There were no protective measures taken either by the state or the central government to prevent continuous influx of immigrants into the state . The indigenous peoples, who accounted for 95% of the population of Tripura in 1931 census, have been reduced to a mere 31% in the 1991 census mainly due to influx of refugees from East Pakistan. Even the names of different villages, hamlets, rivers, tributaries, markets, area, hills, hillocks, towns etc had been Changed to suit the tongue of Bengali refugees, who had since became majority population.
The unchecked and uncontrolled population invasion from East Pakistan has caused serious , social, political, economic and demographic impact which has destroyed the identity , culture and traditions and language of the indigenous people of Tripura
5. Fate of indigenous people in Manipur
Manipur showed signs of human habitation around 32,000 years back. However the chronology of kings started with Taangja Leela Pakhangba 1445- 1405 B.C. Manipur was a sovereign kingdom till occupation of Manipur by the British on 27 April, 1891. With the investiture of Maharaj Churachand Singh on 29 April, 1892 with 11 gun salutes, Manipur became a princely state of British India.
5.1 Earlier Migration in Manipur
The accounts of earlier settlement in Manipur are given in the ancient books/ puyas like Sagok Lamlem, Thangchat etc. Further information of the people who migrated and settled in Manipur are found in books like Poireiton Khuntokpa (34-18 B.C.), Nongpok Haram, Nongchup Haram, Kumbilon, Mayang Khunthok, etc.
In 1475 during the reign of Meidingu Kyaamba two Brahmins namely Banamali and Haribidyasur, migrated from Cachar. They were appointed as the Brahmins in the service of the Bishnu Afterwards, the followers of the Brahmin were known as Bishnupriya and the place was named Bishnupur. From the Burmese words “Pheiya”, the temple in which Bishnu was worshipped was known as “Phura “ in Manipuri. The descendants of the Brahmin who worshipped at the Phura became known as Phurailatpam. During the reign of Medingu Khagemba (1597-1652) , Sanongba, the younger brother of Khagemba revolted against the king and fought a battle. The battle was concluded on 17th Inga , 1606 with the surrender of 1007 army , 30 elephants , 1000 muskets. The surrendered army included a large number of Muslims and Bishnupriyas. These surrendered sepoys spoke Bangali and there they were called “ Bangal “, later on “ Pangan . They were given free land and Manipuri women and Meitei surnames. During the reign of Meidingu Charai Rongba (1697-1709), The arrival of Brahmins continued as before and they were given Manipuri surnames like Aribam Bishnulatpam, Aribam Sagolailatpam, Aribam Tampallailatpam, Samurailatpam, Sanglakpam,Thongratabam Kongbrailatpam, Hidangmayum. Some wandering pilgrims arrived in Manipur and they were given Manipur women and allowed to settle in Manipur. Since Krishnacharya was the guru of the king , his descendants came to be known as the Guru Aribams or the family of the old Guru.
During the reign of Gourshyam, the KHUNTAK AHANBA(1755-59) occurred when Alaungpaya sent an expedition in 1755 to “instill respect” into the Manipuris . When Alaungpaya entered Imphal only to find it empty for the inhabitants were hiding in the woods. He massacred more than four thousands of his Manipuri prisoners because they stubbornly refused to march way into captivity. He had taken thousands of Manipuris as prisoners. .
The seven year’s devastation (CHAHI TARET KHUNTAKPA) occurred when the Burmese King , Bagidaw (1819-1837) invaded Manipur to punish Marjit Singh in 1819 AD under the great Burmese general Maha Bandula.. Manipur faced the invasion fiercely with only 7000 soldiers of which 3000 died fighting. The seven years devastation was concluded when the Government of Ava recognized the Independence of Manipur , recognised Gambheer Singh as the King of Manipur with the signing of the Treaty of Yandabo on 24 February 1826. At that time, the population of the Manipur valley was hardly 10,000.
In 1835, the British Political Agency was opened for the first time with Lt. Gordon (1835-44) as the first political agent. During Nara Singh’s reign ( 1844-1850) , a large number of Kukis migrated from Burma and they were settled in various parts of Manipur. During 1876-77, Maharaja Chandrakirty permitted about 2000 Kukis from Burma to settle near Moirang and south western part of Manipur .
The first census of Manipur in 1881 reported a total population of 2,21,070, of which 1,17,108 were Meiteis, 85,288 hill tribes, 105 foreigners, and Muslims, Loi, Kei and Mayang counted for 18, 569 (E.W. Dun: Gazetteer of Manipur, 1886). The figures for 1891 census are not available as the records were destroyed in the Anglo-Manipur War, 1891.
In 1891, with the occupation of Manipur by the British , many Bengali migrants started arriving as clerks, teachers , businessmen to Manipur.
5.2 Permit or Passport System in Manipur during 1901-1951
In 1901, the Manipur Durbar devised a very effective system of controlling the entry of foreigners (Non-Manipuris) called the Permit or Passport system when the population of Manipur was only 284,465( 1901 Census) . Indians coming from other parts of India were called foreigners in the terminology of Manipur Administration. This Permit system was brought under the Foreigners Department on 1 November, 1931 . If the foreigners wish to visit Manipur, they were required to take permission from the then Manipur Durbar and had to pay certain amount of taxes. This Permit or Passport System served two important purposes (1) it controls and regulate influx of Non-Manipuris (2) it formed an important item of revenue for the state. The said permit system did not allow any foreigner to acquire or purchase land properties . ( FRIENDS-2012) .
The fees generated annually during 1901-02 to 1907-08 from foreign migrants was as follows –
Year Receipts in Rupees
1901-02 4,428
1902-03 4,281
1903-04 5,730
1904-05 5,794
1905-06 5,939
1906-07 8,964
1907-08 9,256
Source: – UCM (2005).
5.3. Unprecedented Population increase in Manipur during 1951-2911
The following population table shows unprecedented population growth during 1951-2011.
Year of Census Population Decadal Growth Annual growth
1901 284,465
1911 346,222 61757 6175
1921 384,016 37794 3779
1931 445,606 61590 6159
1941 512,069 66463 6646
1951 577,635 65566 6556
1961 780,037 202,402 20240
1971 1,072,753 292716 29271
1981 1,420,953 348200 34820
1991 1,837,149 416196 41619
2001 2,293,896 456447 45644
2011 2,721,756 427860 42786
Source: -Census Report
It can be seen from the above data that there was an unprecedented increase in the growth rate after 1951. .Because this Permit system was abolished by Mr. Himmat Singh , the then Chief Commissioner on 18 November, 1950 allowing free entry, unchecked influx of outsiders from other states . . In any country , foreigners are not allowed to enter without passport and VISA. India is also following the same system. But in Manipur , there is free entry of foreigners from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal and they are allowed to settle in any part of Manipur . All hill districts are worst affected. Senapati, Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Chandel districts are inhabited by Nepalese, Bangladeshis , Burmese and full of Mayangs (outsiders) depriving the indigenous people of their land, properties, jobs and destroying the identity , culture, traditions and language of the people. The inter-marriage between Mayangs and indigenous women are increasing day by day producing a mixed type of people –losing our identity , dignity and respect. This silent population invasion is encouraged by our politicians in their political interest just to win votes. Our politicians welcome them and they are very happy to make arrangement for their safety , security and stay , enrolling them in the electoral roll, arranging ration cards, BPL cards for them and using them as their vote bank. This they are doing silently without the knowledge of the general masses.
5.4 Adverse effects after abolition of permit system in Manipur
The abolition of permit system in Manipur has caused immense damage to the Manipur Society :- The Illegal migration from across our borders and influx of Mayangs ( Outsiders) has continued unabated for the last more than 60 years . .
1. According to 2001 Census, the population of outside migrants in Manipur was 707,488 as against the Meitei population of 751822, tribal population of 670,782 (UCM) . The influx of outsiders has reduced the indigenous tribal population into minority .Within 20 to 30 years, the Meiteis also will be reduced to minority as happened in Tripura and other places. After 50 years, with the globalisation, arrival of railways, Dams, Trans Asian Highways and many other developmental projects , we may be reduced to negligible percentage of population as happened in America, Australia and Andaman and Nicobar islands. 50 years is a short time in the history of a nation or population. Are we prepared for this ?
2. With the abolition of permit system in Manipur , the risk of changing political scenario is very high . Some years ago, one Nepali was elected as MLA . Recently two candidates were aspiring to stand as candidates for MLAs. The proposal was stopped due to intervention by FRIENDS.
3. The influx of outsiders has deprived the indigenous Manipuri population of their ancestral land , food, employment , manual work , education .
4. The inter-marriage between Manipuri women and outsiders is increasing day by day with the risk of producing a mixed population of undefined ancestry. Some of the Manipuri parents are proud of such marriages not knowing the consequences.
5. It has posed a threat to the Manipuri identity and culture of the indigenous Manipuris.
6. It has posed a threat to Manipuri language , scripts and local dialects due to ever increasing influence of Hindi as the link language and “Bazar Bhasa “ in trade and commerce.
7. It has posed a threat to survival of local labourers due to controlled and unchecked influx of cheap labourers from other states, from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar .
8. It has posed a threat to reservation quota for scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes as many of them are also eligible under the same reservation quota.
9. It has deprived the job opportunities of indigenous population
10. It has deprived of higher educational and Technical educational opportunities like MBBS, BDS, BSc ( Nursing) , BE etc, of indigenous population as may of the outsiders are also eligible to apply for the same .
11. It has deprived of competitive posts like MCS, MPS and other high ranking posts of indigenous population as the outsiders are also eligible to apply .We have seen that some of the outsiders holding very high posts in the Government and this is happening at the cost of our local talents.
12. It has posed a threat to Law and Order , Public Security and Safety as many of them indulged in black market , crimes
13. It has posed a threat to survival of small ethnic tribal groups like Aimol ( 2643/2001), Chothe( 2675/2001), Koirao (1200/2001) , Koireng(1056/2001), , Monsang- 1634/2001) , Moyon ( 1,710/2001), Ralte( 110/2001), Salhte 311/2001)
14. It has increased the spread of HIV /AIDS as may of the migrant workers are also indulging in high risk behaviour in sex and drug use .
5.5 The Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation , 1873 and Inner Line Permit
On 27th August, 1873, the British India declared provisions of Act 33 Vict.Chap-3, Section 1 to be applicable to districts o Kamrup, Darrang , Nowgong , Sibsagar, Lakhimpur ( Garo Hills) , Khasi and Jaintia Hills, Naga Hills , Cachar for the peace and government of the said districts . During this period, Manipur was a sovering country and therefore the regulation did not cover Manipur . Under this system, no citizen from other parts of India (Outsider) are not allowed to enter the boundary of a State without a valid pass called Inner Line Permit issued by a competent authority under the regulation . These passes are usually issued by the State Deputy Resident Commissioners / Deputy Commissioners / any other officer authorised by the state Government . The main objective of the Inner Line Permit system was to provide a special protection of the distinct identity and safeguard for the peaceful existence of the indigenous people of the state / district.
If any person so prohibited enters the such line without a pass shall be liable to conviction before a magistrate ( to imprisonment of either description which may extend to one year , to a fine not exceeding Rs. 1000 or to both ) The pass will be issued by the competent authority and will require payment of such duties and fees . as the state Government may deem proper.
Any rubber, wax, ivory or other forest product, (or any book, diary, manuscript, map, picture, photograph, film, curio or article of religious or scientific interest) found in the possession of any person convicted of any offence under this Act may be confiscated to State Government by an order to be passed at the time of conviction by the Magistrate.
If the Magistrate has reason to believe that any article which if found in the possession of a person convicted under this Act would have been liable to confiscation under sub-section (1) has been acquired or wholly or partly written, made or taken by such person beyond “the Inner Line”, the Magistrate after giving the person in whose possession the article is found an opportunity to show cause why an order under the sub-section should not be passed in respect of the article any, unless it is proved that the article was not acquired, written, made or taken as aforesaid, order that such article be confiscated to Government. It shall not be lawful for any person , not being the native of the district to acquire any interest in land or other product of land without sanction of the state Government .
Even after independence , the Government of India implement this Inner Line Permit system in Nagaland , Mizoram and Arunachal. Under Article 29 (Protection of interests of minorities), any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same.
5.6. Benefits on Inner Line permit system to the people of Manipur
1. Protection of land and immovable properties from outsiders . Our land immovable properties will remain intact as no outsider will be allowed to acquire or purchase land
2. There will be reduced unemployment problem in the state . Our youths will not be deprived of the their job opportunities as the outsiders will not be eligible for recruitment to permanent posts due to want of domicile certificate .
3. Our youths will not be deprived of higher posts like MCS , MPS as the outsiders ill not be eligible for appearing in such competitive examinations due to want of domicile certificate .
4. Our youths will not be deprived of the higher education opportunities in MBBS, BDS, BE as the outsiders will not be eligible to apply due to want of domicile certificate .
5. The indigenous Manipuris will not be deprived of manual works
6. Only the indigenous Manipuris will become proprietors of shops and establishments and they can run the market , fix the market price and dominate in the business .
7. The indigenous Manipuris will be elected in general and other elections as the outsiders will not be enrolled in the Electoral Roll .
8. Only genuine candidates ill be elected as the outsiders will no longer have political voice and their localities ill no longer be considered as vote bank .
9. The taxes collected from outsiders will become an important source of revenue in the state .
10. The inner line permit system will bring peace and harmony among the people and between the natives and outsiders and will reduce crimes .
11. The inner line permit system will help in protection and preservation of identity and culture of various ethnic groups in Manipur .
12. The inner line permit system will help in protection of territorial integrity of Manipur
13. The inner line permit system will prevent criminals from entering Manipur.
14. The inner line permit system will help in improving the socio-economic status of the indigenous Manipuris
15. The inner line permit system will help in improving the dignity and self respect of the Manipuris
16. The inner line permit system will help in reduction in the number of outsiders in Manipur –thus reducing tension, anxiety , conflicts and improve mutual respect between Manipuris and Non-Manipuris
17. The inner line permit system will help in prevention and control of various diseases like Dengue, Leprosy, Malaria ,. HIV, AIDS and STIs,
17. The inner line permit system will help in protection of small ethnic groups like Tarao , Purum , SULTE , RALTE ho are facing extinction .
5.7. Earlier Assurances of the Government of Manipur
1. On 22 July, 1980, the All Manipur Students Union(MSU) and All Manipur Students Co-ordinating Committee (AMSCOC) signed an agreement with the Government of Manipur to initiate identification, detection of foreigners from 1st August, 1980 of all outsiders and send them back home.
2. On 9 November, 1994, a second such agreement as signed by the AMSU with the Government of Manipur. There have been a series of protests and movement for introduction of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur . The response of the state government is quite encouraging .
3.On 30th June, 2006, FRIENDS had submitted a memorandum to the State Government for introduction of Inner Line Permit in Manipur
4.On 2nd March, 2006, I . Hemochandra , Hon’ble MLA had initiated a discussion on Inner Line Permit in the Manipur State Assembly
5.On 26 August, 2011, Shri N. Mangi Singh Hon’ble MLA put up a Calling Attention Motion on Inner Line Permit System in Manipur in the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the matter is pending with the State Cabinet since 27 August, 2011 .
6.On 27 August, 2011, the State Cabinet under leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister, Manipur had discussed about the need to introduce the Inner Line Permit system in Manipur .
7.On 5th November, 2011, the FRIENDS had submitted the report of the Expert Committee on Inner Line Permit to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Manipur
6. Do we need a Special Status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
On 26 October, 1947 Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) signed the instrument of accession and sent it to Lord Mountbatten, the then Governor General for acceptance, Under the Instrument of Accession, the Government of India would be responsible for defence, communication and external affaires. On 27 October 1947, Instrument of Accession was accepted by the Governor General (Subjects proposed for transfer included Defence, External Affairs, Communications and Ancillary items). On 26 January 1950, The Constitution of India comes into effect – Article 1, under which the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was a part of the territory of India and Article 370, giving a special status to the State were applied to J&K. On 26 January 1950, The Constitution (Application to J&K) order 1950 was issued under Article 370. In February 1954, The Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir ratified J&K`s accession to India. On 14 May 1954, the recommendations of the Constituent Assembly were duly incorporated in the Indian constitution through a Presidential order.
Maharaja Bodhchandra signed the Instrument of Accession on 11th August, 1947. Under the Instrument of Accession, the Government of India would be responsible for defence, communication and external affaires. The merger of Manipur with the Union of India remains controversial as the Constituent Assembly never ratified the Instrument of Accession or the Merger Agreement.
The Government of India is trying to suppress the Manipuris by using various tactics such as denying our constitutional rights , by population invasion and playing divide and rule policy and instigating one ethnic group to fight with another group and imposing Armed Forces Special Power Act.
7. What the State Government need to do now ?
The State will welcome any foreigner or outsider as tourists, students or patients for undergoing medical treatment or for doing business .They may come for work subject to issue of work permit. But they need to have a Pass which need verification and updating from time to time . The State Government need to do three things :-
1. The State Government should rigorously implement the Foreigners Act-1946.
2. The Manipur State Assembly may pass a strong resolution to move the Government of India to provide a Special Status for Manipur under article 370 of the Indian Constitution as done in case of Jammu and Kashmir . But this may take time and may not be possible within a short time.
3. In the mean time, the Manipur State Assembly may pass adoption of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation -1873 for Manipur to check, control and regulate influx of outsiders
