Meitei people

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Meitei people
Total population
1,800,000+[1] (2011)
Regions with significant populations
 India1,760,913[2]
          Manipur1,522,132[3]
          Assam168,127[4]
          Tripura23,779[5]
          Nagaland9,511[6]
          Meghalaya4,451[7]
          Arunachal Pradesh2,835[8]
          Mizoram2,242[9]
 Myanmar25,000[10]
 Bangladesh15,000[1]
Languages
Meiteilon
Religion
Hinduism, Sanamahism
Related ethnic groups
Pangal, Meitei Christians, Nagas, Kukis, Zomis, Bamar, Tripuri, Shan
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Meitei people
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The Meitei people, or Manipuri people or Meitei Tribe,[11] are an ethnic group native to the state of Manipur in northeastern India. The Meitei primarily settled in the Imphal Valley region in modern-day Manipur, although a sizable population have settled in Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Mizoram;[1][12] with notable presence in the neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh.[1][10][13] The Meitei ethnic group represents about 53% of Manipur's population.[14]

Endonyms and exonyms[]

The Meitei are known by a number of endonyms, Meitei, Meetei, Meithei (Meitei), and as well as by numerous exonyms, such as Meckley,[15][16] Manipuri, Cassay-Shan, and Kathe (Burmese). The term Manipuri is widely used, but problematic because of its ambiguous scope: next to being a synonym for Meitei/Meetei, it can also refer in a wider sense to the native ethnic groups in the hills of Manipur.[11] Meitei is not pronounced as "Mai-Tai" in Chinese Pinyin, but is simply read as Mei-Tei.

Origins and history[]

Main article: History of Manipur

Little documentation exists in the form of written records about Manipuri history concerning the spans between Iron Age and the first millennium in North East India. The geopolitical history of the region along with the ethno-linguistic background of the inhabitants are largely unknown.[17][18][19]

Meiteis are assumed to be non-autochthonous inhabitants — one of the seven yeks (clans) in the valley — who had migrated from Southern China during the late Iron Age, sometime before the Christian era.[20][20] The earliest sections of Ch.K., a Meitei chronicle, records the gradual expansion of Meiteis across Manipur and assimilation of other clans into a confederacy.[21][22]

Language[]

Main article: Meitei language

The Meitei people speak Meiteilon (also known as Manipuri), a Tibeto-Burman language. Meiteilon is one of the officially recognized languages of India, and was included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India in 1992.[23]

Historically, Meitei was written in an indigenous Meitei Mayek script;[24] the script was replaced by an alphabet based on the Bengali-Assamese script in the early 18th century.[25] The Meitei Mayek script has seen a revival in recent decades, and is now seen in street signs, newspapers, literature, and legislative proceeding records.[26]

In Assam Manipuri language is taught at the primary level, and at the graduate level in Gauhati University; though it is not one of the associate languages in the state.[27] In Bangladesh Manipuri is not language and the Manipuri people are educated in Bengali rather than in their native Manipuri.[28]

Some of the most notable Meitei historical literary works, written by court scholars, include:

  • Cheitharol Kumbaba, the royal chronicle of Meitei kings
  • Wakoklon Heelel Thilel Salai Amailon Pukok Puya, the oldest extant Meitei manuscript, first written in 1400 CE and rediscovered in 1971
  • Puya (Meitei texts), preserved manuscripts (lit. meaning "accepted by ancestors")

Calendar[]

Main article: Meitei calendar
Further information: Sanamahi creation myth § Seven days of Creation

The Meitei follow a traditional calendar called Maliyafam Palcha Kumsing, which has 12 months and a 7-day week, like the Gregorian calendar.[29]

Culture[]

Lai haraoba Dance
Raslila in Manipuri Dance style

Most of the rich culture of Manipur can be credited to the Meiteis. Since ancient times the valley region of Manipur was trading crossroads between India and Myanmar and gradually the valley portion of Manipur became the melting pot of Indo-Burman culture. The famous Manipuri dance form had its roots from the Lai Haraoba dance form.

They are also known for their contribution to art, literature and cinema. M.K. Binodini Devi, Khwairakpam Chaoba Singh, Ratan Thiyam, Aribam Syam Sharma, Rajkumar Shitaljit Singh, Elangbam Nilakanta Singh, Heisnam Kanhailal and Sabitri Heisnam are some of the prominent personalities in the field.

The Meitei people are very fond of horse riding.

Art[]

The Manipuri martial art Thang-ta is a combative sport which had its origin from the Meitei knights during the kings rule. It involves various fighting techniques with swords and spears.

Theatre and cinema[]

Main article: Cinema of Manipur

The first Manipuri film, Matamgi Manipur, was released on 9 April 1972.[30] Paokhum Ama (1983) is the first full-length colour feature film (according to the Academy's definition of a feature film)[31] of Manipur and was directed by Aribam Syam Sharma. Lammei (2002) is the first Manipuri Video film to have a commercial screening at a theatre.[32] As the production of video films gained momentum, the Manipur film industry got expanded and around 40–50 films are made each year.

Religion and festivals[]

Further information: Sanamahism and Sanamahi creation myth

According to the 2011 census, Meiteis follow only two religions, with overwhelming majority of Meiteis practicing variants of Hinduism. Around 16% of Meiteis traditionally believe in Sanamahi religion named after god Sanamahi. Meiteis follow both Hindu as well as Sanamahi religious traditions and rituals. For example, they worship Sanamahi in the south-west corners of their homes.[33] The various types of festivals that are the most significant, and are celebrated with great joy by meiteis are Rasalila, Janmastami, Holi, Lai Haraoba, Cheiraoba, Yaosang, Jagannath Rath Yatra, Holi, Diwali, Ram Navami etc.

Subsistence[]

The Meitei are mainly agriculturists in which rice is a staple crop. However, they also grow mangoes, lemons, pineapples, oranges, guavas, and other fruits. Fishing is also common among the Meitei that can either be a profession or a hobby. Women tend to dominate the local markets as sellers of food items, textiles, and traditional clothing.[34]

Sports[]

Traditional Meitei sports are still in existence, with some even spreading throughout the world.

Some sports are worth mentioned as follows:

  • Sagol Kangjei: It is the earliest form of modern-day Polo which traces its origin to Manipur. According to Guinness World Records (1992), " Polo can be traced to origins in Manipur state, India, C. 3100 CE when it was played as 'Sagol Kangjei'".
  • Mukna Kang-jei: It is a form of Meitei Wrestling. It is considered to be the most masculine form of sports.
  • Khong kangjei: It is a form of Meitei Hockey.
  • Mukna Kangjei
  • (Woo-Laobi)

They introduced polo to the west when the British came to Manipur valley during the kings rule. It is locally called Sagol Kangjei. It is believed that the game was played by the Gods of Meiteis as a practice of warfare.

Mukna a unique form of wrestling popular amongst the Meiteis.

Yubi lakpi is a traditional full contact game played by Meiteis using a coconut, which has some notable similarities to rugby.[1] Yubi lakpi literally means "coconut snatching". The coconut is greased to make it slippery. There are rules of the game, as with all Manipur sports. It is played on the lush green turf. Each side has 7 players in a field with about 45x18 meters in area.[6] The goal post is 4.5x3 meters box in the central portion of the goal line. The coconut serves the purpose of a ball and is offered to the king, the chief guest or the judges before the game begins. The aim is to run while carrying the greased coconut and physically cross over the goal line, while the other team tackles and blocks any such attempt as well as tries to grab the coconut and score on its own.

(Hi Yangba Tanaba) is a traditional boat rowing race[1] and festivity of the Panas.

Notable Meitei[]

Main article: List of Meitei People

Diaspora[]

Myanmar (Burma)[]

An 1855 watercolour of a Kathe horseman in the Burmese royal service

Myanmar is home to a sizable community of Meiteis, who are called Kathe in Burmese.[35] Unlike other Hindu communities in Myanmar, the Meitei resemble other Burmese ethnic groups in terms of physical appearance, which has accelerated their assimilation and integration into Burmese society.[35] In the early 1950s, Burmese Meiteis numbered approximately 40,000, with a third of them residing in Mandalay.[36] Current estimates are approximately 25,000.[10] Meiteis have resettled throughout the country, including in villages near Myitkyina to the north, Homalin, Kalewa, Pyay, in the center of the country, and Yangon to the south.[36] They continue to practice Hinduism in Myanmar.[37]

As a result of wars between Meitei kingdom and the Konbaung dynasty between the 17th and 18th centuries, many Meiteis were resettled in the Burmese kingdom.[38] Some Meitei settlements in modern-day Myanmar originate from the 1758–1759 war, and from the Burmese occupation of Manipur from 1819 to 1826.[38][36] Alaungpaya, during the former campaign, resettled Meiteis in Sagaing and Amarapura.[36] The Meitei people's horsemanship skills were employed in the Burmese royal army, where they formed the elite Cassay cavalry (ကသည်းမြင်းတပ်) and artillery regiments (ကသည်းအမြောက်တပ်) which were employed during the Burmese–Siamese wars.[39] The Burmese court also retained a retinue of Meitei Brahmins called Bamons, also called Kathe Ponna (ကသည်းပုဏ္ဏား) to advise and conduct court rituals.[36]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Meitei". Ethnologue. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Languages Specified in the Eight Schedule (Scheduled Languages)" (PDF). census.gov.in. Retrieved 29 September 2020. Listed as Manipuri in the 2011 Indian census
  3. ^ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Manipur". census.gov.in. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  4. ^ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Assam". census.gov.in. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  5. ^ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Tripura". census.gov.in. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  6. ^ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Nagaland". census.gov.in. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  7. ^ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Meghalaya". census.gov.in. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  8. ^ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Arunachal Pradesh". census.gov.in. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  9. ^ "C-16 Population By Mother Tongue - Mizoram". census.gov.in. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  10. ^ a b c Sunil, Oinam; 2015-07-14. "Manipuris in Mandalay see ray of hope in Modi". The Times of India. Retrieved 25 May 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ a b Samson, Kamei (2019). "Theorising Social Fear in the Context of Collective Actions in Manipur". Journal of Northeast Indian Cultures. 4 (2): 12–43. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
    P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."
    P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal."
  12. ^ "Festivals in Meghalaya, Fairs and Festivals of Meghalaya". Travelhot.in. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  13. ^ Thokchom, Khelen (19 May 2008). "Myanmar Meiteis in search of roots". The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  14. ^ Khomdan Singh Lisam, Encyclopaedia Of Manipur, ISBN 978-8178358642, pp. 322–347
  15. ^ Temple, RC (1894). "Contributions Towards the History of Anglo: Burmese Words". The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland: 152–164.
  16. ^ Sanjeev, Thingnam (2020). "Surveying and producing the frontier in nineteenth century Manipur: challenges and practices". Asian Ethnicity. 21 (1): 122–136. doi:10.1080/14631369.2019.1585750. S2CID 150642454.
  17. ^ Parratt (2005), pp. 2, 13.
  18. ^ Brandt (2017), pp. 122.
  19. ^ Sebastian (2019), pp. 55.
  20. ^ a b Parratt (2005), pp. 1, 3.
  21. ^ Parratt (2005), pp. 4.
  22. ^ Sebastian (2019), pp. 57–58.
  23. ^ "Eight Schedule of the Constitution of India" (PDF). Mha.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  24. ^ "History of Meetei Mayek". Tabish.freeshell.org. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  25. ^ "Manipuri language and alphabets". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
  26. ^ Laithangbam, Iboyaima (23 September 2017). "Banished Manipuri script stages a comeback". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  27. ^ Iboyaima, Laithangbam (27 September 2020). "Assam to look into demand to include Manipuri in list of associate languages". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  28. ^ Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (9 October 2013). "Bangladesh: Situation and treatment of Hindu Manipuri ethnic minority, including women; ability of women, particularly Manipuri women, to relocate and access housing and employment within Bangladesh (2006-October 2013)". Refworld. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Names of 12 months of Kangleipak concepts and significances". e-pao.net. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Manipuri Cinema". kanglafilms.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  31. ^ "91st Academy Awards Rules" (PDF). The Oscars. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  32. ^ "From Manipur, stories of the women actors who didn't get to play Mary Kom". The Indian Express. 17 August 2014.
  33. ^ "'Inclusion of Sanamahi religion in minority is being reviewed' : 27th aug11 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  34. ^ Winston, Robert, ed. (2004). Human: The Definitive Visual Guide. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 441. ISBN 0-7566-0520-2.
  35. ^ a b Nongthombam, Jiten (1 July 2011). "The Meitei Diaspora in Myanmar". Diaspora Studies. 4 (2): 155–167. doi:10.1080/09739572.2011.10597359 (inactive 31 October 2021). ISSN 0973-9572.CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of October 2021 (link)
  36. ^ a b c d e Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
  37. ^ "စစ်ကိုင်းမြို့တွင် ကသည်းမယ်တော်ကြီးချိုးရေတော်သုံးပွဲကျင်းပ" [Three festivals of Kathe Maedaw Gyi Cho Ye Taw held in Sagaing]. Eleven Broadcasting. 13 June 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  38. ^ a b Oinam, Bhagat (2005). Murayama, Mayumi (ed.). "Manipur". Sub-Regional Relations in the Eastern South Asia: With Special Focus on India's North Eastern Region. 133.
  39. ^ Singha, Memchaton (2016). "Marriage Diplomacy Between the States of Manipur and Burma, 18Th to 19Th Centuries". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 77: 874–879. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 26552717.

Sources[]


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