‘The Idea of Ethnic Homelands is obsolete and against democratic political culture, and Manipur’s pluralistic integrity is historically distinctive’ asserts Arambam Noni at 57th UNHRC Side event, Geneva.
TFM Report
Speaking as the second panelist at a side-event of the 57th Session of UNHRC in Geneva on September 30, 2024, Arambam Noni, Associate Professor, D.M. University, Manipur, has convincingly argued that the “Idea of Ethnic Homelands is obsolete and against democratic political culture”. He further said that Manipur’s pluralistic integrity is historically distinctive and needs to be nurtured rather than instigating fragmentation.
Arambam Noni first outlined the distinct status of the historically evolved erstwhile Asiatic Democratic Kingdom State of Manipur which had become of a part of India after it was made to sign the Manipur Merger Agreement in 1949 has been in the news today for being mired in conflicts and violence for long. While terming the demands for ethno-centric homelands as untenable and obsolete, Arambam Noni explained the multi-cultural character of Manipur. “Today, Manipur is witnessing the growth of divisive forces that play the cards of myopic ethnicity leading to the undermining of the historical and legal foundations of Manipurs pluralistic demography and territoriality”, said Noni.
He further argued that the sectarian ethnic politics were evidently fuelled by trans-national instability in the region, and the growing illicit economic regimentation with an annual estimated 40 billion US $ drug market value in Myanmar alone. While giving reasons to why ethno-centric ideas were obsolete, Noni pointed out that there not less than 35 communities co-exist in Manipur. Due to the increasing weaponisation of ethnicity by a section of elites and academics, as seen in the case of exclusive narrative for a Kuki Lebensraum in India-Myanmar-Bangaldesh region, there is an apparent design to proliferate inter-ethnic tension as an instrument to segregate people exclusively on ethnic lines argued Noni.
He further explained that such ethno-centric claims were not only obsolete but also balkanizes the multi-cultural polities and undermine democratic foundations of modern-states. There is a need for discouraging ethnocentric claims and politics said Arambam Noni. He also highlighted the dangers of weaponising of ethnicity for the reason that in the name of ethnic homelands the hitherto existing smaller and micro-tribes in India-Myanmar region were either suppressed or coerced to submit to the dominant ethnic ambitions.
Noni explained that the ethnic tension in Manipur was a byproduct of ethnic weaponisation and a desire to sanitize demography in favour of exclusive ethnic homelands. He also raised the grave issue of the deprivation of a significant section of valley inhabitants in Manipur from having access to the national highways for more than a year that connects them with the outside world which Noni termed as ‘arbitrary and unjust’.
While raising the issue of bizarre land laws in Manipur, Noni applauded the cosmopolitan nature of central valley of Manipur which is about 8% of states territory but which is a home to nearly 60% of states population. However, he expressed his concerns on the increasing ethnocentric politics and unfair asymmetric administrative laws that could convert the central valley into a geographic minority.
While flagging off the issue of skewed demographic growth patterns and deforestation, Arambam Noni argued that the trans-border factors like drug trade, shifting of poppy cultivation to Manipur, human-trafficking, displacements due to turmoil in Myanmar and congregation of new ethnic groups in Manipur had played its significant role in escalating inter-ethnic anxieties in Manipur. The evident opposition to enumeration of citizens, and undermining of the issue of loss of 877 sq. km. of forests cover in between 1987 and 2021 and skewed demographic growth patterns in Manipur state of India by section of ethnic groups has posed enormous challenge to rule of law, institutions of governance, food security, and sustainable development, argued Arambam Noni.
Talking on the issue of way of forward, Arambam Noni appealed for urgent restoration of normalcy in Manipur. Re-iterating the un-tenability of the demands for ethnic homelands, he concluded by calling upon the relevant stakeholders to preserve the integrity and unity of Manipur state under the mandates as implicated in the Article 1 and Schedule 1, Entry 19 of the Indian Constitution, and the principles of international norms such as the uti possidetis juris.