The

Meitei people The Meitei people, also known as Meetei people,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." are a Ti ...

(), also called Manipuri people (), is one of the minority ethnic groups in Assam. They are referred to as ''Mekhlee'', ''Mekhelee'', ''Meckley'', ''Monipuri'', ''Monipuriya'', ''Magalu'', ''Mogolu'', ''Moglie'', ''Moglai'', among many other names dedicated to them by the other

people of Assam The People of Assam inhabit a multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-religious society. They speak languages that belong to four main language groups: Tibeto-Burman, Indo-Aryan, Tai-Kadai, and Austroasiatic. The large number of ethnic an ...

. Meiteis call

Assam Assam (, , ) is a state in Northeast India, northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra Valley, Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . It is the second largest state in Northeast India, nor ...

as "Tekhao" or "Tekhau" or "Tekhaw" (). In October 2020 their population was estimated 168,127 with its population, the Meitei tribe is a fairly large ethnic minority in Assam and Meitei culture can be found in everywhere places.

History

In the 16th century, the kings of Tekhao (

Meitei language Meitei (; ) also known as Manipuri ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the scheduled ...

term for Assam) and Manipur had friendly relations. This friendship grew stronger after a route to Assam opened in 1536-37, leading to more social and cultural exchanges, as well as people moving between the regions. Meitei people started settling in Assam after a

royal marriage Royal Marriage is a patience or solitaire game using a deck of 52 playing cards. It is an eliminator game in the style of the solitaire game Accordion. The game is so called because the player seems to remove anything that comes between the Quee ...

in 1537. When Burmese King

Bayinnaung , title = King of Toungoo , image = Bayinnaung.JPG , caption = Statue of Bayinnaung in front of the National Museum of Myanmar , reign = 30 April 1550 – 10 October 1581 , coronation = 11 January 1551 at Taungoo, ...

of the Toungo dynasty captured Manipur kingdom during the reign of Meitei King Mungyamba (, 1562-1597), many people left Manipur. This movement continued until September 18, 1891. The emigrants from Manipur had to choose one of the routes through the hills, either Tongjei Maril () or Akhui routes. The lower plains of the Surma valley (also known as Barak valley) were good places for the

to settle because of their favorable geography, politics, and economy. In Assam’s history, a Meitei princess named

Kuranganayani Kuranganayani was a Manipuri princess who became Queen of the Ahom Kingdom. She was the daughter of Jai Singh, she was married to Rajeswar Singha. She was instrumental in killing Moamoria rebel Raghab Borbarua. Life and marriages The Ahom Ki ...

(), the queen of Assamese King Swargadeo Rajeshwor Singh, became a heroine when she killed a rebel named Raghav Moran with a sword in 1769. Historian S.K. Bhuyan says she is honored among Assam’s heroic women. Another royal marriage happened after the death of Swargadeo Rajeshwor Singh, when his brother Swargadeo Lakshmi Singh married a Meitei princess. These events led to more Meitei people settling in Tekhao (Assam). One reason for the Meitei settlement in the Barak Valley is a conflict in 1604 between King

Khagemba King Khagemba (Conqueror of the Chinese; 1597–1654), was a monarch from the Kingdom of Kangleipak. He also introduced a new form of polo and new apparel styles. Under his regime he focused on a new form of Manipur and built many markets ...

() and his youngest brother Sanongba () over a minor issue involving a broken boat.

fled to Cachar with two generals, Yakharek () and Bhimbol (). This event led to the Meiteis settling in

Cachar Cachar district is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. After independence, the pre-existing undivided Cachar district was split into four districts: Dima Hasao (formerly North Cachar Hills), Hailakandi, Karimganj, and the ...

, also known as the Barak Valley. Another reason is a matrimonial alliance recorded in 1720. Raja Ram Chandra Narayan, the ruler of Cachar, married Rani Projabati Devi (), a Meitei princess. During Ram Chandra’s reign, the capital of Cachar was Khaspur. The Meitei attendants of Princess Meitei Chanu Projabati Devi began to settle permanently in Cachar. During the rule of Meitei King Chitsai (), some Meitei people had to move to Cachar because of political exile. King Chitsai and his followers were forced to live in Cachar from 1752, after the assassination of Meitei King

Pamheiba Gharib Niwaz (also known as Pamheiba, 1690–1751, , ) was the ruler of the Manipur Kingdom, ruling from c. 1709 until his death in 1751. He introduced Hinduism as the state religion of his kingdom (1717) and changed the name of the kingdom fr ...

(), also known as Garibnawaz. Meitei King Bheigyachandra (, 1759-1758) lost and regained his power four times. After each Burmese invasion, he had to flee with his followers. Because of his frequent need for political asylum, the emigrants formed a network. Meitei King Modhuchandra () ruled from 1800 to 1803. In 1803, his brother

Chourjit Singh Chourjit Singh, also known as Charajit Singh, was a Meitei King and a Maharaja of , who ruled between 1806 and 1812. See also *List of Manipuri kings *Manipur (princely state) The Manipur Kingdom, also known as Meckley, was a ...

() overthrew him. Modhuchandra then sought refuge in Cachar with his family and followers. In 1806, he arranged for his daughter to marry King Krishnachandra () of Cachar.

Language and scripts

(), also known as

Manipuri language Meitei (; ) also known as Manipuri ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the scheduled ...

(), is one of the

official language An official language is defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary as, "the language or one of the languages that is accepted by a country's government, is taught in schools, used in the courts of law, etc." Depending on the decree, establishmen ...

s of the state government of

. It serves as the additional official language in all the three districts of the Barak Valley (

Cachar district Cachar district is an administrative districts of Assam, district in the state of Assam in India. After independence, the pre-existing undivided Cachar district was split into four districts: Dima Hasao district, Dima Hasao (formerly North Cachar ...

Hailakandi district Hailakandi district is one of the 35 districts of Assam state in north-eastern India. It makes up the Barak Valley alongside Cachar and Karimganj. It was constituted as a civil subdivision on 1 June 1869. Subsequently, it was upgraded to a dis ...

and

Karimganj district Karimganj district, officially Sribhumi district, is one of the 35 List of districts of Assam, districts of the Indian state of Assam. The district's administrative headquarters and largest town is Karimganj. Located in southern Assam, it shares ...

) as well as in the

Hojai district Hojai District is a district in Assam, India. It was formed on 15 August 2015. The headquarters of the district is situated at Sankardev Nagar, which is about 8 km away from Hojai town. Hojai District was formed from three tehsils of N ...

of the Brahmaputra Valley of Assam. In 2024, the State Cabinet of the

Government of Assam The Government of Assam or Assam Government abbreviated as GoAS, is the Subnational legislature, state government of the Indian state of Assam. It consists of the Governors of states of India, Governor appointed by the President of India as th ...

approved the

Meitei script The Meitei script (), also known as the Kanglei script () or the Kok Sam Lai script (), after its first three letters is an abugida in the Brahmic scripts family used to write the Meitei language, the official language of Manipur, Assam an ...

to be used in the education of

across all the academic institutions of Assam, to help the students interested in the

Meitei literature Meitei literature, also known as Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Meitei language of Manipur. An ancient institution of learning, the ''Luwang Nonghumsang'', later known as the ''Pandit Loishang'', collected sources of indige ...

(also known as

Manipuri literature Meitei literature, also known as Manipuri literature, is literature written in the Meitei language of Manipur. An ancient institution of learning, the ''Luwang Nonghumsang'', later known as the ''Pandit Loishang'', collected sources of indige ...

) to know better about the subject. A unique form of writing system called " Meetei Yelhou Mayek" (), better known as

Naoriya Phulo script } The Naoriya Phulo script (), also known as the Naoria script (), the Invented Meitei Yelhou Mayek script, or the Invented Meetei Yelhou Mayek script, is a constructed script, invented by Laininghal Naoriya Phulo (1888-1941), to write Meitei ...

, totally different from the general

, was developed by Naoriya Phulo () in

, to write

in particular cases.

Culture

Agriculture

There is a Meitei agricultural institution named Loungak Marup (), having the primary aim to save agricultural lands and depreciate selling of land to other people.

Cinema

Literature

Religion

Lai Haraoba Lai Haraoba (, ), also known as Umang Lai Haraoba, is a classical,———— ritualistic, theatrical dance and music festival, annually celebrated by the Meitei people, to please the Umang Lai deities of the traditional Meitei religion (San ...

() dedicated to the

Umang Lai Umang Lai () refers to a group of ancient Meitei deities of the traditional Meitei religion (Sanamahism) who are worshipped as the local guardians of particular areas, especially sacred groves. These deities are worshipped annually. Their Sac ...

() deities is common among the Assam Meiteis. Goddess

Panthoibi Panthoibi (, ), also known as , is a goddess associated with civilization, courage, fertility, handicraft, love, victory, warfare and wisdom in the mythology and religion of Ancient Kangleipak (early Manipur). She is a consort of the God Non ...

() is also commonly worshipped by them. A modern Meitei social and religious institution named

Apokpa Marup The Apokpa Marup is a religious institution dedicated to the practice and propagation of Apokpa Laining, a traditional Meitei people, Meitei religious concept. Founded on April 13, 1930, by Laininghan Naoriya Phulo, Apokpa Marup has played a signi ...

was founded by

Laininghal Naoriya Phulo Laininghan Naoriya Phulo (born 28 August 1888) was a Meitei religious, social and political leader and the founder of the antique Meitei religion revivalist school of Apokpa Marup. According to Meitei doctrines, he was regarded as a prophet who w ...

Groups

Development council

Inspired by the development of the autonomous councils for

Karbi people The Karbis or Mikir are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group in Northeast India. They are mostly concentrated in the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong of Assam. Etymology The origin of the word Karbi is unknown. Historicall ...

and

Bodo people The Boro (बर'/बड़ो ), also called Bodo, are a Tibeto-Burman languages, Tibeto-Burman speaking ethnolinguistic group native to the state of Assam in India. They are a part of the greater Bodo-Kachari people, Bodo-Kachari family of e ...

, the Meiteis living in

Hojai Hojai is a town and a municipal board in Hojai district in the Indian States and territories of India, state of Assam. It is located on the banks of the two tributaries of Brahmaputra, namely Kapili and Jamuna. Etymology The term Hojai means Pr ...

developed the ''"Manipuri Development Council"'' with the approval of the

, after two rounds of protests against the government in front of Assam State Assembly. During the 2012 financial year, the Government of Assam gave Rs 1.50 lakh to the Manipuri Development Council. For the 2013 financial year, they gave Rs 2.30 crores for the same. The development council is run as an

Ad hoc ''Ad hoc'' is a List of Latin phrases, Latin phrase meaning literally for this. In English language, English, it typically signifies a solution designed for a specific purpose, problem, or task rather than a Generalization, generalized solution ...

committee. Many Meitei candidates were elected in Panchayat elections.

Others

The following groups took active role in the historic Meitei associate official language movement: * All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) * Assam Manipuri Meira Paibi Lup * Assam Manipuri Sahitya Parishad * All Assam Manipuri Muslim Youth Front * All Assam Manipuri Students Union (AAMSU) * Guwahati Manipuri Coordination Committee (GMCC) * Manipuri Youth Front of Assam (MYFA) * Union of Association of Manipuri Writers * Youth's Action Committee for Protection of Indigenous People (YACPIP)

* Meitei people in Bangladesh *

Meitei people in Myanmar The Meitei people, also known as the Manipuri people (; ), are a minority ethnic group in Myanmar. They are better known as the ''Kathe'', ''Cassay'', or ''Ponna'' in Myanmar. They number around 25,000 and reside mainly in the eastern states of ...

Notes

Bibliography

* Historical and Cultural Relations Between Manipur, Assam, and Bengal. India: Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, 1986. * Vaghaiwalla, R. B.. Assam, Manipur and Tripura. India: India Office House, 1953. * Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes: Assam & Manipur. India: Anmol Publications, 1994. * Tribes of Assam and Manipur. India: Anmol Publ., 1997. * Kshetri, Rajendra. The Emergence of Meetei Nationalism: A Study of Two Movements Among the Meeteis. India: Mittal Publications, 2006.

References

Other websites

{{Authority control Meitei people Assam