Ethnic Conflict in Manipur Fuels Ban on Meitei Mayek

The Hill Tribal Council (HTC), a prominent Kuki-Zo organization in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, has directed all government and private schools in Moreh town to remove the Manipuri/Meitei Mayek language from their syllabi starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.

Meitei Mayek is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken primarily by the Meitei community in Manipur. It is also one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and serves as the lingua franca of Manipur.

In an official notification, the HTC emphasized the need to teach “useful and productive subjects only,” urging students to opt for languages such as Hindi, English, or indigenous dialects like Mizo, Thadou, Hmar, Zou, Maring, Anal, Vaiphei, Paite, and Gangte. The council warned that non-compliance could result in penalties.

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This directive stems from ongoing ethnic tensions between the Meitei majority and the Kuki-Zo minority in Manipur. The Meitei Mayek script, historically used by the Meitei community, was revived in the 20th century and officially adopted by the Manipur government in 2021, replacing the Bengali-Assamese script.

The HTC’s decision reflects concerns about cultural preservation amid these tensions. The Kuki-Zo community views the mandatory inclusion of Meitei Mayek in school curricula as a threat to their linguistic heritage. By advocating for the removal of this subject, the HTC aims to protect and promote the cultural identity of the Kuki-Zo people.

Hill Tribal Council notifies all government and private schools based at Moreh to drop Manipuri/ Meitei Mayek subject from school syllabus beginning 2025-26 academic session. pic.twitter.com/c8MqX4nCow

— Manipur Times (@ManipurTimes) January 16, 2025

This development adds another layer to the complex socio-political landscape of Manipur, where ethnic violence since May 2023 has resulted in over 250 deaths and displaced at least 60,000 people.

The use of the Meitei Mayek script has been at the center of several controversies in Manipur’s history, largely reflecting the ethnic, cultural, and political tensions between the Meitei majority and hill tribal communities, including the Kuki-Zo. Here are some key points of past controversies surrounding the script:

1. Revival and Official Adoption

• The revival of Meitei Mayek in the 20th century and its eventual adoption as the official script in 2021 replaced the Bengali-Assamese script, which had been in use for centuries. This move was seen by some tribal groups as an attempt to assert Meitei dominance in Manipur’s cultural and administrative spheres.

2. Inclusion in School Curricula

• The mandatory introduction of Meitei Mayek in schools has faced resistance from tribal communities who argue that it undermines their linguistic and cultural identities. These groups have advocated for the inclusion of their indigenous dialects and have viewed the imposition of Meitei Mayek as cultural hegemony.

3. Demand for Official Recognition

• The Meitei community’s push to use Meitei Mayek in administrative and official documents has faced opposition from tribal groups. This demand has often intersected with broader debates over tribal autonomy and representation in Manipur’s governance.

4. Protests and Boycotts

• Protests and boycotts by tribal organizations against the imposition of Meitei Mayek have been common in the past. These actions have sometimes led to heightened ethnic tensions and even violence.

5. Cultural Imposition Concerns

• Tribal groups argue that the promotion of Meitei Mayek often comes at the expense of their own languages and scripts. This has been a recurring concern, especially in the context of preserving their cultural heritage.

6. Ethnic Tensions Post-2023 Violence

• The recent ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities has intensified opposition to Meitei Mayek in tribal-dominated areas. The HTC’s directive to exclude the script from school syllabi reflects the growing divide and resistance against what tribal groups perceive as cultural imposition.

The current directive by the HTC aligns with these historical grievances and underscores the deeply entrenched linguistic and cultural divisions in Manipur, where scripts and languages are not just tools of communication but also symbols of identity and power.

Incidentally, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba has announced that Meitei Mayek, the traditional script of the Meitei community, may soon feature on Indian currency notes. Speaking at the 18th death anniversary of Luchingpurel Chingsubam Akaba in Imphal on January 11, 2025, Sanajaoba stated, “The Indian currency notes may soon bear Meitei Mayek on it.”

This initiative is part of broader efforts to promote and preserve the Meitei script. Sanajaoba also mentioned that steps are being taken to recognize Meitei Mayek as a medium for UPSC examinations, highlighting the script’s cultural and administrative significance.

The proposal to include Meitei Mayek on currency notes is currently under consideration, with the Reserve Bank of India involved in the decision-making process. If implemented, it would mark a significant milestone in acknowledging and promoting the linguistic diversity of India.