International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET) Volume 12, Issue 3, March 2021, pp. 25-34, Article ID: IJEET_12_03_004 Available online at http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJEET?Volume=12&Issue=3 ISSN Print: 0976-6545 and ISSN Online: 0976-6553 DOI: 10.34218/IJEET.12.3.2021.004 © IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed FROM WARRIORS TO JOURNALISTS: MEITEI PANGAL OCCUPATIONAL SHIFT IN HISTORY Dr. M. Nawaz Khan Department of Mass Communication, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, India ABSTRACT The Meitei Pangal community of Manipur has undergone tremendous social change over the centuries. Among the factors responsible for the change in the community, the change in traditional occupations is one indicator of social change. From being honest professional soldiers in history to serving as journalists in the contemporary times, members of the Meitei Pangal community engage in a variety of activities as their occupation that supports their physical and emotional well being besides being symbols of their social status. The community has more than sixty clan titles given by different kings mostly based on their either occupations or inhabitations. The multi-occupational nature of the community is reflected in the diversity of these occupation-based clan names. But clan names and traditional occupations of the community have been drifting apart over the centuries even as change has taken place in many aspects of the society. Today members of the community are no more identifiable with their occupation after which their clans were named because their occupations have been diversified while clan names remain merely a group identity. The occupational change is observed in terms of changes in the distribution of activities in the socio-economic structure of society with social implications on the work force of the community. They diverged in various sectors even as the community registered late entry in media sector with some of its members practising journalism profession. Various factors like industrialization, scientific developments, changes in technology, social institutions, population, environment etc. over time play key role in bringing out change in occupations of the members of the community. As such, the shift in their traditional occupations in course of history from being honest professional soldiers to serving as journalists in the contemporary times, is one of the indicators of social change being taken place in the community. This paper explores the occupational shifts that have occurred in the Meitei Pangal community in course of changing times from the days of their founding warrior- forefathers to the present day media practicing descendents in the digital technology- driven media profession leading to social change. Keywords: journalists, occupation, social change, Meitei Pangal, media http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJEET 25 [email protected] From Warriors to Journalists: Meitei Pangal Occupational Shift in History Cite this Article: M. Nawaz Khan, From Warriors to Journalists: Meitei Pangal Occupational Shift in History, International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), 12(3), 2021, pp.25-34. http://iaeme.com/Home/issue/IJEET?Volume=12&Issue=3 1. INTRODUCTION The Meitei Pangals are the ethnic Muslims comprising a unique part of the multi-ethnic state of Manipur in north-eastern India. They comprise 8.40 percent of the total population of the state with majority Meitei community representing about 53 percent.1 Nonetheless, they have been playing a major role in the socio-economic development of Manipuri society thereby earning a unique position for themselves. Being traditionally rural-based, the Meitei Pangal community inhabits about sixty villages in the valley mostly situated in the east, south, and southeast portion of the state. The locations of their present-day settlements stand testimony to the historical accounts that considering their qualities of being honest professional soldiers, the kings settled them at strategic locations of Manipur to counter the Burmese attacks.2 History ever witnessed the brutality of the Burmese, and the then perennial positioning of the Pangal warriors in the frontline speaks volumes of the valour of the Pangal forefathers. They stood guard for Manipur’s cause and contributed their mite to the collective endeavours of the kings and the people for restoration of peace in the erstwhile kingdom. Once peace began smiling on the hills and valley of Manipur, the war time warriors too became engaged in various peace- time occupations and trades for supporting their physical and emotional well-being while serving the society as well. The existence of various indigenous Meitei Pangal Yumnak-Sagei3 (clan) names based on a diversity of their traditional family occupations indicates that the Meitei Pangals were multi-occupational in nature and were engaged in various socio-economic works contributing to the development of the kingdom. Over the centuries, many factors like industrialization, scientific developments, changes in technology, social institutions, population, environment etc. created new situations and the Meitei Pangal community has undergone tremendous change in various socio-economic aspects. As situations changed, new economic opportunities and challenges came up in the society in the form of various types of occupations in various sectors namely primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. The occupational change is observed in terms of changes in the distribution of activities in the socio-economic structure of society with social implications on the work force of the community. The inability of the traditional occupations to cope with the changing socio-economic needs compelled them to orient towards the new situations through occupational shifts. Today, like in other communities, individuals in the Meitei-Pangal community engage themselves in a variety of paying activities as occupations in various fields like business, transportation, tailoring, carpentry, etc. besides joining private and government services. This shows that their diversified occupations are no more limited to their clan-specific traditional occupations even as their clan names are drifting apart from the corresponding traditional occupations. As a result, their present-day occupations are no more identifiable with their clan names, which remain merely a group identity.4 Change in occupation of the members of the community reflects social change. While many continue to subsist on agriculture and allied activities, some members of the community have been practising journalism profession though the community registered late entry in media sector. As such, the shift in their traditional occupations in course of history from being honest professional soldiers to serving as journalists in the contemporary times, is one of the indicators of social change being taken place in the community. http://iaeme.com/Home/journal/IJEET 26 [email protected] M. Nawaz Khan Nevertheless, the shift in their traditional occupations in course of history is one of the indicators of social change that have taken place in the Meitei Pangal community. This paper explores the occupational shifts that have occurred in the Meitei Pangal community in course of changing times from the days of their founding warrior-forefathers to the present day media practicing descendents in the digital technology-driven media profession leading to social change. 2. OCCUPATIONS OF FOREFATHERS OF THE MEITEI PANGALS Historians differ in giving a definite time-frame, whether 1606 C.E. or before5, in which Meitei Pangals first settled in the erstwhile kingdom of Kangleipak (now Manipur). Other versions about the arrival of Muslims in Manipur apart, the Meitei Pangal progenitors who fought in the battle of 1606 C.E. against the king Khagemba (1597-1652C.E.) were all soldiers.6Or some of them at least were paramilitary workers engaged in logistic support. After the battle, he settled them in his kingdom by giving them Meitei women as their wives, servants and land for their livelihood. His decision to settle the Muslim warriors might have been prompted by his speculation of future Muslim invasion or the prospect of using their skills and bravery in the protection of his kingdom.7Both reasons seem relevant in the light of the narrative that the name ‘Pangal’ came from ‘Panganba’ which was an attribute given by Khagemba to them for their bravery shown in the battle they fought against him.8If this historical account is anything to go by, then the progenitors of the Meitei Pangals became a part of the Khagemba administration by dint of their being brave warriors and skills they possessed. Though in the beginning they were soldiers occupationally, being endowed with skills in different trades, they diversified themselves in different trades. When the Muslim soldiers were settled in Manipur, Khagemba was ruling the kingdom as per the written decree LoyumbaShinyen (functional distribution of labour), which was first issued by King Loiyumba (1121-41 CE) and later expanded by King Kiyamba (1467-1508) in continuation of codes and conventions of Pakhangba era. Based on the decree, all the subjects were divided into three groups-Phamnaiba (administrators), Lallup (warriors) and Loipot (tribute payers). The Lallup was compulsory service and it required every man above seventeen years to work for the state for ten days in a cycle of forty days.9 This system was executed through four principal administrative units called Pannas namely Ahallup