Ethnic Identity Construction and Contestation in Bangladesh: The Case of the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Communities

In Bangladesh, some groups seek economic or social advantages by claiming ethnic identities to which they are not entitled. This paper examines such claims, focusing on the identity challenges faced by the Manipuri community due to competing claims from the Bishnupriya. Despite clear distinctions i...

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Main Author: Rajmoni Singha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Centre for Asian Social Science Research (CASSR), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Asian Social Science Research
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Online Access:https://cassr.net/jassr/index.php/jassr/article/view/105
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author Rajmoni Singha
author_facet Rajmoni Singha
author_sort Rajmoni Singha
collection DOAJ
description In Bangladesh, some groups seek economic or social advantages by claiming ethnic identities to which they are not entitled. This paper examines such claims, focusing on the identity challenges faced by the Manipuri community due to competing claims from the Bishnupriya. Despite clear distinctions in linguistic, historical, and cultural origins, as recognized in the literature, the Bishnupriya community asserts a Manipuri identity, creating tensions and contestations. The Manipuri, known as Meetei locally and internationally, are one of the recognized ethnic groups in Bangladesh. However, their identity is increasingly contested by the Bishnupriya, whose claims lack alignment with established definitions of Manipuri ethnicity. Although this issue is significant for the Manipuri community, it remains underexplored in Bangladeshi scholarship. This study addresses the gap using qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and participatory observations, complemented by secondary sources and scholarly research. The findings highlight the complexity of ethnic identity construction and its implications for minority communities in Bangladesh.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2721-9399
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language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Centre for Asian Social Science Research (CASSR), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
record_format Article
series Journal of Asian Social Science Research
spelling doaj-art-1f6991ed88154092acb274913391261f2025-01-04T19:09:56ZengUniversitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Centre for Asian Social Science Research (CASSR), Faculty of Social and Political SciencesJournal of Asian Social Science Research2721-93992721-95932024-12-016210.15575/jassr.v6i2.105Ethnic Identity Construction and Contestation in Bangladesh: The Case of the Manipuri and Bishnupriya CommunitiesRajmoni Singha0North South University In Bangladesh, some groups seek economic or social advantages by claiming ethnic identities to which they are not entitled. This paper examines such claims, focusing on the identity challenges faced by the Manipuri community due to competing claims from the Bishnupriya. Despite clear distinctions in linguistic, historical, and cultural origins, as recognized in the literature, the Bishnupriya community asserts a Manipuri identity, creating tensions and contestations. The Manipuri, known as Meetei locally and internationally, are one of the recognized ethnic groups in Bangladesh. However, their identity is increasingly contested by the Bishnupriya, whose claims lack alignment with established definitions of Manipuri ethnicity. Although this issue is significant for the Manipuri community, it remains underexplored in Bangladeshi scholarship. This study addresses the gap using qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and participatory observations, complemented by secondary sources and scholarly research. The findings highlight the complexity of ethnic identity construction and its implications for minority communities in Bangladesh. https://cassr.net/jassr/index.php/jassr/article/view/105ethnic contestationManipuriBishnupriyaMahabharataManipurKangleipak
spellingShingle Rajmoni Singha
Ethnic Identity Construction and Contestation in Bangladesh: The Case of the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Communities
Journal of Asian Social Science Research
ethnic contestation
Manipuri
Bishnupriya
Mahabharata
Manipur
Kangleipak
title Ethnic Identity Construction and Contestation in Bangladesh: The Case of the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Communities
title_full Ethnic Identity Construction and Contestation in Bangladesh: The Case of the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Communities
title_fullStr Ethnic Identity Construction and Contestation in Bangladesh: The Case of the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Communities
title_full_unstemmed Ethnic Identity Construction and Contestation in Bangladesh: The Case of the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Communities
title_short Ethnic Identity Construction and Contestation in Bangladesh: The Case of the Manipuri and Bishnupriya Communities
title_sort ethnic identity construction and contestation in bangladesh the case of the manipuri and bishnupriya communities
topic ethnic contestation
Manipuri
Bishnupriya
Mahabharata
Manipur
Kangleipak
url https://cassr.net/jassr/index.php/jassr/article/view/105
work_keys_str_mv AT rajmonisingha ethnicidentityconstructionandcontestationinbangladeshthecaseofthemanipuriandbishnupriyacommunities