Churachandpur

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Churachandpur is the largest district in the Indian state of Manipur.

1 Historical Background
- 1.1 Lamka and "Lamka-ites" on the bank of Khuga (Tuitha)
- 1.2 Westward Expansion: Suangpi or Old Churachand
2 Churachandpur District in a Nutshell
3 Ordeals of a highly literate & cosmopolitan Hill Town
- 3.1 Educational Institutions of Mixed Quality
4 Khuga Dam: Artificial fresh water lake
5 Demographics: Lamka as a melting pot
6 Connectivity by road and satellite
7 Places of tourist interest
8 References
9 External links

[edit] Historical Background

[edit] Lamka and "Lamka-ites" on the bank of Khuga (Tuitha)

Located southwest of Manipur (India), Churachandpur District covers an area of 4570 km². In fact, it is the largest district within the state of Manipur. The district mainly has hilly terrain except narrow strips of valley which support wet rice cultivation. Churachandpur town, locally known as Lamka, is the district headquarters. Lamka (literally meaning "converging roads") is the second-largest town of Manipur, next only to the state capital, Imphal. So, Lamka is called the "second town" of Manipur and remains the fasting-growing town in the state. The urbanites of Churachandpur town are sometimes called "CCpurians" or, more accurately, "Lamka-ites" (since CCpur connotes the entire district population).

True to its name, Lamka is the convergence point of the Tedim road and Tipaimukh road (forming part of National Highway 150). Established by Zenhang Valte and Phungkhothang Guite in 1930, it was also called Hiangtam Lamka in earlier times. ^[1] That was because the British used Tedim road to suppress rebelling villages (during World War I or "Zou Gal" in local parlance) around Hiangtam village near the Indo-Burma border. Tedim road was expanded as a part of the British war efforts to connect Imphal with the Burmese town of Tedim during World War II. Tipaimukh road (NH 150) connects Manipur with neighbouring Mizoram. (The road is still under construction despite security problems).

Before WW II, the Lamka valley was a tiny, mosquito-infested village on the west bank of the Tuitha (Khuga) river. The indigenous tribes traditionally survived on jhum or shifting cultivation on the hills surrounding the Lamka valley. They simply avoided the malaria-prone Lamka valley till the introduction of wet rice cultivation sometime during the inter-War period. The neighboring Mizo (Lushai) tribes - probably from Champhai valley - were credited with the innovation of wet rice cultivation in the area. Since then this little hamlet called Lamka expanded towards the west bank of the Tuitha (Khuga) river. Note that "Tuitha" literally means "good river" in Lushai dialect. Henceforth, the river valley ceased to be the haunt of killer malaria, dreaded as a "malignant spirit" in the past.

[edit] Westward Expansion: Suangpi or Old Churachand

The post-War period witnessed the rapid growth of Lamka village till it engulfed the old village of Suangpi (also known as Old Churachand or Mission Compound) further west.The western village of Suangpi was originally a separate village, 15 kms west of Lamka village. Suangpi (Old Churachand) and Lamka had different origins until they recently merged. For a long time, Suangpi village was regarded as more important than Lamka village. When the Manipur hill areas were reorganized in 1919, Suangpi was made one of the four sub-divisional headquarters. The following year, B.C. Gesper was posted at Suangpi as the first SDO of the new administrative area. (See Chinkhopau 1995; Neihsial 1996).

In 1921, a lambu (colonial interpreter) renamed Suangpi village as Churachandpur in honour of a Meitei prince from the Imphal valley. Mahajara Churachand visited Suangpi village during a feast thrown for returning natives who had served in the Labour Corps in France. Later, Christian missionaries (NEIG Mission) set up their headquarters at Suangpi village in 1930 (Nengzachin 1974:11). Thus, Suangpi became Mission Compound or Old Churachand. The new name of Suangpi village later extended to include the commercial town of Lamka, which sprung up around two market centres, Old Bazaar and New Bazaar. Whereas Lamka began as a bazaar at the confluence of roads, the western Suangpi village was a Christian Mission Compound. The converging interests of tribal traders and entrepreneurs at Lamka, along with Christian missionaries (at Suangpi), gave birth to the present vibrant Churachandpur town.

[edit] Churachandpur District in a Nutshell

Area:	4570 km²	Rank 1/9
Literacy Rate (2001)	74.67%	Rank 3/9
Literacy by Gender	Male 84.98%	Female 64.40%
Population (2001 Census)	228,707	Rank 5/9
Population % to state population	9.57%	(2001 Census)
Sex Ratio	993 (2001 Census)	1004 (1961 Census)
Temperature	41^oC Maximum	0^oC Minimum
Humidity	89% Maximum	20% Minimum
Longitude	93.15^oE	94.0^oE
Latitude	24.0^oN	24.3^oN
Altitude	914.4 metres	(District Hqrs.)
Population Density	50 (2001 Census)	Rank 6/9
Telephone Code	+ 3874
Postal Code	Churachandpur 795128	Chiengkonpang 795158

[edit] Ordeals of a highly literate & cosmopolitan Hill Town

Due to its commercial orgins, Lamka is the most multi-ethnic and cosmopolitan hill town in Manipur. During WW II, Churachandpur did not escape Japanese bombing; but it enjoyed about five decades of quiet and peaceful progress in the post-War period. Especially during the 1970s and '80s, Lamka was an "island of peace" which exerted a magnetic pull for many moneyed investors seeking good profit. Mizo entrepreneurs started business, Meitei imas came to sell delicacies from Imphal valley, Marwaris and Punjabis opened new shops, local entrepreneurs set up paan-dukans, Nepali milk people pitched their tents, Biharis barbers arrived, and armies and bureaucrats from all parts of India added new colour to the human tapestry.

The biggest challenge to the future of Lamka town was posed by the Zomi-Kuki ethnic clash (1997-98). For a short while, this conflict turned Lamka into a jungle of security gates and bunkers. It was easy enough to spark off an ethnic war in June 1997. Yet it was hard to put out the avenging fires by 1 October 1998, and still harder to stifle its aftermath of "gun culture" among the youth - victimised as well as brutalised by blood letting. As community leaders stuggle to build mutual trust and confidence, Lamka town is fast recovering from the initial shocks of violence.

On a positive note, Churachandpur district (and Lamka town in particular) boasts a high literacy rate of 74.67% (2001 Census), above the state literacy average of 68.87% and the Indian average of 64%. To a large extent, this reflects the contributions of faith-based initiatives (especially the Church and NGOs) and private edu-preneurs, rather than the presence of several ineffective government schools in the district. Despite the apathy of the state Licence Raj, the enterprising people of Churachandpur possess a strong drive for success and adopting "best practice".

[edit] Educational Institutions of Mixed Quality

Churachandpur town has two government degree colleges - Churachandpur College and Lamka College. Mangminthang College of Arts & Commerce is a new private college. Due to the absence of good colleges, many students leave Manipur to seek admission elsewhere. Delhi and Shillong are popular educational destinations for Churachandpur students. Though some private high schools offer quality education, meagre funding and poor management made Govt. colleges in Lamka an idle rite of passage than an education.

The town has a number of ineffective government high schools (with the exception of Rengkai Government School). However, the town is well-served by competitive private schools with a reputation for "clean" examination practices at the High School Leaving stage. Some of the private schools which have made excellent contribution to the educational standards of Churachandpur districts are Donbosco School, St. Mary's School, St. Paul's Institute, Blue Star Academy, Rayburn School, Sielmat Christian School, and Young Learners School.

[edit] Khuga Dam: Artificial fresh water lake

The resumption of the Khuga Dam project kick-started a new economic process. The Khuga Dam has already created a beautiful artificial lake at the southern tip of Lamka town near Mata village. This multi-purpose project irrigates 15,000 hectares of land within 20 kms of the dam site and will also supply 5 million gallons of drinking water and 1.75 MW of electricity for the town. The dam project began in 1983 with an estimated cost of Rs. 15 crores. It was set to be completed within four years; however, the project came to a standstill due to alleged financial irregularities. The ethnic conflict of 1997-98 also hampered further progress. When the project was resumed in 2002, the estimated cost had risen to over Rs. 280 crores. The structure of the earthen dam has been completed, but some components of this multipurpose project remain incomplete. December 2006 is the revised date for the completion of the project. The project received negative media attention due to inefficient handling of compensation to the displaced people around the dam site.

[edit] Demographics: Lamka as a melting pot

Lamka town is an expanding town with a population of about 50,000 people. But these official figures are misleading as they include only a small inner part of Lamka as the "town area". As of the 2001 census, the total population of the district is 228,707. In the 2001 census, the sex ratio of Churachandpur district, at 993 females per 1000 males, is slightly better than the state average of 978. However, the sex ratio of the district had been declining for decades since 1951 when it was as high as 1048. Thereafter, it fell down to 1004 in 1961; 976 in 1971; and 931 in 1991, with a marginal improvement in the 2001 Census.

The district is inhabited by several tribes, mainly belonging to the Kuki-Zomi-Mizo group, with the Paite tribe being the largest community, followed by the Hmar, Thado and Zou tribes. Apart from these, there are the Vaiphei, Gangte, Simte, Mizo, Tedim Chin, and some Manipuri Meiteis. There are also other non-Manipuri ethnic groups like Nepalese, Biharis, Malwaris, and Punjabis. While the Nepalese excel in the milk industry, the Malwaris are well-known for their business acumen. Despite the commercial origin of Lamka town, the indigenous people have few entrepreneurs and traditionally worked in the government sector. In fact, the town has been over-represented in civil services at the national level.

Though Churachandpur (Lamka) is the second biggest town of Manipur, it has no urban status according to the latest official records. On 11 July 2006, A.K. Sinha, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Chairman of Autonomous District Council, CC Pur, declared some parts of the town as "census town". The list of localities included in the town census are Tuibuong, Bijang, Sielmat, Zenhang Lamka, Rengkai, Luooa Veng, Nehru Marg, New Lamka, Salem Veng, Hill town, Upper Lamka, Chapel Lane, Headquarter Veng, Chiengkonpang, D Phailian, Bungmual, Pearsonmun, Thingkangphai, Ngathal, Kawnpui, Mualkot, Gangpimual, Mission Veng, Lhangmem, Gangte Veng, Zenlang Veng, Pangzawl, and Lanva (28 in total). In the absence of any clear criteria for inclusion or exclusion, the whole exercise was arbitrary. There are certain localities at the very heart of the town which are excluded form the census town - auch as Zomi Colony, Hmar Veng, Simveng, Hiangzou, and Zoveng.

[edit] Connectivity by road and satellite

Lamka town is connected to the state capital Imphal city by Tedim road (also known as National Highway 150). The town is just over a 1 hour drive from Imphal airport (about 65 kms).

Lamka town is well-served by telephone companies like Airtel and Aircel in addition to BSNL, which formerly monopolized the service.

[edit] Places of tourist interest

Khuga Dam near Mata village: It is one of the most beautiful artificial lakes of North-East India, comparable to Barapani (Umium) lake at Shillong. The dam site is just 7 km south of Churachandpur town.

Indigenous arts & handicrafts: Bamboo or wooden art objects are available at several shops, including New Bazaar and Old Bazaar. A wide variety of tribal shawls is also available.

Tribal museums: There are two small tribal museums at Tuibuong and Redcross Road.

[edit] References

Census of India 2001: Manipur Series 14 (Provisional Population Totals), Imphal: Directorate of Census Operations, Manipur.
Chinkhopau (1995) Churachandpur District, Churachandpur: Published by Author.
District Statistical Handbook - Churachandpur: District Statistical Officer.
Gangte, Thangzam (undated) Churachandpur Chanchin (An Account of Churachandpur)
Ginsum, H (undated) Lamka Vangkhua (Lamka Town).
Kamkhenthang, Dr. H (1995) "Lamka Town vis-a-vis Churachandpur", Shan (daily), 21 December.
Manipur State Archives, Imphal: Manipur State Durbar 1907-1947 - Papers related to the Court of the President of Manipur State Durbar, Hill Misc. Case No. 28 of 1945-46, Phungkhothang Chief of Hiangtam Lamka; also Misc Case No. 504 of 1934 Phungkhothang Chief of Hiangtam Lamka.
Neihsial, Dr. Tualchin (1996) This is Lamka: A Historical Account of the Fastest Growing Town of Manipur Hills, Churachandpur, India: Zogam Book Centre & Library.
Nengzachin (1974) "North East India General Mission Tanchin" in Jubilee Thusuah 1974, Churachandpur: Evangelical Convention Church; pp. 1-18.

[edit] External links

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