THE NATIONAL REGISTER of CITIZENS (NRC), 1951 in the context of Manipur: The NRC, 1951, is an official record created simultaneously with the 1951 Census. It was compiled across India. The NRC, 1951 listed all legal Indian citizens by name, age, occupation, village and household. The cut-off date for NRC, 1951was 26th January 1950 as defined by Article 5 of the Constitution of India (Vaghaiwalla,1954, pp.27). In Manipur, the NRC, 1951 was conducted along with 1951 Census in 1951-53. The NRC, 1951 data for Manipur was preserved in manuscript as permanent records in the custody of then Manipur District Office. During those days Manipur was a Part C State with a single district directly ruled by the Government of India through a Chief Commissioner.
In Manipur, post 1951 illegal immigrants refers broadly to undocumented individuals and foreign nationals from neighbouring countries – primarily Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal – who entered and settled in the state after the 1951 Census without valid legal documents or permits. All illegal immigrants taking settlement in Manipur, post the 1951 Census, may be detected and identified precisely by means of the NRC 1951, the 1951 Census Report, the 1951 Village directory, and the Electoral Rolls of 1948 in pursuance of the provisions under Article III of the Contract of Agreement dated 8th August 1994 signed between the Government of Manipur and the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) when Manipur was under the President’s Rule (31.12.1993 – 13.12.1994).
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Notably, on August 5, 2022, the Manipur Legislative Assembly took a resolution to introduce and enforce the National Register of Citizens. Again, on March 1, 2024, the same Assembly resolved to reaffirm its earlier resolution passed on August 5, 2022 and to urge the Government of India to implement NRC in Manipur in the interest of the State.
The dynamics of the influx of immigrants into Manipur
The dynamics of the influx of immigrants into Manipur since its merger with India on October 15, 1949, may be grasped, by taking into consideration the changes in the rules of administration dealing with the entry of foreigners (Non-Manipuris) into the State. On 26 September 1950, the so-called Free Movement Regime (FMR) came into force through a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, whereby the “hill tribes, who is either a citizen of India or the Union of Burma and who is ordinarily a resident in any area within 40 km (25 miles) on either side of the India-Burma frontier” were exempted from the carrying passport or visa while entering into India (Das, 2024). Manipur was badly affected by FMR since it has 398 km long porous border with Burma (now called Myanmar). Further, the age-old Permit System of Manipur which was a very effective system of controlling the entry of foreigners (Non-Manipuris) into the State was abolished on 18th November 1950 by Himmat Singh, then Chief Commissioner of Manipur. Further, the Government of India notified, on 20 September 1951, the first Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur comprising of ‘Any Kuki Tribe’, ‘Any Lushai Tribe’ and ‘Any Naga Tribe’.
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Since the traditional hereditary chieftainship has been prevalent among the Kuki-Zo communities, all immigrants from Burma (now called Myanmar) and the Lushai Hills(now Mizoram) could easily seek settlement in the Hill Areas of Manipur under the patronage of Kuki-Zo chiefs and subsequently, obtain the tag of ‘Scheduled Tribe’ primarily by means of permanent resident certificates issued by the chiefs. After being recognized as Scheduled Tribes, all such Myanmar refugees/ illegal immigrants enjoy the various rights, privileges, safeguards, and protections under various provisions of the Constitution of India, various laws/acts and various welfare schemes of the Government of India. The Chin people in Myanmar are a part of a wider Kuki-Zo ethnic family with shared common ancestry, languages, and family networks. They have preference to live in India for better economic security, safety and easier living hood. Other factors for migration of the Chin people from Myanmar to Manipur are political instability, civil conflict, and military rule in Myanmar. For the Chins, moving to Manipur means joining their kin communities who can offer refuge.
Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur
Currently, the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur comprises of 34 tribes viz., 1. Aimol, 2. Anal, 3. Angami, 4. Chiru, 5. Chothe, 6. Gangte, 7. Hmar, 8. Kabui, Inpui, Rongmei, 9. Kacha Naga, Liangmai, Zeme, 10. Koirao, Thangal, 11. Koireng, 12. Kom, 13. Lamgang, 14. Mao, 15. Maram, 16. Maring, 17. Any Mizo (Lushai) tribes, 18. Monsang, 19. Moyon, 20. Paite, 21. Purum, 22. Ralte, 23. Sema, 24. Simte, 25. Suhte, 26. Tangkhul, 27. Thadou, 28. Vaiphei, 29. Zou, 30. Poumai Naga, 31. Tarao, 32. Kharam, 33. Any Kuki tribes, and 34. Mate.
In the above list of Scheduled Tribes, the names of the tribes belonging to the Kuki-Zo communities are: Gangte, Hmar, Any Mizo (Lushai) tribes, Paite, Ralte, Simte, Suhte, Thadou, Vaiphei, Zou, Any Kuki tribes, and Mate.
Historical context for immigration of Kuki-Zo people to Manipur
Historically, a large number of Lushai (Mizo) people and related Kuki-Zo people poured into Manipur in the post-1951 Census, being primarily driven by the 1958–1960 Mautam (the flowering of bamboos) Famine. This famine was caused by an alarming population explosion of rats that devastated crops and food supplies in the Mizo Hills, thereby causing severe starvation and forcing many to migrate or seek relief elsewhere. Relief measures obtained from then Government of Assam were far from adequate. A group of young men came together to render relief and organized themselves to form the Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF) headed by Mr. Laldenga in 1961 (Siamkhum, 2013, pp.201). After the famine was over, this social service organization was converted into a political party, known as the ‘Mizo National Front (MNF)’.
In February 1966, the MNF started an aggressive insurgency movement demanding a sovereign Mizoram. To counter the insurgency, the Indian military implemented a harsh “village grouping” policy, forcibly relocating nearly 80 per cent of the Mizo hill population into controlled camps while burning down uncooperative villages. This caused widespread displacement. The displaced people fled across porous borders into neighbouring States, including Manipur, and took refuge among the Kuki-Zo communities of Manipur who share deep ethnic, cultural, and linguistic affinities.
Again, major political crises in Burma (now Myanmar) pushed waves of people across the border into Indian Territory especially in Manipur. These included movements following the 1962 military coup, the 1967 military operations, the 1987–1988 pro-democracy uprisings and the subsequent military crackdowns, and the 2021 military takeover. The 2021 military coup in Myanmar has resulted in a new and intensified wave of migration into neighbouring Indian States like Manipur and Mizoram, pushing local administrative capacities to the brink. The 398-km-long border between Manipur and Myanmar remained largely unmonitored and unguarded, making cross-border movement relatively easy.
Similarity of ethnicity of Chin communities of Myanmar and the Kuki-Zo communities already settled in various parts of Manipur makes the cross-border movement easier for the Chin refugees. These repeated political upheavals in Myanmar have made the Indo-Myanmar border porous not only to fleeing civilians, but also, in some instances, unregulated activities including narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling, and undocumented settlements. The impact on Manipur has been particularly acute-stretching public resources, disrupting the social fabric, and posing a direct threat to indigenous identity and territorial integrity.
To be concluded
(The views expressed are personal. The author is former Acting Vice Chancellor, Manipur University.)
