Assessing the Effect of Topographical Distribution of Ethnic Groups and Absence of Uniform Land Governance in the Homeland Politics of Manipur,India

Abstract

Manipur, an Indian state, has long been burdened by homeland politics and the ensuing conflict. Two ethnic groups that predominantly inhabit the hills, namely the Nagas and the Kukis, wanted their self-proclaimed homelands to be recognized as state/union territory. But the Meiteis, the single largest ethnic group, who predominantly live in the valley, are against altering the territorial boundary of Manipur. The paper thus argues that the division caused by the topographic distribution of the three ethnic groups as well as the colonial and the post-colonial policies of land governance system have made Manipur conducive for homeland politics.