Manipur CM cites historical hill outreach to pitch for lasting peace
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh is advocating for peace by highlighting historical traditions of kings visiting hill regions to foster unity. He emphasizes that peaceful coexistence between the valley-dwelling Meiteis and hill-dwelling Naga and Kuki-Zomi communities is essential for state development.
Why it matters
Manipur has faced severe ethnic violence since 2023; the CM's appeal uses historical cultural narratives to attempt to bridge deep-seated communal divides.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh hailed the hill outreach of most medieval and pre-Independence Manipuri kings to pitch for lasting peace in the ethnic conflict-scarred State.
Addressing an event marking the 228th death anniversary of Rajarshi Bhagyachandra, the grandson of King Pamheiba, who introduced Hinduism as the State religion, the Chief Minister cited historical accounts to narrate how most Manipuri or Meitei kings spent 100 days a year in the hills.
“The historical experiences (from such hill visits) were significant in understanding how the elders played an important role in bringing together and facilitating interaction among the different communities living in the State and in strengthening the idea of a united Manipur,” he said in Imphal on Tuesday (October 6, 2026).
Geography has largely dictated Manipur’s socio-cultural and political landscapes. About 90% of the State comprises hills surrounding the Imphal Valley almost at its centre.
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