Simultaneous Census & NRC for Manipur
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Free Thinker
Since the official declaration that the National census will start from the April Fool’s day of 2026 there has been a series of demands for preparing NRC (National Register of Citizens) before the census is held for the State of Manipur. Such demands are mainly from the Parties, Organizations and NGOs which believe that Manipur is heavily infested with foreigners coming from Burma, Bangladesh etc. Their apprehensions may have some basis.
Though Manipur is a tiny State with a population of 38 lacs (just pre census estimation) its issues are very intricate. They are 36 ethnic groups living together and fighting one another within an area of about 23 thousand square km. It has a long recorded history since the first century AD.
If the entire Meitei community (largest ethnic group) is treated as one caste or tribe – there is no harm. The Meitei community includes Pangans (Muslims) and Bamons (Brahmans). The idea of Caste or Verna is not fundamental to the Manipur society. What is intrinsic to the Manipuri society is that the entire population was socialistic and egalitarian.
Due to the influence of outside culture, religion and ideas – the whole Manipuri society has been fragmented into pieces. And again due to ethnic and power politics the same society has been inflamed. The horrific episodes in the last few years have been the byproduct of ethnic parochialism and outside influence or instigation. The possibility of outside power is still not ruled out.
There were controversies in the past regarding the Manipur census; particularly the 2001 and 2011 census. The population growth in some hill subdivisions were so high that the figures sounded highly manipulated. There were objections, even Court cases pertaining to some few districts. Obviously there was some abnormal increase in the population. Such a demographic surge was impossible without illegal additions. Natural births and internal minor migration can’t produce such a dramatic jump.
This time also the apprehension is that infiltrations from the neighboring countries particularly from Myanmar may puncture our census. Since there has been a civil war – political instability – many people might have entered India from Myanmar through the porous borders. Mizoram has openly declared that they are taking care of more than 10 thousand refugees from Myanmar.
Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal have not made any such declarations. Obviously there might be immigration from Burma to these States also. Since Myanmar is in turmoil many might have fled the country – particularly for those who are inimical to the Military Junta. Manipur did not declare any figure of intruders or refugees. But a UN report says more than 50 thousand Burmese have entered North East India since 2021. So, many might have taken shelter in Manipur too.
Even before 2021, there were many Burmese entering Indian territory as we have the FMR (Free Movement Regime) agreement. We have hundreds of cases of matrimonial alliance between the Indian Kuki-Zo-Chin people with their counterparts in Myanmar. Their culture is very similar. Despite differences in their dialects they can even communicate among themselves. FMR hastened their closeness and increased bonhomie though they belong to separate countries.
Once the political map is drawn the sovereign boundary should be respected until and unless it is changed. For instance - now India and Bangladesh are two different countries. Due to this political boundary even the same people are divided. The Bengalis are divided – they are bound to respect their National boundary. They can’t say that since we belong to the same stock of people we don’t care about the National boundaries. That is not done.
Historical events brought about changes. Once upon a time West Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh was one. Now, the present position is – Bangladesh is an independent country, West Bengal is a State in India. Likewise Assam is also a State within India. So people living in this region can’t say that we are a people we should be allowed to go anywhere and live anywhere in this region (Ban- gladesh, Assam, Bengal).
One quirky thing about this decadal census (the 16th National census) is that now, we are going to count the number of Castes and their respective population. Suppose I belong to Kshatriya Caste (Verna) – shall be counted as a member of Kshatriya (warrior, ruling class) . Now the argument ought to be reservation is no more on the basis of caste or community – it is purely on demand abd need basis. Though Meiteis, most of them are Kshatriyas, they can still demand ST status because it is need based (and tribal in pre Independence census). Without indulging into politics Manipur may be allowed to conduct its census in the NRC style to serve both the purposes. A strict and unique census may be permitted by the Union MHA for Manipur specific - based on Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Govt. issued certificates, Passport, Govt. education certificates, land/tenancy/Court records, ancestrally linked documents and finally a DNA test (in case of controversies). Census officials may be given army protection. One year may be provided for this entire exercise from April fool's day, 2026 to the next April fool's day. Don’t forget to count the live-in partners – it is mandatory to count them as couples, as per the census procedure.
Since the official declaration that the National census will start from the April Fool’s day of 2026 there has been a series of demands for preparing NRC (National Register of Citizens) before the census is held for the State of Manipur. Such demands are mainly from the Parties, Organizations and NGOs which believe that Manipur is heavily infested with foreigners coming from Burma, Bangladesh etc. Their apprehensions may have some basis.
Though Manipur is a tiny State with a population of 38 lacs (just pre census estimation) its issues are very intricate. They are 36 ethnic groups living together and fighting one another within an area of about 23 thousand square km. It has a long recorded history since the first century AD.
If the entire Meitei community (largest ethnic group) is treated as one caste or tribe – there is no harm. The Meitei community includes Pangans (Muslims) and Bamons (Brahmans). The idea of Caste or Verna is not fundamental to the Manipur society. What is intrinsic to the Manipuri society is that the entire population was socialistic and egalitarian.
Due to the influence of outside culture, religion and ideas – the whole Manipuri society has been fragmented into pieces. And again due to ethnic and power politics the same society has been inflamed. The horrific episodes in the last few years have been the byproduct of ethnic parochialism and outside influence or instigation. The possibility of outside power is still not ruled out.
There were controversies in the past regarding the Manipur census; particularly the 2001 and 2011 census. The population growth in some hill subdivisions were so high that the figures sounded highly manipulated. There were objections, even Court cases pertaining to some few districts. Obviously there was some abnormal increase in the population. Such a demographic surge was impossible without illegal additions. Natural births and internal minor migration can’t produce such a dramatic jump.
This time also the apprehension is that infiltrations from the neighboring countries particularly from Myanmar may puncture our census. Since there has been a civil war – political instability – many people might have entered India from Myanmar through the porous borders. Mizoram has openly declared that they are taking care of more than 10 thousand refugees from Myanmar.
Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal have not made any such declarations. Obviously there might be immigration from Burma to these States also. Since Myanmar is in turmoil many might have fled the country – particularly for those who are inimical to the Military Junta. Manipur did not declare any figure of intruders or refugees. But a UN report says more than 50 thousand Burmese have entered North East India since 2021. So, many might have taken shelter in Manipur too.
Even before 2021, there were many Burmese entering Indian territory as we have the FMR (Free Movement Regime) agreement. We have hundreds of cases of matrimonial alliance between the Indian Kuki-Zo-Chin people with their counterparts in Myanmar. Their culture is very similar. Despite differences in their dialects they can even communicate among themselves. FMR hastened their closeness and increased bonhomie though they belong to separate countries.
Once the political map is drawn the sovereign boundary should be respected until and unless it is changed. For instance - now India and Bangladesh are two different countries. Due to this political boundary even the same people are divided. The Bengalis are divided – they are bound to respect their National boundary. They can’t say that since we belong to the same stock of people we don’t care about the National boundaries. That is not done.
Historical events brought about changes. Once upon a time West Bengal, Assam and Bangladesh was one. Now, the present position is – Bangladesh is an independent country, West Bengal is a State in India. Likewise Assam is also a State within India. So people living in this region can’t say that we are a people we should be allowed to go anywhere and live anywhere in this region (Ban- gladesh, Assam, Bengal).
One quirky thing about this decadal census (the 16th National census) is that now, we are going to count the number of Castes and their respective population. Suppose I belong to Kshatriya Caste (Verna) – shall be counted as a member of Kshatriya (warrior, ruling class) . Now the argument ought to be reservation is no more on the basis of caste or community – it is purely on demand abd need basis. Though Meiteis, most of them are Kshatriyas, they can still demand ST status because it is need based (and tribal in pre Independence census). Without indulging into politics Manipur may be allowed to conduct its census in the NRC style to serve both the purposes. A strict and unique census may be permitted by the Union MHA for Manipur specific - based on Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Govt. issued certificates, Passport, Govt. education certificates, land/tenancy/Court records, ancestrally linked documents and finally a DNA test (in case of controversies). Census officials may be given army protection. One year may be provided for this entire exercise from April fool's day, 2026 to the next April fool's day. Don’t forget to count the live-in partners – it is mandatory to count them as couples, as per the census procedure.