A candid interview with Pramot Singh, Chief of Meitei Leepun at his residence at Imphal. Later on, he said that he was speaking from his heart sharing an honest opinion.
Rural Post: Th. Muivah’s homecoming in 2010 could not take place due to the stand taken by the Ibobi-led Government. What was the position of Meitei Leepun during that time?
Pramot Singh: Meitei Leepun started in 2015. A minority of us had the opinion that Shri Muivah should be invited to Kangcheipung and let him speak out. We should mobilise all the people and let them listen to him. Instead of discussing in the TV, he must speak to the people. That is what some minority of us feel but those days, Meitei Leepun was not yet established.
RP: What is your perception of the changing narratives between the various communities in Manipur?
PS: A group of people, today they are called the Meiteis and the Nagas; they are from this soil. Others are all outsiders. But, we also want to live peacefully and coexist with mutual respect for one another. A peaceful coexistence. As the event of histories brought them here but that doesn’t mean that their perception is taken seriously. And they don’t have any right to say anything about the land except the Meiteis and the Nagas because, we are the owners of the land. See, even the brothers they fight: this part is mine, this part is yours. So, if Manipur has to be divided between the Meiteis and the Nagas; even if such a situation ever happens, it should be decided by the Nagas and the Meiteis. Land owners should decide. And except for the Meiteis and Nagas, others are outsiders.
RP: You have described Th. Muivah as “not only a respected leader of the Naga people but an inspirational and visionary figure admired across communities.” Why oppose “Ceasefire Without Territorial Limit” in 2001 and now, support the home coming of Th. Muivah in 2025? Is there a shift in the outlook among the Meiteis?
PS: I cannot speak for all the Meiteis but I can speak for the Meitei Leepun. The Prime Minister has declared in the Framework Agreement, Manipur is not mentioned in it. The matter ends there. So since 2015, we have forgotten this Naga problem. We just thought that we are brothers, we will be together and whatever problem you are facing today, we are also facing the same. But, outsiders are trying to control us. For example, Kukis. In my eyes, all Kukis are foreigners. We will know who is the Indian Kuki who is not only when there is an NRC. So, we are the people, I mean the Nagas and the Meiteis are the land owners. We must decide our future. Our destiny should be in our hands. When we are together, what you just said, the perception of other communities, that will become insignificant. Their perception is insignificant to me. He has been working for the Naga cause for more than 50 years without moving one inch. Such a leader from this soil, we must respect him. Please look at these leaders. See, all these leaders, he never changed what he said. He never changes his words, his stand. He still keeps his word. Such a leader is very inspiring to us. Before going out for any work, I always look at them, and I am just thinking, “let me also have their kind of spirit.”
RP: What will the future roadmap look like vis á vis the relationship between the Nagas and the Meiteis? Because, whether we like it or not, Meiteis and Nagas will always remain neighbours. So, how do you see the future relationship between the two communities?
PS: This is what Muivah said, “except Meiteis and Nagas, all others are outsiders.” May be, politically correct but when I hear the word neighbour, “Meiteis are our neighbours,” I feel pain because we consider the Nagas as brothers. So, when I met the top leaders I would say, “Tamo, when you say neighbours, it pains me. We are brothers. Why don’t you change the narrative?” I feel that we will get closer and closer because we are also facing whatever suffering, whatever problem, issue you are facing. Because we are the same people. And let me tell one small story. There is one place called Lamlong in Tengnoupal. There, they had a meeting called peace meeting…community peace meeting. It was organised in Maring area. Then, I asked, “is there Kukis and Muslims.” They said no. Only Nagas and Meiteis. “Okay, fine I will come.” I was on the dais. Nagas came. We shook hands. Then, another Naga came and we shook hands. Then, Kukis started coming, Muslims started coming. They are also sitting on the same dais. I got up and said, “today’s meeting is so important because this is where we are to discuss the destiny of Manipur. I will not sit with outsiders.” And I came back. I am that kind of fanatic. So, those who came in 1606 brought as POWs- Prisoners of War, fine, they and their descendants can live but they should not bring outsiders. This message is also for the Nepalese. Third, fourth generations of Nepalese are here. Manipuri Nepalese. They know the taste of yongchak iromba. When they go back to Nepal, they are foreigners. This is where they are born and brought up. They live breathing the air of this land and they are being treated as foreigners in Nepal. So, they should be here but they should not bring more Nepalese. Muslim should not bring more Muslims. Kukis should not bring more Kukis. This is what we have been saying. Otherwise, those who have been here for a long time or based on the cut year, i.e., 1961, let’s live in peaceful coexistence but they cannot be the owner of the land. They should live under the guidelines or under the traditions, culture and customs set by us. They are tenants. They are our guests. If they started saying that this is our ancestral land, then, we will not agree. One Kuki was telling me this village was established in 1917, when did your village start? I said, “we don’t know. Because, we came from this soil from the fountain, from the tree. You are an outsider. So, you know when you come. That is why you are erecting this stone. You came at this year or this year, you know that. But when I go to your cemetery none of them has died twenty years before. So, your pillar is also fake.” That is what I told the Kukis.
RP: Given the chance how would you like to receive Ato Kilonser?
PS: We have a shawl called “Leirum”, Leirum is claimed by the Tangkhuls as belonging to them and Meiteis also claim it to be of ours. It must be because we are brothers only. I want to present the Leirum to him on his shoulder, I want to take a bow and take his blessing. That much I want because such a leader, not only for the Nagas but for us also. Such a leader may not come again. Or he may come after a hundred years. He is a very rare gem for us. So, receiving a blessing from Muivah is an achievement for me. Because, we are also on a movement for indigenous people.
