Manipur represents population of two ethnic groups, the people who inhabit the
hills called the Nagas and those who inhabit the valley called the Meiteis. The
hills are also inhabited by the group called the Kukis. Imphal is the political
capital of Manipur. The earliest recorded history dates to 900AD. In the course
of its history there have been several invasions from Myanmar (Burma) which
borders with Manipur and numerous clashes with the Nagas. In 1826, Manipur was
brought into India by the treaty of Yandavo
by Raja Jai Singh with the British at the end of the Indo-Burmese war. This followed a dispute in accession to the throne.
With the
intervention of the British the dispute was settled. In 1891 Churachand was
nominated the Raja and it came under British rule as a princely state. During
World War II Imphal was occupied by the Japanese. After Indian independence
Manipur became a Union Territory and subsequently achieved statehood in January
21,1972.
