By Dhiren A Sadokpam
In the damp, tense air of Imphal, two contrasting scenes unfolded, painting a portrait of a state at war with itself and with a narrative being imposed upon it.
In one, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, speaking to a gathering of dignitaries on November 20, invoked ancient Sanskrit shlokas, civilisational unity, and the patient, virtuous path to peace. The gist of his speech weighs heavily on the philosophical side.
In the other, the streets echoed with chants of protest, the acrid smell of tear gas hung heavy, and displaced persons from ethnic conflict held demonstrations. Their very presence was a stark rebuttal to Bhagwat’s talk on inherent unity. The trigger was the state government’s decision to proceed with the Sangai Festival 2025, an event they see not as a celebration of culture, but as a cynical political spectacle in a burning house.
This dissonance is the key to understanding the current crisis in Manipur. Bhagwat’s carefully calibrated speech, delivered against the backdrop of the BJP’s failure to reinstall a popular government after the imposition of President’s Rule and the mounting fury over the Sangai Festival, is not an isolated peace offering.
Bhagwat said “Hindu” is not a noun but an adjective, a civilisational identity that seeks to absorb the region’s distinct ethnic and religious tapestry.
For the RSS, it is a strategic move in a long-term project to culturally and politically integrate the north-east into a specific idea of Hindu India. Bhagwat said “Hindu” is not a noun but an adjective, a civilisational identity that seeks to absorb the region’s distinct ethnic and religious tapestry.
The palpable anger on the ground is a direct response to this perceived project, which many see as an attempt to dismantle their unique identities and realign their political allegiances.
Political vacuum
The failure of the BJP to form a government after President’s Rule is a telling indictment of its political capital in the state. The party, which once navigated Manipur’s complex political landscape to secure power, now finds itself unable to cobble together a majority. The ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities has shattered its carefully constructed coalition, exposing the limits of its top-down political management.
This story was originally published in thefederal.com. Read the full story here.
