Is MLA Ashab Uddin a local Manipuri? Row over the residency of the local Muslim MLA highlights the different views about the historical settlement of the community in the Jiribam region, writes MD CHINGIZ KHAN ow did the Muslims ganizations like Democratic Stu- Jiribam Muslims? Where did they • Residency start their journey of dents Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) come from, and why did they come questioned settlement in the Jirib- made a strong claim that Ashab Ud- to Jiribam and start settling in Ma- Ashab Uddin am region of Manipur? din, the present MLA of newly creat- nipur from the legal or illegal point is an MLA at This is a flash-point in ed district Jiribam, is not a Manipuri of view? Why do media persons newly created both electronic and (yelhoumi). They declared that he is and other student organizations district Jiribam print media nowadays. Some news an illegal migrant. not consider the Jiribam Muslims as in Manipur Hchannels like Impact TV (Manung How far is it arguably justifiable Manipuri Muslims? Is it possible to Hutna), on the basis of this issue, to say that Ashab Uddin is an ‘il- determine what criteria should be have discussed many things related legal’ migrant? On what grounds included to declare the status of the to the case of the newly elected MLA do media persons and student or- Jiribam Muslims as non-Manipuris? of Jiribam, Ashab Uddin. Not only ganizations like DESAM say that he Does this community speak the Ma- media persons but also student or- is an illegal migrant? Who are the nipuri Language or Bangla Language TEHELKA / 15 JULY 2017 36 WWW.TEHELKA.COM DOMICILE or both languages? Are there any anthropologists consider this inci- now in Jiribam District. The first controversies like Hindi-Urdu or dent as the deadliest attack and in- Mauzadar1of Jiribam was also Mus- Bangla-Urdu controversy between vasion by the Burmese towards Ma- lim, namely Abdus Zabbar, origi- the Jiribam Muslims and Hindus? nipur, which possibly brought about nally, a Cachari, whose tenure lasted Which languages have they been a change in the demographic profile for two years i.e. 1912-14. He created a speaking since their settlement in of Manipur. Therefore, Manipuris Panchayat Board with the approval the Jiribam region of Manipur? Lan- began residing in these places for of Manipur Government in 1912; guage should be one of the parame- their livelihood and protection from the Board had the duties to collect ters as far as the Joint Committee on the Burmese. taxes, to build peaceful co-existence Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) is The Muslims who began inhabit- among different communities, to concerned. Keeping all these issues ing the Jiribam region were traders construct further settlement in Jir- in mind, let us discuss these issues and boatmen from Cachar and other ibam. Its members consisted of Hin- thematically and analytically, from adjoining areas. They acted as hi- dus, Muslims and Tribes. the historical point of view. ranba (boatmen) in the initial period After this, Hindus started occu- Before tracing the historical set- of their settlements. This is clearly pying the post of Mauzadar since tlement of Muslims in the Jiribam reflected in the Administrative Re- 1914. Further settlement of Muslims region, the terms Jiri and Jiribam ports of Manipur, 1907-08, 1911-12 took place after being approved need to be taken into account. These by the Government of Manipur two terms have been coined by the in 1922. Until the 1980s, no person Muslims staying in the region. Jirib- particularly from the Muslim com- am Meiheirol unquestionably mani- The state and munity had held this post except in fested these two terms minutely; in non-government the initial period. There were many the different tributaries which join places in Jiribam, which were given the Barak of Jirimukh, there is a con- records affirm names by Muslims. For example, tinuous noise made by Ji-Ji, which is the place lying near Jakuradahar is the name of an insect in Bengali. It is that after getting called Jakudar. Likewise, naming of pronounced in the Bengali language approval by the other places also took place like Ah- as Jiri-Jiri. Muslims who are engaged madabad from Ahmad Ali; Kashim- in working with wood, bamboo, Government of pur from Kashim Ali; Chhatigara and cane gave the term Ji-Ji Pakagi Manipur, Muslims from Gara where Muslims used to from the word Jiri-Jiri and subse- bring elephants; Lalpani village quently designated its name as the started settling in from Lalpani canal by the Muslims; Jiri River. Since this place is located Jiribam since 1908 Bhutangkhal because of the grow- on the left bank of the Jiri River, ‘left’ ing ofthoubom(a plant whose flower being known as Bam in Bengali, it is used in making mattresses); Sho- is known as the Jiribam. This is also and 1923-24 and other sources in- tobekra from Shotobekra by Bengali firmly and orally true, which gets cluding Chronicles of Manipur like Muslims; Chaudhury village from confirmed after taking interview Jiribam Meiheirol, Cheitarol Kumba- Chaudhury canal by Muslims who from Khaidem Bipin Bihari Singh, ba, The History of Assam from Yand- worked in the Iyasin Ali Chaudhury (around 85 years old), the Retired abo to Partition (1826-1947), Maha- Bankam; Deep water (Irel in Ma- Supervisor Qanungo (S.K.), Revenue raj Buddha Chandrana Manipurgi nipuri language) Tupidahar because Department, Jiribam, Manipur. Ningtamba Manghankhibani, The of falling of Iyasin Ali Chaudhury’s There is no testimony about the Muslims of Assam, etc. Likewise tupi in it (the village name is also habitation of Manipuris in the Jir- will they consider the Hindus stay- Tupidahar); Boroikhal village by the ibam Region until 1757 AD. Some ing in the Jiribam region as ‘illegal’ Muslims because it is an area for Manipuris began their inhabita- migrants or non-local Manipuris as growing plums; Nunkhal village by tion in some regions of Barak Valley compared to Muslims? the Muslims because of being salt such as Jiribam, Cachar, Banskandi, Though there is a sizeable con- water in water of Nunkhal, etc. These Pailapool, Sonai, Lakhipur, Kabuganj, troversy in matter of exact year of place names have been retained. Hailakandi and Karimganj. There Muslims settlements in Jiribam re- In 1948, Maharaj Priyobarta were several successive attacks by gion, it is soundly affirmed that after Singh changed the Court language the Burmese, particularly in the Sev- getting approval by the Government from Bangla to Manipuri. There en Years Devastation War popularly of Manipur, Muslims started settling was one incident of riots between known as Chahi Taret Khuntakpa in Jiribam since 1908, earlier in the Muslims, Hindus and tribes staying (1819-1826 AD). Some historians and Imphal East District of Manipur but in Jiribam in 1950. After that, there TEHELKA / 15 JULY 2017 37 WWW.TEHELKA.COM was peaceful co-existence among the communities. During the ten- ure of Md. Alimuddin, the first chief minister of Manipur when Manipur got recognition of statehood, he up- lifted and transformed the Manipuri socio-economic, socio-cultural and political conditions with innovative measures. He removed the obsta- cles regarding Muslim ownership of lands and approved their pattas. The first Governor of Manipur was also from the Muslim community, name- ly Sayed Muzaffar Hussain Baney. Muslims have played a crucial role for the uplifting and improvement of Jiribam’s socio-political affairs. The present MLA Ashab Uddin held the post of Pradhan twice. His paternal grandfather, Md. Gulam Rashid was also the Pradhan of life of Manipur. Further, regarding ment of Manipur. Sonapur, Jiribam (1975-80). His fa- the draft of the proposed Manipur In this context, some right wing ther Md. Turpan Ali was the Head Regulation of Non-Local People Bill, groups belonging to mainstream Master of Lalpani Aided J. B. School 2016, it is seemingly revealed that community have questioned the from 1966 to 2004. It may be noted the phrase “Local People” means Government of Manipur during the that Md. Turpan Ali became the first People who are citizens of India and Maharajship of Chura Chand Sin- Manipuri Muslim in Jiribam region who have been ordinary residents gh, with reference to the bringing who passed the Class Tenth Exam in of the State of Manipur immedi- and settling of Bengalis to Jiribam 1963 conducted by the University of ately before the attainment of State- through bribes in 1948 and 1949. Guwahati. When Ashab Uddin held hood on January 21, 1972, and their Originally, all the religious com- the post of Pradhan for two tenures, descendants residing in Manipur. munities staying in the Jiribam re- nobody questioned his identity, ge- Ashab Uddin and his descendants gion came from Cachar, Sylhet, and nealogy and origin. Nobody targeted are within the framework of these other adjoining areas. By looking him for being a non-Manipuri or il- two Bills because of the fact that his at the overall perspective through legal migrant. Now after his election grandfather has been residing in historical lens pertaining to the is- victory in the 11th Assembly Election the Jiribam area since the pre-Inde- sue of newly elected MLA of Jiribam against his arch-rival Congress can- pendence period. He is a pattadhar Ashab Uddin, it is proved that he is didate Thoudam Devendra Singh, holding some bighas of land which not an illegal migrant or a non-local seven times MLA from the Jiribam have been approved by the Govern- person, but a local and legal migrant. Constituency, people have started It is illogical that he is being targeted interrogating his identity, genealogy for being a foreigner or illegal mi- and origin.