ABSTRACT
The immediate focus of the unrest in Manipur, now in its second month, is a truly nasty and terrifying piece of legislation called the Armed Forces Act, 1958. Another interesting feature of the reaction, such as it is, of the union government is the contrary voices heard about the situation in Manipur from the union home minister and the defence minister. Almost every account of modern Manipur written by Manipuri scholars begins with a recital of the circumstances under which the territory lost its independent status and was merged into the union of India. The first written constitution of Manipur, promulgated during the reign of King Loyiamba in the eleventh century, was in force up to 1891. Another interesting feature of the reaction, such as it is, of the union government is the contrary voices heard about the situation in Manipur from the union home minister and the defence minister.
