Elite, Identity and Politics in Manipur

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The present work by DR. S. THIANLALMUAN NGAIHTE provides insights into the identity politics of a little known fringe community in the trans-border areas of India and Myanmar. This book based on a study of the Paite community in Manipur shows how complex socio-political issues and trajectories influence the role of the elite in construction of ethnic Identities among smaller ethnic communities. Apart from studying the elite role, the book analyses other inter-related issues such as the development of ethnic consciousness, impact of conflicts on ethnic boundary making, role of language and literature, and the relevance or irrelevance of the memories of the past in construction of ethnic identities among the smaller tribal groups, sandwiched between communities.

S. THIANLALMUAN NGAIHTE (b. 1979) hailed from Manipur He passed UGC-NET in the year 2000. He has been teaching Political Science in Morning Star College, Shillong, since 2002. He has completed MA and PhD degree from Department of Political Science, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong To his credit, he has published few articles in journals.

Ethnic identity aspirations and political assertions of smaller communities may have little or no impact on the general political discourses of Indian state. Nevertheless, the influences it has on the politics of the areas/regions where they operate cannot be taken lightly India's north-east bears witness to various forms of movements and conflicts as a result of competing assertions of the ethnic identities in the region Despite the re-organization of states in India's north-east on ethnic lines, the region continues to witness identity assertions and ethnic movements of diverse forms. The assertion of ethnic identities and movements is not confined to the larger communities or nationalities many of the smaller communities in the region are also asserting and articulating their rights, interests and identities. In spite of the fact that ethnicity is a collective or group affair, in every community there are always individual or group of individuals that articulate organize, educate, and lead the masses and movements. The study of crucial role played by the elite in the ethno-national movements and in the identity discourses of a community or nationality, therefore. becomes crucial in understanding the nature and development of a community.

This book is an attempt at understanding and analyzing the nature of elite and the role they play in the identity politics of a community through a case study of the Paite community of Manipur Although it was originally planned to look into the politics of construction of ethnic identities in the light of the elite competition theory of Paul Brass, in course of the study it was realized that one has to make use of theoretical insights of different thinkers for understanding and analyzing issues that this book seeks to explore There are six chapters, each focusing on the different inter-related dimensions of the book. The first chapter sets out the arguments and outlines a broad framework of this study.

The hill areas of North-East India are abode of hundreds of ethnic communities at different stages of development. They are racially Mongoloid and speak Sino-Tibetan or Austric languages Historically these communities were never part of any kingdom or empire that ruled the mainland India. Although some hill tribes had cultural and economic contacts with the people living in the adjacent plain areas, politically, these communities were independent of the kingdoms that were in vogue in the plain areas of North-East India. Their primary identities were determined then by their sense of belonging to particular clan or village. Even after the hill areas came under the control of the British colonizers, these communities enjoyed considerable autonomy and were not considered as subjects of the colonial administration or of the local princely states. Yet it should be accepted that the British rule, which facilitated the spread of Christianity and education among the tribal communities in the hills, played an important role in facilitating the emergence of ethnic communities encompassing different groups of tribes. The process of formation of competing ethnic identities received further boost after the political integration of the hill areas into the Indian Union. Post-independent initiatives like Constitutional guarantees granted to Scheduled Tribes, increasing exposure to democratic political processes and their further integration into national economy have thrown open opportunities as well as challenges for the tribal communities in North-East India.

Realizing that isolated subsistence living is anachronic in the changed socio-economic situation, the hill communities in north- east India have started organizing themselves as ethnic communities and began pursuing their material interests in the competitive and more volatile world. Although they assert their ethnic identities invoking their tribal past and even take to militancy by identifying themselves as tribes or indigenous peoples, the hill communities are no more interested to preserve their pristine tribal ways of living.

**Contents and Sample Pages**