Description

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Context

Amid ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur, leaders of Hmar & Zomi communities have issued a joint statement to de-escalate conflict, lift shutdowns & ensure peace in Churachandpur district.

Key Highlights

Hmar-Zomi Agreement for Peace

Hmar Inpui & Zomi Council apex bodies of respective communities agreed to work together to restore peace in Churachandpur. Both groups lifted shutdown & other disruptions to normal life in district.

The Hmar & Zomi people are part of Kuki-Zo ethnic group involved in a conflict with Meitei community since May 2023.

The clashes have resulted in over 250 deaths & displacement of nearly 60,000 people.

Trigger for Recent Clashes:

Violence erupted following an assault on Richard Hmar general secretary of Hmar Inpui & a member of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum.

The situation escalated with both communities attacking each other & vandalizing property.

Government Intervention:

Restrictions were imposed under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to curb violence in Churachandpur.

President Rule has been in effect in Manipur since February 13, 2025 after CM Biren Singh resigned.

Disappearance of Meitei Youth:

A 20-year-old Meitei youth went missing on March 16 while traveling toward Churachandpur.

His last mobile signal was traced to Jouzangtek village Kuki-Zo dominated area fueling further tensions.

Rejection of Referendum for Separate Kuki Administration

Thadou Inpi Manipur representing Thadou community opposed calls for referendum on separate Kuki administration.

It labeled move unconstitutional & illegal as India Constitution does not allow unauthorized referendums.

Comparison of Hmar & Zomi Tribes in Manipur

Feature	Hmar Tribe	Zomi Tribe
Ethnic Group	Part of Kuki-Zo ethnic group in Manipur	Part of Kuki-Zo ethnic group in Manipur
Language	Hmar language (Tibeto-Burman family)	Zomi language (Tibeto-Burman family)
Geographical Spread	Found in Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Kangpokpi & Tamenglong districts of Manipur; also in Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya	Found in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal & Myanmar
Traditional Occupation	Shifting cultivation (jhum farming), agriculture & small-scale trade	Agriculture, trade & livestock rearing
Religion	Christianity (majority), some elements of animism	Christianity (majority), some traditional practices
Political Representation	Hmar Inpui (Apex body), United Hmar Association, Hmar People's Convention (HPC)	Zomi Council (Apex body), Zomi Revolutionary Organization (ZRO)
Cultural Identity	Folk dances like Siallam, distinct oral traditions, traditional shawls	Festivals like Chapchar Kut, traditional attire like Zomi Ponve
Historical Background	Demanded an autonomous district council in 1980s & 1990s; signed peace accord with Indian government	Historically associated with Zo identity, demand for political rights & self-determination
Current Issues	Seeking constitutional recognition under Sixth Schedule, factionalism within Hmar leadership	Land disputes, demand for a separate tribal administration
Recent Conflict	Clashes with Zomi community over local political dominance & representation	Clashes with Hmar tribe, tensions with Meitei community in broader Kuki-Meitei conflict

Exclusive vs. Inclusive Identities

Identity Type	Definition	Examples in Manipur Tribes	Impact on Manipur Society
Exclusive Identity	A rigid identity that restricts inclusion of other groups & defines itself in opposition to others.	Ethnic exclusivism among Kuki-Zo tribes (Hmar vs. Zomi conflict) Meitei vs. Kuki-Zo ethnic conflict Naga vs. Kuki clashes in 1990s	Leads to ethnic violence & displacement Creates deep-rooted mistrust among communities Hampers regional stability & governance
Inclusive Identity	A shared identity that allows multiple affiliations & peaceful coexistence among different groups.	Pan-Kuki-Zo identity (despite internal conflicts) Inter-tribal marriages & cultural exchanges Movements for tribal unity in face of external threats	Encourages peace-building & dialogue Strengthens tribal unity against common socio-political challenges Facilitates economic & cultural integration

Meitei Community in Manipur

Feature	Meitei Community
Ethnic Group	Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman) group, dominant ethnic community in Manipur
Language	Meiteilon (Manipuri), recognized as a Scheduled Language of India
Geographical Spread	Primarily in Imphal Valley; also in Assam, Tripura, Myanmar & Bangladesh
Population Share	Largest ethnic group in Manipur (about 53% of state's population)
Religious Affiliation	Predominantly Hindu (Vaishnavism), with a significant minority following Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion) & a small Christian population
Traditional Occupation	Agriculture, trade, handicrafts & administration
Political Influence	Significant influence in Manipur's politics; historically dominant in governance & administration
Cultural Identity	Rich in classical dance (Manipuri dance), martial arts (Thang-Ta), literature & festivals like Lai Haraoba & Yaoshang
Social Structure	Caste-based hierarchy exists, with Brahmins (Bamon) & other social divisions; historically had a royal lineage
Historical Background	Once ruled by Meitei kingdom of Manipur; converted to Vaishnavism in 18th century; annexed by India in 1949
Current Issues	Ethnic tensions with Kuki-Zo tribes over land & political rights Demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to protect identity Armed insurgencies & calls for greater autonomy
Role in Manipur Conflict	Major participant in Meitei-Kuki ethnic conflict Clashes over land, administration & political control Strong opposition to separate tribal administration for Kukis

Misrepresentation of Hmar & Zomi

Category	Details
Colonial Terminology	The British imposed terms like Kuki (Manipur), Chin (Myanmar) & Lushai (Mizoram) to describe Zo ancestry tribes.
Imposition in Manipur	The term Kuki continues to be imposed by state, Meitei community & pro-Kuki tribes of Zo ancestry.
Disagreement on 'Kuki' Identity	Not all Zo ancestry tribes accept Kuki identity. Thadou tribe denied their association with Kuki identity.
Alternative Identities	Some members of Paite, Simte, Vaiphei, Zou tribes identify as Zomi (Zo people). However, certain Vaiphei & Thadou members subscribe to Kuki identity, making identity politics complex.
British Documentation	British administrator William Shaw (1929, p.30) stated that Kom, Gangte, Vaiphei, Chiru & others were under Thadou dominance & included under Kuki term.
Tribal Resistance (1942)	On June 26, 1942, Hmar, Vaiphei, Gangte, Kom, Chiru, Anal & Maring tribes held a meeting at Pamzal/Mongon-on village. They passed resolutions rejecting Shaw’s imposition of ‘Kuki’ identity on their tribes.
Kuki-Zomi Conflict (1997)	Continued imposition of Kuki identity led to a large-scale conflict between Kuki & Zomi tribes. Hundreds killed, thousands displaced & economic progress hindered.
Post-Conflict Rejection (1997-Present)	Zomi, Thadou & Hmar reject colonial terminology Kuki. Zomi cite peace treaty post-1997 conflict to reaffirm their rejection of Kuki identity.
Impact of Current Conflict	Paite-Zomi, Hmar & other marginalised tribes have been heavily affected. Families in Imphal lost lives, homes & sought refuge in army camps.
Media Representation Concerns	Journalists should avoid reducing conflict to a ‘Meitei vs. Kuki/Kuki-Zo’ struggle. A more inclusive & accurate portrayal of Manipur’s tribal identities & conflicts is necessary.

For more information, please visit IAS GYAN

Sources:

HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss role of ethnic identity in shaping socio political landscape of Manipur. Analyze historical & contemporary tensions between Meitei & Kuki Zo communities in context of inclusive & exclusive identities.