AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 Growth & Development of Education among the Muslims in Manipur Dr. Keisham Shitaljit Singh & Khutheibam Seema Associate Professor Assistant Professor Department of Education D. M. College of Teacher Education, Manipur University, D.M. University, Canchipur – 795003, Imphal – 795003, Manipur (INDIA) Manipur (INDIA) Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 8837419363/9615156294 9089426417 Muslims in Manipur Muslims are mainly found in four valley districts (Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts) and two hill districts (Churachandpur and Chandel) of Manipur State. As per the census enumeration of 2011, out of total 2, 39,836 Muslim population of Manipur, 1, 19,432 are female Muslim population and the remaining 1,20,404 are male. Nearly half of the total Muslim populations are women. Muslim women in Manipur, compare to women of other communities, lack behind in almost all the socio-economic, political and educational aspects. Due to such differences, the majority of the Muslim women are among the most disadvantage, least literate, most economically improvised and politically marginalized section of Manipur society. In spite of many challenges, Muslim women are working up to a consciousness of the distance but they have lack behind vis-a-vis with other communities. They are aware of the importance of education as a role of change and development. Education of women is now considered as an economics investment at the family level and cornerstone of development at societal level. Due to the revivalist tendencies of Manipuri Muslims in early part of 20 th century, they emphasized mainly on the importance of religious studies. They failed to comprehend the value of modern secular education and thereby ignoring it. Muslim took to modern education as late as the 1970s and that to be limited to few elite groups from Imphal areas. Muslim women are not educated for a number of reasons; poverty, religious Volume 8, Issue 10, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 938 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 considerations, early marriage and lack of awareness so there is no option of continue schooling or of continue other courses of education after marriage. As per the census enumeration of 2011, the number of Manipuri Muslim literate is 1, 34,292 (79,474 male i.e. 66.00% & 54,818 i.e. 45.90% female). Number of Literate Muslims in Manipur After the war of 1606, King Khagemba allowed the Muslims to settle around the valley of Manipur. First, they were allowed to settle at Yaiskul, Moirangkhom and in a later period, they spread to different places like Yairipok, Haoreibi, Lilong, Khergao, Kairang, Irong, Mayang Imphal, Thoubal etc. Since they came without wives, they were permitted to marry local girls. Me. Culloch reports that Muslims in Manipur at that time were divided into four classes on the basis of labour. They were sepoys (army), gardeners, turners and potters. The Muslims from Cachar were mainly employed as labourers in the agricultural fields. These Muslims settled indifferent villages such as Mayang Imphal, Yairipok, Lilong, Thoubal. Their main occupation was agriculture. Sector Male Female Total 50129 32916 Rural 83045 (60.36%) (39.64%) 29345 21902 Urban 51247 (57.26%) (42.74%) 79474 54818 Total 134292 (59.18%) (40.82%) • Sources: Census 2011 A large number of Muslims also settled at Imphal town mostly on the eastern bank of the Imphal River. A village could be inhabited by both Meitei and Muslims but generally the latter established themselves in separate localities of the same valley. The majority of the Muslims settled on river embankments because of the fertility of the soil, the possibility of additional income from river i.e. fish, and because, when road transport was not in an advanced state, rivers at least afforded an easy means of communication. In the book ‘Meitei Pangal Hourakpham’ that is the origin of Meitei Pangan (Manipur Volume 8, Issue 10, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 939 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 Muslim), it is stated that the migration of Muslims into Manipur occurred during the reign of King Khagemba and it was known in the history of Manipur as ‘Khunthok Achouba’ mass migration. They were given a place to settle in Janmasthan Thokchom Leikai Moirangkhom. Earlier the settlement of Muslims was confined to only the Imphal valley. Later on they expanded their settlement to different parts of Manipur. As recorded in the book, “Khagemba Lanpha” Khagemba overpowered the Muslims and sent them to different places in Manipur and made them settle there. It was recorded that Satpam Saraba arrested a Pangal by the name ‘Anilsa’ and sent him to Yairipok to settle there. Phundrei Ali, a Mussalman was also similarly made to live at Nungchai and a Mussalman called ‘Shaikh’ who was a black smith by profession was arrested and ordered to settle at Sora. Likewise, the Muslim habitation became greatly diffused. In the year 1608 A.D. three Muslims from Taraf migrated into Manipur. In the same year, Sayid Ambiya, Sayid Abdullah and Sayid Qalqa Husain, led by Bor Shena Lanjinglen and the Muslim troops were sent to Tekcham at the side of Khongjom to subdue the hill tribe. They were made to settle down there. Ibrahim Miya, a Mussalman was ordered by King Khagemba in the year 1630 to defend against the attacks of the Maring tribes of Thoubal. Since then, the Muslims made their abode there. In yet another incident king Khagemba assigned Shaikh Shali Mullah to settle at Yairipok to protect its boundary. The Muslims of Yairipok Phouden are considered to be the descendents of Shaikh Shali Mullah. In the year 1627 King Khagemba sent Muhmad Abdul Qarim, a Bangoon (clarinet) player of the King to Nongchai (Nungjai) he was the first Muslim settler of Nungjai. Muslims settled at Kshetrigaon near the bank of the Iril River during the reign of Maharaj Chandrakirti (1850-86). They were mostly sepoys and buglers presently in Kshetrigaon. There are four villages viz. Kshetri, Khergaon, Kshetri Bengoon and Keikhu. So, also Muslims began to settle at Changamdabi in the year 1853- 84 during the reign of Maharaj Chandrakirti Muslims such as Lamiya, Piba Volume 8, Issue 10, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 940 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 Subedar and Isuppa were among the first to settle down. Apart from settlement, the Muslims in Manipur were also given clan (yumnak) titles. These clans were given names according to the Meitei that were quite different from their original sub clans. According to N. Debendra, there are 38 (thirty-eight) yumnaks (clans) of Pangals in Manipur. They are Ipham, Khulakpam, Khutheibam, Makakmayum, Sangom Sumbam, Meerai Mayum, Yum Khaibam, Kori Mayum, Aribam, Hawai Ingkhol Mayum, Sairem, Moijing, Leishangkhong Mayum, Sajoubam, Urup Mayum, Maibam, Thoubal Mayum, Moinam, Chesam, Mayang Mayum,Wangmayum, Shinga Khongbam, Mansham, Keinoumayum, KamalMayum, Makak Mayum Amuba, Yangkhubam, Pukhri Mayum, DolaiPabam and Oinam. There are differences of opinion among the scholars and historians regarding the number of clans of the Manipuri Muslims settled in Manipur. W. Ibohal wrote that there were 31 Manipuri Muslim clan names during the reign of Khagemba. The titles given to them were: (1) Ipham- Mayum, (2) Khullakpam, (3) Khutheibam, (4) Sangomsumbam, (5) Imkhaibam, (6) Korimayum, (7) Hawai-IngkholMayum, (8) Sairem, (9) Moijing Mayum, (10) Laishangkhong Mayum, (11)Sajoubam, (12) Urup Mayum, (13) Maibam,(14) Thoubal Mayum,(15)Moinam, (16) Chesam, (17) Phundrei Mayum, (18) Bagi Mayum, (19)Thongkhong Mayum, (20) Wang Mayum, (21) Nongsai Mayum, (22)Singakhongbam, (23) Mansam, (24) Keinou Mayum, (25) Basei Mayum, (26)Phusam, (27) Pukhri Mayum, (28) Makak Mayum, (29) Mirai Mayum, (30)Yangkhubam, (31) Nongjaimayum. In the book written by W. Ibohal Singh, “The History of Manipur” he commented that their clans reflect their occupation pattern, places of origin, historical antecedent etc. Some Muslim immigrants were given nine other family titles in addition to the earlier thirty-one which had already been allotted during the period of Khagemba (1597-1652). During the period of Paikhomba (1666-97), another two during the period of Charairongba (1697-1709), one, during the period of Marjing (1813-19),two during the period of Gambhir Singh Volume 8, Issue 10, 2020 http://aegaeum.com/ Page No: 941 AEGAEUM JOURNAL ISSN NO: 0776-3808 (1825-34) and two during the period of Chandrakirti Singh (1580-86). N. Debendra wrote, the Muslims of Manipur are divided into two groups they are (i) Khunja and (ii) Ingkhol Shangba, Khunja belonged to an army group whereas Ingkhol Shangba belonged to the group of skilled workers performing different trades in Manipur. The Khunja group was much higher in status than the Ingkhol Shangba group and had to pay tribute to the king of Manipur. Makak Mayum, the Manipuri Muslim clan too had divisions in the fold of their sageis such as Makak Mayum Angouba and Makak MayumAmuba. The group of people who had a fair complexion belonged to the Angouba groups. Similarly, the people with dark complexion belonged to the Amuba group. So, also the Mayang Mayum group had it own division. They are referred to as Mayang Mayum Anouba and Mayang Mayum Ariba. The Muslim immigrants that came during the reign of Maharaj Chandrakirti (1850-1886 AD) were called Mayang Mayum Anouba and the Muslimswho had come during the period of Maharaj Gambhir Singh were known as Mayang Mayum Ariba. Meitei Pangal Hourakpham mentioned 61 Muslim clan titles of Muslims settled in Manipur during the reign of various kings. Clan titles given under are in addition to the above already mentioned clan: (1)Luplakpam, (2) Ayekpam / Gaj Mayum, (3) Sanasam, (4) Dolaipabam, (5) Loupanpham, (6) Yumkhan, (7) Bhukhra Mayum, (8) Aribam, (9) MakakMayum Amuba, (10) Kamal Mayum, (11) Kontha Mayum, (12) Lobuktongbam, (13) Phisabam, (14) Keikhongta, (15) Hidakinkhol, (16) Panchai Mayum, (17) Menjor Mayum, (18) Kajikhut, (19) PhirangjiMayum, (20) Larik Yengbam, (21) Sakakpam, (22) Heikha Mayum, (23) Tampak Mayum, (24) Thangjam, (25) Taothong Mayum, (26) Keithel IngkhgolMayum, (27) Heipok Mayum.