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.
