Singh’s claims that Kipgen covertly lived as an Indian citizen were swiftly countered with legal, historical, and personal evidence from X users and scholars.
BY PC Bureau
July 4, 2025: Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh ignited a political storm on July 2 with a post on X, in which he praised the state’s recent tightening of Aadhaar issuance procedures while controversially citing the late Dr. Nehginpao Kipgen as an alleged example of someone who resided in Manipur using “questionable documents.”
Singh claimed Dr. Kipgen, born in Teijang, Myanmar, in 1975, came to Manipur for education, pursued studies in India and abroad, and lived as an Indian citizen without his origins ever being scrutinized. Implying that he had covertly acquired Indian citizenship, Singh wrote:
“There have been cases where individuals who are not citizens of Manipur managed to reside in the state using questionable documents. A notable example is the case of one late Nehginpao Kipgen. As per media reports, he was born in Teijang, Myanmar (Burma) in 1975, but later came to Manipur for education, went on to study in other parts of the country and abroad, and lived as an Indian citizen. This is a classic example of how the origins of certain individuals were never seriously questioned in this part of the country, and over time, they freely and covertly became citizens of India through unchecked processes.”
I appreciate the enhanced measures recently undertaken by the State Government to strengthen and streamline the Aadhaar issuance process in Manipur. These efforts are critical to safeguarding our integrity and identity.
In addition, it is equally important to remember that… pic.twitter.com/CM9MG4VVxp
— N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) July 2, 2025
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The post immediately drew backlash from Kuki-Zo community members, scholars, and human rights advocates who accused Singh of defaming a respected academic who had never claimed Indian citizenship. They contend that Dr. Kipgen was a Burmese national who acquired U.S. citizenship through a refugee resettlement programme and had no Indian citizenship status.
The Legacy of Dr. Nehginpao Kipgen
Dr. Nehginpao Kipgen was a globally respected scholar, known for founding the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) in India, which was later renamed in his honour. He served as the Myanmar country expert for the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project and authored four books published by Routledge and Oxford University Press. He published over 190 articles across five continents and was widely regarded as an expert on Myanmar’s politics and ethnic issues. He succumbed to COVID-19 in 2021. His remains were repatriated to Kangpokpi, Manipur, for burial with a No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by Biren Singh’s own government — a fact that critics have called out as contradictory to Singh’s recent claims.
A Digital Rebuttal: Voices from X
Several X users quickly countered Singh’s remarks with detailed historical and legal arguments. Among the most widely shared was a comprehensive rebuttal by user @JShakurB:
“Dr. Nehginpao Kipgen was an American citizen who held a US passport… Contrary to the misinformed and ignorant slander by the deposed and disgraced CM Biren Singh, he did not enter India illegally… Following the 8888 Uprising in Myanmar and the brutal military crackdown, India gave sanctuary to pro-democracy activists including Dr. Kipgen’s family. They were allowed to live, work, study, and even settle without repatriation pressure.”
The post added:
“Teijang, his birthplace, is just 1.7 km from India in Myanmar’s Kabaw Valley. If Meiteis claim Kabaw Valley as part of Manipur, how can a native of that valley be called a foreigner? This contradiction reveals the political opportunism behind Singh’s statement.”
(L) Dr. Nehginpao’s Citizenship:
Dr Nehginpao kipgen was an American Citizen who held a US passport. He was the founder & director of CSEAS later renamed Dr Nehginpao kipgen Centre for South east Asian studies in honour of his legacy.Contrary to the Misinformed & ignorant… pic.twitter.com/gPP6J9ELBv
— J Shakur (@JShakurB) July 3, 2025
@DrLamtinthangHk posted:
“Late Prof. Nehginpao Kipgen was never an Indian citizen. He was a Burmese citizen who qualified, became, and died as a US citizen. Please stop misleading people with lies and false propaganda.”
@AboriginalKuki wrote:
“Dragging the dead to justify a political lie is an act of desperation. Dr. Kipgen’s legacy deserves dignity, not distortion. Singh’s claim is not only baseless but divisive.”
@ngulmint echoed this sentiment:
“Pu Nehginpao Kipgen was never an Indian citizen. He qualified for U.S. resettlement based on his Burmese citizenship. Indian citizens do not qualify for such programmes. This alone invalidates Singh’s claim.”
@chinkukimizogin added:
“This is a disconcerting display of political desperation. Shameful to attack the deceased to divide the living. Dr. Kipgen contributed to academic discourse globally — he deserves better.”
Historical and Legal Context
Many rebuttals invoked the broader history of the India-Myanmar borderlands. Myanmar was part of British India until 1937. Hence, the line between nationality and identity is historically blurred in border villages like Teijang. Furthermore, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes the rights of indigenous groups divided by borders to maintain cross-border ties for cultural and social purposes.
Dr. Kipgen’s life trajectory—beginning as a refugee, receiving education in Manipur, earning a Fulbright Scholarship, and becoming a U.S. citizen—is well-documented. No credible public record indicates that he ever applied for or acquired Indian citizenship. This undercuts Singh’s claim that he “covertly” became a citizen through “unchecked processes.”
Critics also point to the NOC issued by Singh’s own government for the return and burial of Dr. Kipgen’s remains. If he was an illegal migrant, why was an official NOC granted for his burial in Manipur? This contradiction has become central to demands for clarification.
The Need for Accountability
Singh’s statements have added fuel to already fraught ethnic divisions in Manipur. The community backlash reflects not just a defence of Dr. Kipgen’s legacy but broader anxieties about the politicization of citizenship and belonging. For many Kuki-Zo people, Singh’s post represents a deeper erasure of their history and identity.
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To address the uproar, Singh may like to clarify:
- What evidence supports the claim that Dr. Kipgen was ever an Indian citizen?
- Why did his government approve an NOC for burial in Manipur if he was “illegal”?
- How does he reconcile his claim with the cultural and historical status of borderland communities like Teijang?
The July 2 post by Biren Singh has re-opened complex questions about citizenship, identity, and memory in Manipur. Dr. Nehginpao Kipgen’s life story — one of displacement, scholarship, and international respect — should not be reduced to a political talking point. The onus is now on Biren Singh to provide evidence, correct the record, or issue an apology. His words carry weight, and it is time to uphold truth over rhetoric.
