International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

A Comparative Analysis of Student Movements in Manipur: A Review Paper

The student movements in Manipur are a unique and dynamic kind of political mobilization that has influenced the socio-political environment in the state since the middle of the last century. This review paper presents an exhaustive examination of student activism in Manipur, its historical development, structure, ideological leanings and dimensions against that of other states in the northeast. The paper reviews the peer reviewed literature to gain an insight into how student organizations have come to become an extremely important civil society player in a region with ethnic diversity, armed conflict, and disputed sovereignty. As it can be seen in the analysis, Manipuri student organizations are more concerned with the questions of identity, autonomy, human rights, and ethnic nationalism, unlike student movements in mainland India which are usually concerned with educational reforms or general ideological concerns. The paper will discuss key student organizations such as the All Manipur Students Union (AMSU), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) and Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), and how they have mobilized the masses, affected the making of policy as well as the formulation of collective identities. The study, by comparing it to student movements throughout the northeastern states of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and others, determines general trends of activism around demographic change and indigenous rights, but also showcases the Manipur-specific issues of ethnic fragmentation and militarization.