Abstract
The All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) has emerged as a central socio-political actor in the multi-ethnic landscape of Manipur, advocating for tribal rights, constitutional safeguards, and protection of indigenous interests. This paper examines ATSUM’s historical evolution, major mobilisations, strategies, and consequences on tribal protection, autonomy movements, and inter-community relations in the state. Through a review of secondary sources, news reports, and existing academic insights, this study highlights ATSUM’s role both in constructive advocacy for tribal constitutional rights and in intensifying ethnic tensions during key political controversies, particularly surrounding the Meitei demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
1. Introduction
The northeastern Indian state of Manipur is characterised by its ethnic diversity and complex socio-political history. Tribal communities, primarily residing in the hill districts, represent a significant demographic whose constitutional safeguards and autonomy have been central concerns of local politics. The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM), formed as an apex tribal student body, has played a pivotal role in articulating and mobilising demands on behalf of tribal groups. ATSUM’s activism centres on safeguarding tribal rights, opposing policies perceived as threats to tribal autonomy, and engaging in protest movements that have at times shaped broader social and political dynamics in Manipur.
2. Historical Background and
Organisational Profile
ATSUM is recognised as an apex body of
tribal students in Manipur, representing the collective interests of multiple
tribal communities across the hill regions of the state. It emerged from tribal
student networks and has historically served both socio-educational and
political functions (PUCL Report, 2025). Scholars of student movements note
that student bodies in Manipur, including ATSUM, have diverged from traditional
educational advocacy to become significant political actors in ethnic identity
and rights movements (Mangang, 2025).
3. Core Issues and Mobilisations
3.1 Opposition to Meitei ST Status Demand
One of ATSUM’s most consequential
mobilisations was its opposition to efforts to include the Meitei community in
the list of Scheduled Tribes. Tribal groups—including ATSUM—argued that
extending ST status to the dominant Meitei population would dilute the
constitutional safeguards reserved for historically marginalised tribal
communities and adversely impact land rights, reservation benefits, and
political representation. ATSUM viewed this as a direct threat to existing
protections under constitutional provisions such as Article 371C and Autonomous
District Councils (ADCs) for tribal areas.
On May 3, 2023, ATSUM organised a Tribal
Solidarity March across hill districts to protest Meitei ST demands—a rally
that reportedly saw participation of hundreds of thousands and quickly became
the focal point for rising ethnic conflict in the state.
3.2 Reservation and Discrimination
Protests
Alongside macro-political mobilisations,
ATSUM has also protested specific institutional discrimination, such as alleged
manipulation in the academic results of tribal students, reservation discrepancies,
and unfair treatment in recruitments at medical institutions. For example,
ATSUM accused Manipur University of ethnic discrimination in examination
results for tribal students and called for an inquiry and corrective action.
The organisation has further agitated
against deviations in reservation norms in recruitment at the Regional
Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), arguing that systemic denial of rightful
reservation quotas undermines tribal employment opportunities.
3.3 Local Governance and Constitutional
Safeguards
ATSUM has endorsed legislative reforms to reinforce tribal autonomy, such as the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021, which aimed to strengthen local governance and equitable development for tribal communities. Joint demonstrations across tribal villages showcased solidarity for such constitutional safeguards.
4. Impact on Tribal Rights and Interests
4.1 Positive Impacts
Political Mobilisation and Awareness: ATSUM’s activism has significantly elevated tribal issues to public and
policy debates in Manipur, prompting discussions around constitutional
safeguards, equitable resource distribution, and reservation implementation.
Defensive Advocacy: By contesting perceived threats to constitutional guarantees (e.g., ST
status debates), ATSUM has sought to protect the existing legal framework that
provides protections to tribal communities from dilution or reclassification.
Collective Identity and Inter-tribal
solidarity: ATSUM has worked to reinforce tribal
solidarity across diverse communities, notably during legislative campaigns and
protests centered on autonomous district councils and local governance.
5. Controversies and Unintended
Consequences
5.1 Ethnic Tensions and Violence
While ATSUM’s mobilisations have been
rooted in constitutional activism, some protests, particularly the 2023
Tribal Solidarity March, coincided with—and are widely recognised as a
trigger for—widespread ethnic violence between tribal communities and the
Meitei majority. The clashes that erupted thereafter led to extensive
displacement, loss of lives, and property damage across Manipur.
5.2 Socio-Political Polarisation
The diverging positions espoused by ATSUM and the demands of other ethnic groups, notably the Meitei population, have accentuated ethnic polarisation in Manipur. Prolonged political confrontation over tribal safeguards versus majority claims has hampered inter-communal dialogue and complicated governance reforms.
6. Discussion
ATSUM exemplifies the dual nature of
student activism in ethnically fragmented societies. On one hand, it has acted
as a watchdog for tribal rights and constitutional protections, bringing issues
faced by marginalized groups into public consciousness and policy debates. On
the other hand, its actions have sometimes intersected with broader political
controversies in ways that escalate tensions, suggesting that advocacy in
multi-ethnic contexts requires careful negotiation and inclusive strategies.
The case of ATSUM highlights critical
questions about ethnic identity politics, constitutional safeguards, and
avenues for peaceful pluralist negotiation in regions with overlapping claims
to rights and representation.
7. Timeline of ATSUM Activities
(1980s–Present)
1980s: Formation and Early Assertion
- Early–mid 1980s
- Emergence of ATSUM as an apex tribal student
body representing hill-based tribal students of Manipur.
- Primary focus on:
- Educational access for tribal students
- Scholarship distribution
- Hostel facilities and fair admission policies
- ATSUM begins articulating tribal identity and
rights within student politics, distinct from valley-based student
unions.
- Late 1980s
- Gradual shift from purely academic concerns to political
advocacy, especially on:
- Hill–valley imbalance
- Neglect of tribal areas
- Under-representation of tribals in state
institutions
1990s: Institutional Discrimination &
Hill Rights
- Early 1990s
- ATSUM protests alleged discrimination against
tribal students in:
- Manipur University
- State-run colleges and professional
institutions
- Demand for strict implementation of reservation
policies.
- Mid–late 1990s
- Engagement with broader hill issues:
- Poor infrastructure in hill districts
- Demand for equal development funding
- ATSUM emerges as a pressure group
influencing tribal civil society and political discourse.
2000s: Constitutional Safeguards &
Political Consciousness
- Early 2000s
- ATSUM intensifies advocacy for:
- Protection of Article 371C
- Strengthening of Hill Areas Committee (HAC)
- Student activism increasingly linked with tribal
political movements.
- Mid 2000s
- Opposition to policies perceived as centralizing
power in the valley.
- Participation in protests over:
- Land laws
- Administrative neglect of hill districts
- Late 2000s
- ATSUM recognized as a key stakeholder in
hill-based consultations and negotiations.
2010–2015: Land, Autonomy, and Governance
- 2010–2013
- Protests against alleged encroachment into
tribal land rights.
- Demand for stronger Autonomous District Councils
(ADCs).
- 2015
- Strong opposition to the three controversial
Manipur Bills (Land Revenue and Land Reforms Bill, etc.).
- ATSUM supports tribal protests asserting that
the bills:
- Undermined tribal land ownership
- Threatened constitutional safeguards
- Period marked by intense hill-valley
polarization.
2016–2020: Reservation & Institutional
Accountability
- 2016–2018
- ATSUM raises concerns over:
- Reservation irregularities
- Recruitment anomalies in state institutions
- 2019–2020
- Protests related to:
- Medical and technical admissions
- Alleged dilution of tribal quotas
- Advocacy for transparency in public recruitment.
2021–2022: ADC Reforms & Policy
Engagement
- 2021
- Support for the Manipur (Hill Areas)
Autonomous District Councils Bill, 2021.
- Joint movements with other tribal bodies
demanding:
- Greater financial autonomy
- Legislative powers for ADCs
- 2022
- Continued monitoring of state policies impacting
hill districts.
- Opposition to any policy changes affecting land,
reservation, or tribal status.
2023: Tribal Solidarity March & Ethnic
Crisis
- 3 May 2023
- ATSUM organizes the Tribal Solidarity March
across hill districts.
- Protest against:
- Demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the
Meitei community
- Event becomes a turning point, coinciding
with large-scale ethnic violence in Manipur.
- Mid–late 2023
- ATSUM issues statements demanding:
- Protection of tribal lives and property
- Security in hill districts
- Political solutions respecting constitutional
safeguards
2024–2025: Rights Protection &
Political Advocacy
- 2024
- Continued advocacy for:
- Separate administration / enhanced autonomy
(debated across tribal groups)
- Rehabilitation of displaced tribal populations
- Focus on safeguarding:
- Land rights
- Demographic security
- Educational access amid conflict disruption
- 2025 (ongoing)
- ATSUM remains a central voice in:
- Tribal consultations
- Student-led political discourse
- Emphasis on long-term constitutional protection
and institutional reforms.
Overall Assessment
From the 1980s to the present, ATSUM has
evolved:
- From a student welfare organization
- Into a major tribal political pressure group
Its timeline reflects:
- Growing politicization of student movements
- Centrality of land, identity, and constitutional
safeguards
- Increasing impact—both constructive and
controversial—on Manipur’s socio-political landscape.
7.
ATSUM Activities Aligned with Tribal Autonomy Discourse and Conflict
Studies
|
Period |
ATSUM
Activities |
Tribal
Autonomy Lens |
Conflict
Studies Lens |
Key
APA References |
|
Early–Mid 1980s |
Formation of ATSUM as an
apex tribal student body; focus on education, welfare, representation |
Emergence of subaltern
tribal political consciousness; student unions as proto-autonomy actors |
Low-intensity
mobilization; non-confrontational identity assertion |
Mangang, 2025; PUCL, 2025 |
|
Late 1980s |
Shift from student
welfare to rights-based advocacy |
Transition from cultural
autonomy to political autonomy discourse |
Early signs of
identity-based polarization |
Mangang, 2025 |
|
Early 1990s |
Protests against
discrimination in universities and institutions |
Demand for substantive
equality under constitutional protections |
Institutional conflict
between state bodies and marginalized groups |
The Hills Journal, 2025 |
|
Mid–Late 1990s |
Mobilization around hill
neglect and underdevelopment |
Assertion of territorial
autonomy and development justice |
Structural violence
framework (unequal development as conflict driver) |
PUCL, 2025 |
|
Early 2000s |
Advocacy for Article
371C, Hill Areas Committee |
Defense of constitutional
asymmetry for tribal self-governance |
Legal–constitutional
conflict with centralizing state tendencies |
IWGIA, 2023 |
|
Mid 2000s |
Opposition to policies
centralizing valley authority |
Resistance to internal
colonialism (hill–valley power imbalance) |
Escalating
center–periphery conflict |
PUCL, 2025 |
|
Late 2000s |
Participation in wider
tribal consultations |
Consolidation of collective
tribal autonomy narrative |
Movement
institutionalization phase |
Mangang, 2025 |
|
2010–2013 |
Agitations over land and
administrative control |
Land as core to tribal
sovereignty and identity |
Resource-based conflict
dynamics |
IWGIA, 2023 |
|
2015 |
Opposition to three
Manipur Bills |
Defense of customary
land regime and legal pluralism |
Critical escalation
point; ethnic boundary hardening |
PUCL, 2025; IWGIA, 2023 |
|
2016–2018 |
Protests over reservation
and recruitment irregularities |
Protection of affirmative
action as autonomy tool |
Institutional trust
erosion; grievance accumulation |
India Today NE, 2023 |
|
2019–2020 |
Agitations over
admissions and quotas |
Safeguarding human
capital for tribal self-rule |
Latent conflict stage
intensifies |
Ukhrul Times, 2023 |
|
2021 |
Support for Hill Areas
ADC Bill |
Demand for deeper
devolved governance |
Constitutional
negotiation rather than violent contention |
Frontier Manipur, 2021 |
|
2022 |
Monitoring land,
identity, and policy changes |
Preventive autonomy
defense |
Conflict anticipation and
securitization of identity |
IWGIA, 2023 |
|
3 May 2023 |
Tribal Solidarity March
against Meitei ST demand |
Defense against perceived
dilution of tribal autonomy |
Conflict trigger event;
transition from latent to overt ethnic conflict |
India Today NE, 2023;
Wikipedia, 2025 |
|
Mid–Late 2023 |
Calls for protection,
relief, and justice |
Shift from autonomy
politics to survival and security discourse |
Post-escalation
humanitarian conflict phase |
PUCL, 2025 |
|
2024–2025 |
Advocacy for autonomy,
rehabilitation, governance reforms |
Re-articulation of self-rule
/ separate administration debates |
Protracted conflict and
frozen political dialogue |
PUCL, 2025; IWGIA, 2024 |
8. Conclusion
The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur
(ATSUM) has been a key force in safeguarding tribal rights, challenging policy
measures perceived as eroding constitutional protections, and mobilizing tribal
communities around issues of autonomy and equity. Its influence extends beyond
student politics into broader debates on governance, constitutional
interpretation, and ethnic coexistence. However, ATSUM’s efforts also underline
the complexity of collective action in ethnically diverse settings, where
advocacy may inadvertently intertwine with conflict dynamics. Future research
can examine mechanisms for conflict mitigation, participatory governance, and
inclusive policy frameworks that reconcile multiple perspectives while
upholding tribal rights.
References
- India Today Northeast. (2023, March 23). Manipur: Tribal Students' Union strongly opposes ST status demand of Meetei community. Retrieved from https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-tribal-students-union-strongly-opposes-st-status-demand-of-meitei-community-531384-2023-03-23
- India Today Northeast. (2023, April 3). Manipur tribal students’ union declares total shutdown on April 4 over reservation discrepancies at RIMS. Retrieved from https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-tribal-students-union-declares-total-shutdown-on-april-4-over-reservation-discrepancies-at-rims-536534-2023-04-03
- Mangang, S. G. (2025). A comparative analysis of student movements in Manipur. International Journal of Social Science Research, 2(5).
- PUCL (People’s Union for Civil Liberties). (2025). Manipur report: Civil liberties and ethnic politics. PUCL Publications.
- The Hills Journal. (2025, November 20). ATSUM alleges MU of deliberately failing tribal students based on ethnicity. Retrieved from https://www.thehillsjournal.com/atsum-alleges-mu-of-deliberately-failing-tribal-students-based-on-ethnicity/
- Additional references for constitutional context and tribal rights:
- — Tribal Rights in Manipur: Constitutional safeguards, challenges, and the road ahead. (2025). Ukhrul Times.
- — Understanding the complex conflict unfolding in Manipur. (2023). IWGIA.
- India Today Northeast. (2023). Manipur tribal students’ union opposes ST status demand of Meitei community. https://www.indiatodayne.in
- IWGIA. (2023). Understanding the complex conflict unfolding in Manipur. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. https://iwgia.org
- Mangang, S. G. (2025). Student movements and ethnic politics in Manipur. International Journal of Social Science Research, 2(5), 45–60.
- PUCL. (2025). Manipur report: Civil liberties, ethnic conflict, and constitutional safeguards. People’s Union for Civil Liberties.
- The Hills Journal. (2025). ATSUM alleges discrimination against tribal students. https://www.thehillsjournal.com
- Ukhrul Times. (2023). Reservation and recruitment issues affecting tribal communities. https://ukhrultimes.com
- Wikipedia. (2025). 2023–2025 Manipur violence. https://en.wikipedia.org
- Frontier Manipur. (2021). Tribal organizations support Hill Areas ADC reforms. https://thefrontiermanipur.com
- Gurr, T. R. (1970). Why men rebel. Princeton University Press.
- Horowitz, D. L. (1985). Ethnic groups in conflict. University of California Press.
- IWGIA. (2023). Understanding the complex conflict unfolding in Manipur. International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs.
- Mangang, S. G. (2025). Student movements and ethnic politics in Manipur. International Journal of Social Science Research, 2(5), 45–60.
- PUCL. (2025). Manipur report: Civil liberties, ethnic conflict, and constitutional safeguards. People’s Union for Civil Liberties.
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