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Manipur is an Indian state in the NorthEast region. The capital of Manipur is Imphal. It shares both National and International Borders. For states, in its north, it has Nagaland, in the south Mizoram shares a border with it and in the west Assam shares a border. For international boundaries, Manipur shares borders with two regions specifically i.e. Myanmar, Sagaing Region to the east, and China to the south. This state has an area of occupancy of more than 22,000 sq kilometres. Manipur has a population of more than 3.1 million. For more than 2500 years, Manipur has been considered the bridge for Asian economics and a suitable place for cultural exchange. Manipur works as a bridge between the Indian subcontinent and the central part of Asian countries. Historically, Manipur is based on the agrarian economy but it also has some potential for hydroelectric power generation. It has an airport, namely Imphal Airport, through which the state is connected to other areas. Manipur serves as home to many native sports and dance forms also.
Origin of Name
The word Manipur is mainly composed of two Sanskrit words. One is ‘Mani’ which means jewel and the other word ‘pur’ means land/ abode. Thus, Manipur can be considered the ‘Jewelled Land’. In history, Manipur has been named differently from different timelines. In many historical manuscripts, it has been mentioned as Kangleipaak or Meeteileipaak. It can be heard that the current name for Manipur is given by Meidengu Pamheiba in the eighteenth century.
An interesting fact about Manipur is that people named their area according to their norms and choice like every region: e.g. the Shan or Pong peoples called their area Cassey whereas the Burmese called their region Kathe. There are many more such names. The most recently used names are mostly different variables of Kanglei.
Capital of Manipur
The capital of Manipur is Imphal. The metropolitan capital city Imphal contains the remains of Kangla Palace, the royal moat of the former kingdom of Manipur. Recently Imphal has been categorised as a part of the Smart Cities Mission under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
The capital of Manipur, Imphal city, is divided into two districts: Imphal west and east. The climate of this city is pleasant. The city gets the feel of the humid subtropical climate with mild, dry winters and a hot monsoon season. The city is maintained and controlled by the Imphal municipal corporation.
For tourist attractions, Imphal as a city offers many sites with historical and religious importance. It is also the homeplace of the largest women-run marketplace in Asia, known as Ima Keithel.
Manipuri Languages
The official languages are Meitei (Manipuri Languages) and English. The Meitei language is considered the bridge in Manipuri Languages. Manipuri Languages have a diverse range of dialects. There are multiple uses of Kuki Chin languages, mostly Thadou. Very few people speak Indo-European Languages.
Population of Manipur
According to the census of 2011, the population of Manipur is more than 28 lakhs. Among these, more than 55% of people live in the valley districts, and the remaining people live in the hilly regions. The Nagas and the Kukis inhabit the hills whereas the valley of the plain region is occupied by Manipuri Muslims. Some Nepali Tamil and Marwadi people live there and form a significant proportion of the population of Manipur.
Religion
The region has samadhis, Meitei Christians, Hindus, Pangals, and Manipuri brahmins. According to the census, it has been found that among the religious communities in Manipur, more than 42% are Hindus and more than 40% of the people are Christians. The remaining percentage of people includes other religions like Islam, Sanamahi, Buddhism, and Heruka. Sanamahi is an indigenous spiritualism-based religion. They mainly worship the sun god or their ‘Sanamahi’. Their faith is based on Umang Lai, governing deities worshipped in the sacred groves.
Notable Pointers
- The education in Manipur is mainly instructed in English. The schools are mostly run by the government or by private organisations.
- In Manipur the transportation system is good. It has a well-connected international airport system and also it is connected with its neighbouring States by the means of national highways. In the case of railways, it has only one operational railway station known as Jiribam, and now the Imphal railway station is under construction.
- The economy of Manipur is primarily based on agriculture, forestry, cottage and trade. Manipur acts as a gateway to the east region of India and has the highest number of handicraft units and artisans in the Northeastern region of India.
- The state’s tourism industry also comes with good infrastructure. Imphal has many tourist spots as well as lakes, islands, and some ecotourism parks with natural waterfalls and caves.
Conclusion
Manipur opens the gateway to the Northeast. Art and culture have had a huge influence on the lifestyle of the Manipuri peoples. Having a population of more than 3.2 million, most of them working in agriculture makes this state primarily agrarian. With its vast tourism industry, it acts as a huge tourist spot for Indians as well as international visitors. The transportation industry is still under construction. Manipur has a vast diversity in its religion also. Overall, it connects the Indian subcontinent to the central region of Asia through its people’s culture and religions.
