Meiteis

In Context

A demand for granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis has found no takers among the political parties in poll-bound Manipur.

• The Meiteis are the dominant community in 40 of the 60 Assembly seats straddling the Imphal and Jiribam Valleys. 
  • A majority follow Hinduism while more than 8% are Muslims, locally known as Pangals.

About Meitei

• Meitei, also spelt Meetei or Meithei, also called Manipuri, dominant population of Manipur in northeastern India. 
• They are predominantly Vaishnavite Hindus.
• They are divided into clans, the members of which do not intermarry.
• An interesting aspect of the village socio-economic organization in Meitei society is the Marup system (literally means friendship association), a type of cooperative saving and credit institution.
• Culture
  • They speak a Tibeto-Burman language, they differ culturally from the surrounding hill tribes by following Hindu customs. 

• Economy

• Rice cultivation on irrigated fields is the basis of their economy. They are keen horse breeders, and polo is a national game. 
• Field hockey, boat races, theatrical performances, and dancing—well known throughout India as the Manipuri style—are other pastimes.

Source: TH