Explained: Why Modi’s Manipur Visit is Path of Peace?

Explained: Why Modi’s Manipur Visit is Path of Peace?

Manipur’s 2023–2025 ethnic violence displaced more than 60,000 people and deepened divides between the valley and the hills. This ABC Live research report traces Manipur’s history from the Cheitharol Kumbaba to the present crisis, explains why Naga and Kuki–Zo tribes embraced the Church while Meiteis remained Hindu, and examines the roots of conflict in land, identity, and drug cultivation. With fresh data, analysis of Modi’s Manipur Visit in September 2025, and clear policy recommendations, the report asks: Can development without reconciliation truly bring peace?

Imphal (ABC Lie): Manipur, the gateway to India’s Northeast, has long been a place where history, identity, and conflict collide. The ethnic clashes of 2023–2025 displaced thousands and deepened divides between the valley and the hills.

On September 13, 2025, Modi’s Manipur Visit marked his first trip to the state since the violence began. He announced development projects and called for reconciliation. This report explains why the visit matters, how history still shapes today’s tensions, and what policies could build lasting peace.

A Brief History of Manipur

  • The Cheitharol Kumbaba mentions kings as early as 33 CE.

  • King Loiyumba (12th century) introduced one of South Asia’s first written constitutions.

  • In the 18th century, King Garib Niwaz made Vaishnavite Hinduism the state religion.

  • The Seven Years Devastation (1819–1826) under Burmese rule devastated Manipur.

  • The Anglo–Manipur War (1891) ended sovereignty, making Manipur a princely state.

  • After the Battle of Imphal (1944), Manipur briefly had its own constitution in 1947 before merging with India in 1949.

  • It became a full-fledged state in 1972 but has since faced insurgencies and unrest.

Ethnic Plurality and Rivalries

Manipur is home to several groups:

  • Meiteis (53%): Valley-dwellers, Hindu or Sanamahi.

  • Nagas (~24%): Christian, tied to pan-Naga aspirations.

  • Kuki–Zo (~16%): Christian, tied to Myanmar’s Chin through the idea of Christianity.

  • Pangals (8%): Muslim minority in the valley.

Rivalries are triangular:

  • Meiteis vs. Kukis (land, ST status, drugs).

  • Kukis vs. Nagas (land and ethnic hegemony).

  • Meiteis vs. Nagas (territorial integrity vs. Greater Nagalim).

These overlapping disputes make peace fragile.

Naga and Kuki–Zo Tribes Embraced the Church, Meiteis Remained Hindu

Why Naga and Kuki–Zo Tribes Embraced the Church

  • Missionaries brought schools, literacy, and healthcare to the hills from the late 19th century.

  • Education offered new opportunities; many Naga and Kuki leaders were mission-educated.

  • Ethnic unity: Christianity gave fragmented clans a shared identity, empowering pan-Naga and Zo movements.

  • Resistance: Conversion helped resist assimilation into Meitei Hindu culture.

  • Global ties: Linked these tribes with worldwide Christian networks and kinship groups across the India–Myanmar border.

Why Meiteis Remained Hindu

  • Royal decree: King Garib Niwaz (18th c.) made Vaishnavism the state faith.

  • Cultural blend: Hinduism merged with Sanamahi traditions, rooting itself locally.

  • Civilizational links: Connected Manipur with Bengal, Assam, and India’s larger cultural world.

  • Missionary limits: The valley’s rulers restricted Christian missionaries, keeping Meiteis outside their influence.

  • The majority anchor: Hinduism reinforced valley dominance and administrative power.

The Religious Divide

  • Hills became predominantly Christian.

  • Valley remained largely Hindu/Sanamahi.

When clashes erupted in 2023–2025, churches and temples were targeted. Religion magnified ethnic disputes into civilizational confrontations.

Analytical Note:
For the hills, the Church was empowerment. For the Meiteis, Hinduism was legitimacy. Religion in Manipur is both identity and politics, shaping conflict even today.

Reasons Behind the Crisis of 2023–2025

The violence that erupted in May 2023 was the product of several structural tensions that converged.

1. The ST Status Demand

  • Meiteis demanded recognition as a Scheduled Tribe.

  • The High Court’s May 2023 directive to “consider” this sparked panic among hill tribes.

  • Tribals feared Meiteis would gain the right to buy hill land, undermining their autonomy.

2. Land and Territorial Control

  • Only 10% of Manipur’s land is in the valley, housing more than half the population.

  • The remaining 90% is hill land, constitutionally protected for tribal use.

  • Meiteis feel hemmed in, while tribes fear valley encroachment.

3. Ethnic Rivalries and Old Grievances

  • Meitei vs. Kuki–Zo: Tensions over immigration from Myanmar and accusations of poppy farming.

  • Naga vs. Kuki–Zo: Long disputes over land and dominance.

  • Meitei vs. Naga: Integrity of Manipur vs. demand for Greater Nagalim.

4. Cross-Border Instability

  • The 2021 Myanmar coup created fresh instability.

  • Refugees and insurgents crossed into Manipur, straining resources and security.

  • Ethnic solidarity with Myanmar’s Chin added a transnational angle.

5. Drug Cultivation and the Poppy Economy

  • Golden Triangle connection: Manipur borders one of the world’s biggest drug-producing zones.

  • Poppy farming: Spread in Kuki–Zo areas as a survival strategy, offering quick profits to poor farmers.

  • Meitei response: Valley activists framed it as a “drug war,” demanding crackdowns.

  • Conflict narrative: Anti-drug campaigns targeted Kuki villages, reinforcing ethnic blame.

  • Insurgent links: Profits allegedly financed militancy, while arms and drugs crossed the Indo–Myanmar border.

6. Weak State Response and Trust Deficit

  • Looting of police armouries put 4,000+ weapons in civilian hands.

  • Security forces were accused of bias, deepening mistrust.

  • Relief and rehabilitation efforts lagged, worsening resentment.

Analytical Note:
The 2023 crisis was not triggered by one court order. It was fueled by a mix of land insecurity, ethnic rivalry, cross-border flows, and the drug economy, compounded by weak governance.

The 2023–2025 Crisis

When violence broke out in May 2023, the results were devastating:

  • Deaths: Around 260.

  • Displaced: More than 60,000.

  • Homes destroyed: Over 4,000.

  • Weapons looted: Nearly 4,000.

By February 2025, the Centre imposed direct rule. Valley and hill areas remain divided socially and physically.

Economy: Fragile but Promising

Indicator Value (2025 est.) Note
GSDP ?60,112 cr (~US$7B) Growth 11.9% CAGR
Real Growth ~4.9% Below India’s average.
Exports ?10.36 cr Very low
Literacy 79.8% Above national avg.
Female Literacy 73.2% Strong
IMR 11/1000 Better than India’s average.
Displaced (2023–25) 60,000+ Largest in NE since the 1990s

Manipur has strong human capital but limited economic reach. Peace is the missing link to unlock growth.

Policy Directions

  1. Talks: Inclusive dialogue among Meitei, Naga, and Kuki–Zo groups.
  2. Monitoring: Dashboards to track resettlement and incidents.
  3. Livelihoods: Invest in handloom, bamboo, horticulture, and sports.
  4. Border Trade: Use India–Myanmar corridors to build prosperity.
  5. Security Reform: Weapon recovery and community policing for trust.

Why Modi’s Manipur Visit is a Path to Peace in Manipur

1. First Visit Since Violence Began

  • Modi’s September 13,  2025, trip was his first since the 2023 ethnic clashes, giving it symbolic weight.

  • For displaced families who felt abandoned, his personal outreach — meeting victims and distributing aid — was seen as recognition of their suffering.

2. Balancing Hills and Valley

  • By launching ?7,300 crore projects in Churachandpur (hill districts) and ?1,200 crore projects in Imphal (valley), the government attempted to show fairness across ethnic divides.

  • This balance is crucial, since perceptions of favouritism often fuel unrest.

3. Focus on Rehabilitation

  • The promise of 7,000 homes for displaced families directly targets the humanitarian core of the crisis.

  • Rehabilitation is not just housing — it represents dignity, return, and a step toward reconciliation.

4. Women-Centric and Community Projects

  • Projects like Ima Markets (all-women markets) and women’s hostels empower women, who have historically been at the forefront of Manipur’s peace movements (e.g., Meira Paibis).

  • Investing in women-led spaces builds community trust.

5. Development as Peace Strategy

  • Roads, IT parks, and governance upgrades signal a long-term vision of economic integration and opportunity.

  • If delivered effectively, such development can reduce unemployment and weaken the appeal of militancy and drug networks.

6. Symbolic Messaging

  • Modi described Manipur as a “gift of nature”, calling for harmony between hills and valley.

  • Framing the visit as a “path of peace” shifted focus from blame to reconciliation, opening political space for dialogue.

Analytical Note:
Modi’s Manipur Visit is not a solution in itself — but it matters because it blends symbolism, balanced development, and humanitarian commitments. If followed by structural reforms on land, representation, and policing, it could become a turning point toward peace. Without follow-through, however, it risks being remembered only as a political gesture.

Conclusion

Manipur reflects both fragility and resilience. The 2023–2025 crisis exposed how deep ethnic and religious divides run. Modi’s Manipur Visit was an attempt at reconciliation through development, but true healing will require inclusive governance, structural reform, and trust-building.

Why ABC Live is Publishing This Report Now

  • September 2025 marks a turning point: Modi’s first visit since the 2023 violence.

  • The state has been under direct central rule since February 2025.

  • Over 60,000 remain displaced, making this one of India’s largest humanitarian crises.

ABC Live believes this is the right time to reflect. Quick projects alone cannot fix problems rooted in history, ethnicity, and religion.

How This Report is Unique

  • History: From Cheitharol Kumbaba to the 1949 merger, showing how divides persist.

  • Religion & Ethnicity: Explains why the hills embraced Christianity and why the valley Meiteis remained Hindu.

  • Data: Presents demographics, economy, and displacement clearly.

  • Policy: Suggests practical, forward-looking solutions.

  • Perspective: Frames Manipur as a test case for inclusive federalism in the Global South.

?? Editor’s Note (ABC Live):
Mainstream coverage often stops at casualty counts. ABC Live brings history, identity, and policy together to ask: Can development without reconciliation bring peace?

Sources

Quick Reference: Causes of the 2023–2025 Manipur Crisis

Cause Impact Source
Meitei ST Status Demand Sparked fear among hill tribes of land loss; triggered protests and clashes. Indian Express
Land & Territorial Control Valley overcrowded (10% land), hills protected (90%); created zero-sum conflict. The Hindu
Ethnic Rivalries Historic tensions: Meitei vs. Kuki (migration & drugs), Naga vs. Kuki (land), Meitei vs. Naga (integrity vs. Nagalim). ACLED Data
Cross-Border Instability (Myanmar 2021 Coup) Refugee influx, insurgent movements, and Chin–Zo solidarity raised tensions. The Hindu
Drug Cultivation & Poppy Economy Kuki–Zo areas linked with poppy farming; Meiteis framed it as a “drug war”; insurgents gained financing. Reuters
Weak State Response 4,000+ weapons looted from armouries; security forces accused of bias; trust collapsed. NDTV

?? Takeaway:
The crisis was fueled by identity politics, land pressures, drugs, and weak governance, not a single incident. Unless these root causes are addressed, peace in Manipur will remain fragile.

Also, Read

Explained: Why India Cannot Be Crushed: 1000–2025?

Rajeshwari Devi's avatar
Rajeshwari Devi
EDITOR
PROFILE

Posts Carousel

Latest Posts

Top Authors

Most Commented

Featured Videos

728 x 90
Top
© Copyright All Right Reserved