Manipur is a state in northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital.^[13] It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of Myanmar, Sagaing Region to the east and Chin State to the south. The state covers an area of 22,327 km² (8,621 sq mi). The official and most widely spoken language is the Meitei language (officially known as Manipuri). Native to the Meitei people, it is also used as a lingua franca by smaller communities, who speak a variety of other Tibeto-Burman languages.^[14] Manipur has been at the crossroads of Asian economic and cultural exchange for more than 2,500 years.^[15] This exchange connects the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia to Southeast Asia, East Asia, Siberia, regions in the Arctic, Micronesia and Polynesia enabling migration of people, cultures and religions.^[16][17]

During the days of the British Raj, the Kingdom of Manipur was one of the princely states.^[18] Between 1917 and 1939, some people of Manipur pressed the princely rulers for democracy. By the late 1930s, the princely state of Manipur negotiated with the British administration its preference to continue to be part of the British Raj rather than part of British-ruled Burma, which was being separated from India. These negotiations were cut short with the outbreak of World War II in 1939. On 11 August 1947, Maharaja Budhachandra signed an Instrument of Accession, joining the new Indian Union.^[19][20] Later, on 21 September 1949, he signed a Merger Agreement, merging the kingdom into India, which led to its becoming a Part C State.^[21][22] This merger was later disputed by groups in Manipur, as having been completed without consensus and under duress.^[23] The dispute and differing visions for the future has resulted in a 50-year insurgency in the state for independence from India, as well as in repeated episodes of violence among ethnic groups in the state.^[24] From 2009 through 2018, the conflict was responsible for the violent deaths of over 1000 people.^[25]

The Meitei people^[26] represent around 53% of the population of Manipur state, followed by various Naga ethnic groups at 24% and various Kuki/Zo tribes (also known as Chin-Kuki-Mizo people) at 16%.^[27] Manipur’s ethnic groups practice a variety of religions.^[28] According to 2011 census, Hinduism and Christianity are the major religions of the state.^[28][29] Between the 1961 and 2011 censuses of India, the share of Hindus in the state declined from 62% to 41%, while the share of Christians rose from 19% to 41%.^[30]

Manipur has primarily an agrarian economy, with significant hydroelectric power generation potential. It is connected to other areas by daily flights through Imphal Airport, the second largest in northeastern India.^[31] Manipur is home to many sports and the origin of Manipuri dance,^[32] and is credited with introducing polo to Europeans.