Manipur MP Leishemba Sanajaoba urges Centre to recognise 'Sanamahi' as separate religion

Imphal: The BJP Member of Parliament (MP) from Manipur in the Rajya Sabha and titular king of the state, Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba, on Tuesday raised a matter of Urgent Public Importance in the Upper House of Parliament, urging the Government of India to formally recognise Sanamahi as a separate religion in the national Census.

Drawing the attention of the House, the titular king urged the Government to issue a clear directive to the Census authorities for the inclusion of Sanamahi as a separate religion.

Sanamahi/Sanamahism is a polytheistic and animistic religion practised by the Meitei people of Manipur. It is also known as Meiteism, Lainingthouism, or the Sanamahi religion. Sanamahism is an ancient faith that predates Hinduism and Vaishnavism. The religion is named after the deity Lainingthou Sanamahi, one of the most important gods in the Meitei faith.

The BJP MP ruefully stated that the continued absence of an independent enumeration code for Sanamahi has resulted in misrepresentation and dilution of the identity of its followers, despite repeated appeals from scholars, CSOs, and religious authorities, including the Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board, Uttra Shanglen, and Sanakonung.

Sanajaoba asserted that the Manipur Legislative Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution on 5 August 2022, requesting the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India to include Sanamahi as an independent religious category. The resolution echoed the long-standing sentiment of the Meitei/Meetei community, for whom Sanamahi is an ancient indigenous faith with distinct rituals, practices, and cultural heritage.

He expressed concern that thousands of individuals continue to practise Sanamahism but lack an appropriate category to record their faith in the Census schedule.

He concluded that recognising Sanamahi as a distinct religion would ensure accurate demographic representation, protect cultural heritage, and uphold the constitutional principles of religious freedom and identity.