The

Meitei people The Meitei people, also known as Meetei people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." are a Ti ...

(), also called

Manipuri people The Meitei people, also known as Meetei people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." are a Ti ...

(), is one of the minority ethnic groups in

Meghalaya Meghalaya (; "the abode of clouds") is a states and union territories of India, state in northeast India. Its capital is Shillong. Meghalaya was formed on 21 January 1972 by carving out two districts from the Assam: the United Khasi Hills an ...

History

In 1829, Meitei King

Gambhir Singh Chinglen Nongdrenkhomba (1788–1834), also known as Raja Gambhir Singh, was a ruler of the Manipur Kingdom. Biography He was a son of Chingthang Khomba. He succeeded his nephew Yumjaotaba in April 1821 during the seven years devastation. H ...

() of

Manipur kingdom The Manipur Kingdom, also known as Meckley, was an ancient kingdom at the India–Burma frontier. Historically, Manipur was an independent kingdom ruled by a Ningthouja dynasty, Meitei dynasty. But it was also invaded and ruled over ...

, had victory over the

Khasi people The Khasi people are an Austroasiatic languages, Austroasiatic Ethnicity, ethnic group of Meghalaya in north-eastern India with a significant population in the bordering state of Assam and in certain parts of Bangladesh. Khasi people form the ...

, which became one of the three largest communities in the contemporary

state. Among the Meitei people, the Khasi people, or the Khasiyas, were called "Khahi" (). To celebrate the victory of the Meiteis over the Khasis, a historical account titled "Khahi Ngamba" () was composed in

Meitei language Meitei (; ) also known as Manipuri ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the scheduled ...

by Chingakham Chaobaton (), a scholar of the Meitei royal court. When the Britishers constructed roadways from

Sylhet Sylhet (; ) is a Metropolis, metropolitan city in the north eastern region of Bangladesh. It serves as the administrative center for both the Sylhet District and the Sylhet Division. The city is situated on the banks of the Surma River and, as o ...

Guwahati Guwahati () the largest city of the Indian state of Assam, and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the seat of the Government of Assam. Th ...

passing through

Shillong Shillong (, ) is a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya, a Indian state, state in northeastern India. It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district. Shillong is the list of most populous cities in India, 330th most populous city ...

(Khasi predominant area), the Khasi people stopped the Britishers and even killed two Britishers and numerous

coolies Coolie (also spelled koelie, kouli, khuli, khulie, kuli, cooli, cooly, or quli) is a pejorative term used for low-wage labourers, typically those of Indian or Chinese descent. The word ''coolie'' was first used in the 16th century by Europ ...

. Afterwards,

David Scott David Randolph Scott (born June 6, 1932) is an American retired test pilot and NASA astronaut who was the List of Apollo astronauts#People who have walked on the Moon, seventh person to walk on the Moon. Selected as part of the NASA Astronaut ...

, the then British officer, requested Gambhir Singh, the then Meitei king of

through special letter, for help. Gambhir Singh marched with his armies from

Manipur Manipur () is a state in northeastern India with Imphal as its capital. It borders the Indian states of Assam to the west, Mizoram to the south, and Nagaland to the north and shares the international border with Myanmar, specifically t ...

. He was received by the Britishers at

. He warned the Khasi ruler not to stop the Britishers. The Khasi ruler didn't step back. Afterwards, there was a battle between the Khasi and the Meitei armies. The Khasis were defeated. The Khasi ruler and his men were captured and handed over to the Britishers. The Khasi capital city was controlled. Both the

Khasi and Jaintia Hills The Khasi and Jaintia Hills are a mountainous region in India that was mainly part of Assam and Meghalaya. This area is now part of the present Indian constitutive state of Meghalaya (formerly part of Assam), which includes the present distri ...

were under the control of the

Meiteis The Meitei people, also known as Meetei people,P.20: "historically, academically and conventionally Manipuri prominently refers to the Meetei people."P.24: "For the Meeteis, Manipuris comprise Meeteis, Lois, Kukis, Nagas and Pangal." are a T ...

Geographical distribution

In the

East Khasi Hills district East Khasi Hills is an administrative district in the state of Meghalaya in India. The district headquarters are located at Shillong. The district occupies an area of 2,748 km2 and has a population of 825,922 (as of 2011). , it is the most ...

of Meghalaya, there are six Meitei populated settlements, namely Ichamati, Koilaghat, Bairong/Mawbang, Kurikhal, Nayabasti and Bholaganj. These are located 100km from Meghalaya's capital

, near the international border line of Bangladesh.

Language and literature

Only few Meitei people especially of Bholaganj village of Meghalaya can speak

(alias

Manipuri language Meitei (; ) also known as Manipuri ), is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the scheduled ...

) properly. There is a fear among the Meitei people that their mother language might be replaced by other languages. The ''

Manipuri Sahitya Parishad The Manipuri Sahitya Parishad () is a literary council dedicated to the active promotion and the development of literary works in the Meitei language in India. in national as well as international levels. It has its branches in the Manupur citi ...

'' (), which is a group working for the development of

and

literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...

, has its branch office in

, the capital of Meghalaya. It functions as one of the leading associations and organizations to promote the literary culture of the Meitei people. It annually organises literary events, including award ceremonies, etc. Books are also published in Meitei language in Meghalaya.

Culture

Architecture

Unlike others, the houses of the Meitei people of Bholaganj village usually do not follow the traditional

Meitei architecture Meitei architecture, sometimes also referred to as ''Meetei architecture or Manipuri architecture,'' is the architecture produced by the Meitei speaking people, whose civilisation flourished in the Kangleipak realm and its neighboring kingdoms ...

rules and regulations (known as "Yumsarol" in

Cinema

In 2023, in the first Meghalaya International Film Festival in Shillong, a

movie named " Eikhoigee Yum" (, ), directed by

Romi Meitei Romi Meitei is an Indian film director, screenwriter and lyricist who works in Manipuri films. He is a recipient of several awards at film festivals organized in India and abroad, including a National Film Awards, National Film Award. ''Angan ...

, was shown.

Clothing

Meitei men wear Khudei (, traditional loincloth) and women wear phanek (, traditional sarong) in Meghalaya.

Family names

People with Meitei family names (surnames) including

Naorem Naorem is a Meetei surname. It is native to Ancient Kangleipak ( Antique Manipur). People of this family mainly inhabit in Manipur, India. History During the era of King Samuroiba Ningthou, the Naorem clan built a temple dedicated to God Khamlan ...

, Yensenbam,

Moirangthem Moirangthem is a Meitei people, Meitei ethnic family name (surname). People with this family name include: * Moirangthem Kirti Singh, Indian scholar * Moirangthem Inao, Indian playwright * Moirangthem Maniram Singha, Indian filmmaker * Moirangthem ...

, Soraisam, Khongbantabam, Lukram, Nongmaithem, Ngangbam, Meisnam, Khuirem, Leimapokpam, Thokchom and Laishram among many, are found in Meghalaya.

Festivals

The holy and sacred Meitei festival of Umang Lai Haraoba () is celebrated in Meghalaya. It is specifically celebrated in Koilaghat region.

Religion

In Meghalaya, Meitei people worship

Lainingthou Sanamahi Lainingthou Sanamahee (Meetei: ꯂꯥꯏꯅꯤꯡꯊꯧ ꯁꯥꯅꯥꯃꯍꯤ) is the Supreme Guardian God of mankind and the supreme deity of the household in Meetei religion and mythology. He originated from the ancient kingdom of Kangleipak ...

() and

Leimarel Sidabi Leimarel Sidabi or Leimalel Sitapi is a goddess in Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Manipur. She is the highest female divinity in the Meitei pantheon. She is the goddess of earth, of nature and the household. She is revered as the mothe ...

() like other Meiteis.

Education

Students in election

General Assembly of Shillong Manipuri students is annually organised by the Shillong Manipuri Students' Union (SMSU) for the selection of its key official members for the administration of the group.

Discrimination

Certain Meitei settlements in Meghalaya, especially those living in the Bholaganj village along the

Bangladesh–India border The Bangladesh–India border, known locally as the Radcliffe line, is an international boundary, international border running between the republics of Bangladesh and India. Six Divisions of Bangladesh, Bangladeshi divisions and five States and ...

, are facing discrimination of not being recognised by the

Government of Meghalaya The Government of Meghalaya, also known as the State Government of Meghalaya, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Meghalaya and its 12 districts. It consists of an executive, led by the Governor of Meghalaya, a judiciary ...

. Thus, the residents couldn't access to any benefit of government schemes.

Support by Manipur

In 2022, the bad condition of the Meitei people living in Meghalaya, especially of Bholaganj village, was observed by PDA (Planning & Development Authority) chairman and Keirao MLA Lourembam Rameshwor Meetei of

Government of Manipur The Government of Manipur (; /mə.ni.pur lə́i.ŋak/), also known as the State Government of Manipur, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Manipur and its 16 districts. It consists of an ex ...

. The Meitei settlements were visited by the Manipur officials under the supervision of Nongthombam Biren, the then

Chief Minister of Manipur The Chief Minister of Manipur is the head of government, chief executive of the Indian state of Manipur. As per the Constitution of India, the Governors of states of India, governor is a state's ''de jure'' head, but ''de facto'' executive auth ...

. The Meitei people of Meghalaya were given offers of free transport and residence in

Imphal Imphal (; , ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (officially known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur, surrounded by a ...

for attending the annual Sangai Festival if anyone of them wished to come.

Support to Manipur

Meitei civil society organizations (CSOs) based in Meghalaya grouped together and organised protests against the government of India, urging the then prime minister

Narendra Modi Narendra Damodardas Modi (born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician who has served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India since 2014. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Par ...

, in

, to bring back peace and stability in the state of

, which was then suffering from violence. The ''Manipuri Elders Consortium Shillong (MECS)'' is one of leading associations and organizations among them.

Associations and organizations

* Bholaganj Meetei Development Society * Manipuri Elders Consortium Shillong (MECS) * Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Meghalaya

References

Other websites

{{Authority control Meitei people People from Meghalaya History of Meghalaya Politics of Meghalaya Ethnic groups in Northeast India Languages of Meghalaya Culture of Meghalaya