Manipur CM cites historical hill outreach to pitch for lasting peace

GUWAHATI

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh hailed the hill outreach of most medieval and pre-Independence Manipuri kings to pitch for lasting peace in the ethnic conflict-scarred State.

Addressing an event marking the 228th death anniversary of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra, the grandson of King Pamheiba, who introduced Hinduism as the State religion, the Chief Minister cited historical accounts to narrate how most Manipuri or Meitei kings spent 100 days a year in the hills.

“The historical experiences (from such hill visits) were significant in understanding how the elders played an important role in bringing together and facilitating interaction among the different communities living in the State and in strengthening the idea of a united Manipur,” he said in Imphal on Tuesday (October 6, 2026).

Geography has largely dictated Manipur’s socio-cultural and political landscapes. About 90% of the State comprises hills surrounding the Imphal Valley almost at its centre.

The Meiteis dominate the valley while the hills are divided unequally between the Kuki-Zomi and the Naga communities. The State has witnessed conflicts among these and other communities over the past few decades, one of the most violent since May 2023.

“The historical and cultural presence of Manipur extends beyond the present geographical boundaries of the State,” the Chief Minister said, adding that elders have preserved places and identity for Manipur in Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland through institutions and settlements known as Rajbari.

He said these historical connections show that the close cultural and social ties between the people of Manipur and neighbouring regions in an era gone by have continued to the present day. He said these bonds were among the legacies of the Manipur kings’ visionary leadership.

“Peaceful coexistence among all communities is essential for the development of Manipur. Only when different communities live together peacefully can the State achieve sustained development,” the Chief Minister said.

He said the government and the people of Manipur endured considerable collateral damage, particularly in the economy, since the conflict began on May 3, 2023.

Daily wage earners and other sections dependent on regular economic activity felt the impact of such disruptions most severely,” he said, urging the people and civil society groups to end differences through dialogue and not through shutdowns and highway blockades.

“Just as a withered flower becomes fresh again with the arrival of monsoon rain, Manipur too can regain its vitality as peace and economic activity return to the State,” the Chief Minister said, pitching for collective efforts toward lasting peace.

The ongoing ethnic conflict, first between the Kuki-Zomi and Meitei people and then between the Kukis and Nagas, has claimed more than 300 lives and displaced over 60,000 people, which 49 others remain missing.