Salt Land and State Monopoly in Manipur,circa 1890–1990

Abstract

This article explores the history of salt land in Manipur. Because of the scarcity and high price of salt cakes, salt springs were highly valued pieces of land historically. The Maharaja had control over salt wells from around mid-eighteenth century AD. After Manipur became a British protectorate, royal salt monopoly yielded handsome revenue for the State treasury. After the Palace Rebellion of 1891, road transport improved; and cheap Liverpool salt competed with local salt, which soon became unviable. When salt lost its scarcity value, the financial importance of salt wells collapsed and so did the political significance of royal monopoly over salt.