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{{Short description|Meitei speaking Muslim community of South Asia}}
{{About|Meitei speaking Muslim community|the Meitei [[pagan]]|Sanamahism|the overall Meitei speaking community|Meitei people}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{NPOV language|date=June 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2020}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}

{{Infobox ethnic group|
| group = Meitei Pangals
| image = File:"Meitei Pangal" (literally meaning "Meitei Muslim" in Meitei language) written in Meitei script.jpg
| caption = "Meitei Pangal" (literally meaning "Meitei Muslim" in [[Meitei language]]) written in [[Meitei script]]
| population =
| popplace = [[Manipur]] [[India]] in [[Kwakta]]
| region1 = {{flagcountry|India}}
| pop1 =
| region2 = {{flagcountry|Bangladesh}}
| pop2 =
| region3 = {{flagcountry|Myanmar}}
| pop3 =
| langs = [[Meitei language]]
| rels = [[Islam]]
| related = [[Meitei people|Meitei]], [[Naga people|Nagas]], [[Kuki people|Kukis]], [[Zo people|Zomis]], [[Bamar people|Bamar]], [[Tripuri people|Tripuri]], [[Shan people|Shan]]
| native_name = Meitei Pangal
| native_name_lang = Meitei
}}
{{Meitei people}}
{{Islam in India}}
{{Islam in Bangladesh}}
The '''Meitei Pangals''' ({{lang-mni|Meitei Pangan}}), also known as the '''Pangals''' ({{lang-mni|Pangan}}) or the '''Meitei Muslims''' ({{lang-mni|Meitei Pangal}}) or the '''Manipuri Muslims''' ({{lang-mni|Manipuri Pangal}}), are a group of [[Muslim]]s who speak [[Meitei language]] as their native tongue. They live mainly in [[Manipur]]. The term "Pangal" simply means "Muslim" in [[Meitei language]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&dq=meitei+pangal&pg=PA460 |title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization |date=1988 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-853-2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Khullakpam |first=A. Hakim Shah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fMisnQEACAAJ&q=meitei+pangal |title=The Manipur Governance to the Meitei-Pangal (Manipuri Muslim), 1606-1949 |date=2008 |publisher=Pearl Education Society |language=en}}</ref> Various historical sources have different dates for when Islam first entered Manipur. However, the date all sources seem to confirm as definitive is 1606 AD. The origin of the Pangal community is equally varied.

==Etymology==
The word ''Pangal'' was historically used by the [[Meitei people|Meitei]] to denote all Muslims. The word also means 'strength' in the language.<ref name=sua/> In [[Assam]] and [[Cachar district|Cachar]], they used to also be referred to as "Mei-Moglai" (Mughal Meitheis).<ref>{{cite book|first=Rajmohan|last=Nath|title=The back-ground of Assamese culture|page=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.126984/page/n169 122]|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.126984|year=1948|publisher=A. K. Nath}}</ref> Outside of India, they can be found in [[Bangladesh]]'s [[Moulvibazar District]] (particularly southern [[Kamalganj Upazila|Kamalganj]]) where they are referred to as "''Khai Bangal''".<ref name=sua>{{cite book|title=Sylhet: History and Heritage|page=804|year=1999|editor=Ahmed, Sharif Uddin|isbn=9789843104786|publisher=Bangladesh Itihas Samiti}}</ref>

== History ==
In the 17th century, Meitei Prince Sanongba requested aid from Cachari King Dimasha Prataphil to defeat his brother King [[Khagemba]]. Dimasha Prataphil was aware of Khagemba's military strength and knew that his forces alone could not win. Hence, he requested the [[Nawab]] of [[Taraf Kingdom|Taraf]], Muhammad Nazir to send forces to his aid, who were then dispatched under his brother [[Muhammad Sani]]. In the war. Muhammad Sani was defeated and King [[Khagemba]] took him and his 1000 troops as POWs, Later King [[Khagemba]] allowed the Muslim soldiers to settle in the valleys of Manipur.<ref>{{Citation|last=Khan|first=Md. Chingiz|title=Socio-Cultural And Religious Facets Of Manipuri Muslims During The 17th And 18th Centuries |url=https://www.academia.edu/9378077|journal=International Journal of Research|volume=1|issue=8|year=2014|publisher=IJR|location=New Delhi|issn=2348-6848|page=121}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Nazir|first=Ahamad|title=The Muslims in Manipur: A study in their History and Culture|year=2013|url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/39985/6/06_chapter%202.pdf|publisher=Manipur University|location=Imphal|page=27}}</ref> In the meanwhile [[Myanmar Army|Burmese army]] broke a war against [[Kangleipak]] in [[Kabaw Valley|Kabaw valley]]. King [[Khagemba]] asked the brave soldiers to help Meitei army to fight with [[Burma]] (Myanmar). They agreed and fought the battle alongside the [[Meitei people|Meitei]] army. Fortunately, Meitei army won the battle. King [[Khagemba]] was very happy with that and his highness gave the name Pangal ("Pangal"= Strength in [[Meitei language]]). Through marriage, adopting the [[Meitei language]] and various local practices, which did not violate [[Islam]], the Muslim soldiers were eventually [[naturalised]] as the Meitei Pangals. The etymology of the name is also interesting as some say it account from a [[Persian language|Persian]] source states that the name Pangal was given due to their fortitude in battle, and the Pangal means ‘strength’ in [[Meitei language]].

The Meitei Pangals were result of two Muslim migrations in 1606 and 1724. Manipur provided shelter to [[Shah Shuja (Mughal prince)|Shah Shuja]], the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] prince who fled (and was pursued) to save himself from the wrath of his brother [[Mughal Empire|Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]]. According to Henry Rule Kathe, Muslims are the result of intermixing (melting pot) of Muslims coming in different eras from different directions – [[Bengal]], [[Kingdom of Arakan|Arakan]], [[Cachar]] and [[Manipur]] itself. Silk-spinning was a trade widely practised by them.<ref>[http://www.milligazette.com/news/1879-pangal-musalman-manipuri-muslims Pangali Musalman: Manipuri Muslims]</ref>

The Meitei Pangals of [[Manipur]] devastated and were taken as slaves by the invading Burmese armies.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=RHmkHBTT_T0C&dq=Pangals+Burmese+invasion&pg=PA199 The Muslims of Manipur]</ref>

While some Muslims were already living in Manipur, there was a significant influx of Muslims from 1660 onwards, as refugees followed the deposing of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] [[Shah Shuja (Mughal)|Shah Shuja]] (Shangkusum) of [[Hindustan]], who lost a war of succession to [[Aurangzeb]]. Shuja's flight is significant in the Islamic folklore of both north east India and [[Bangladesh]].

On 6 June 1660, Shuja fled from [[Dacca]] (Dhaka), initially intent on travelling, via [[Chittagong]] to [[Kingdom of Arakan|Arakan]] (Rakhine).<ref name="Manucci">Niccolai Manucci, ''Storia do Mogor or History of Mughal India'', translator [[William Irvine (historian)|William Irvine]]</ref><ref>Suhas Chatterjee, 2008, ''The Socio-Economic History of South Assam''.</ref> Arakan, capital of the [[Mrauk U Kingdom]], was the destination, because [[Sanda Thudamma|Sanda Sudamma]] (Thudamma) had reportedly promised to provide ships to take Shuja and his entourage to [[Mecca]] for [[haj]] (pilgrimage). Shaju travelled with his wife [[Piari Banu Begum]] (a.k.a. Praveen Banu, Piara Banu, or Pai Ribanu) and her sister [[Sabe Banu]], his sons Zainul Abidin (Zainibuddin, Bon Sultan or Sultan Bang), [[Buland Akhtar]] and [[Zain-ul-Din Muhammad]] (Zainul Abedi), and daughters [[Gulrukh Banu]], [[Roshanara Begum]] and [[Amina Begum]],<ref>Stanley Lane-Pool, 1971, ''Aurangzeb'', vol.1.</ref> as well as two vessels of gold and silver, jewels, treasures and other royal trappings, on the backs of half a dozen camels, while about 1,000 [[palanquin]]s (carriers) transported Shuja's [[harem]]. After staying for some time at Chittagong, Shuja took a land route (still called Shuja Road) southward. Shuja prayed the [[Eid prayer]] at a place called Edgoung (meaning [[eidgah]]) in [[Dulahazra]]. The part crossed the [[Naf River]], half a mile north of [[Maungdaw]], which is sometimes still known as "Shuja Village". The final leg was a sea voyage to Arakan where Shuja was received by an envoy of king Sanda Sudamma and escorted to quarters provided for him. However, after Shuja arrived in Arakan, Sudama reportedly reneged on this promise and confiscated some of Shuja's treasure. In retaliation, Zainul Abidin and another brother led a Mughal attack on Sudama and almost succeeded in setting fire to the royal palace. Two or three of Shuja's sons died in subsequent fighting and/or the Mughals' flight into the jungle. Many other Mughals were massacred. Shuja's daughter Gulrukh reportedly committed suicide after being captured and raped by Sudama. The surviving members of Shaju's party, helped reportedly by Mughals and [[Pathan]]s resident at Arakan,<ref name="ReferenceA">Niccolai Manucci, ''Storia do Mogor''.</ref> travelled north with [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] mariners, at a high cost in gold and jewels.

The [[Hindu]] kings of [[Tripura Kingdom|Tripura]] and [[Manipur (princely state)|Manipur]] were more agreeable hosts – probably because they did not like the expansionist policy of [[Aurangzeb]] – and played a crucial role in concealing Shuja's whereabouts. Shah Shuja and his party arrived at Tripura on 16 May,<ref name="Manucci"/> and in Manipur in December .<ref>''[[Cheitharol Kumbaba]]'', 1989.</ref> Aware that Aurangzeb’s scouts and spies were searching for the former Shah,<ref>Janab Khan, 1972, ''Manipuri Muslim'' also locally called "Moughlai Muslim".</ref> the Tripura officials spread misinformation that Shuja had died at Arakan, or was travelling to Mecca, among other stories.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Among other precautionary measures, Shuja was sent by elephant to the hill country of [[Ukhrul]].<ref>see also ''How Shuja, Brother of Aurangzeb died (sic) at Ukhrul''; he actually died and was buried at Kairang Shujalok.</ref> [[Mir Jumla II]] learned of the situation and sent three men to Manipur in late December, to detain and retrieve Shuja's family.<ref>A. Hakim Shah, 2008, ''The Manipur Governance''</ref> However, the [[Qazi]] of Manipur, [[Muhammad Sani]], detained the chief emissary of the Mughals, [[Nur Beg]] to ensure that the others, [[Dur Beg]] and [[Rustam Beg]], did not provide information regarding Shuja’s presence in Manipur.<ref>Names of Mughal ambassadors can be known from P. Gogoi, 1961, ''The Tai and Tai Kingdoms'' who gave Dur Beg and Rustam; Kheiruddin Khullakpam, 1997, ''Turko-Afghangi Chada Naoda'', Lilong: Circles, gives the Boggy clan ancestor as Noor Bakhsh that must be Noor Beg.</ref> At that time, Shuja was in hiding at a cave known later as [[Shuja-lok]] ("Shuja Cave"),<ref>Janab Khan, 1972, ''Manipuri Muslim''.</ref> [[Haignang]], [[Kairang]] (east of [[Imphal]]). According to some accounts he later died at the cave.

The Manipuri Muslims are the descendants of the soldiers from Sylhet and the local Meitei women. The [[List of Meitei kings|Meitei Kings of Manipur]] gave their surnames based on their professions. For example, Fundreimayum was the surname given to those who worked on lathe. Likewise, Chesam was given as surname to those who worked in paper industry.

===Population===
Their present population is 239,886, making up 8.40% of the state of [[Manipur]] population as per 2011 census. Pangal mostly settled in the periphery of Manipur near River bank, near lake and foothills. The Pangals are mainly concentrated in and around [[Imphal]], the capital of Manipur and [[Thoubal]]. There is large number of pangals live in [[Cachar district|Cachar]] in [[Assam]], [[Hojai]] in [[Assam]], Komolpur in [[Tripura]] and [[Bangladesh]]. It is believed that the ancestors of the Meitei Pangals settled in this region are migrated from Manipur during the seven years devastation also known as [[Chahi-Taret Khuntakpa]], the black period in the history of Manipur when [[Burmese invasions of Assam]] and their conquest of Manipur around 1815 AD.

== Culture ==
Meitei Pangals have many family names. They are an indigenous and peace-loving community. Traditional dress for men is [[Lungi]]s and [[pajama]]s, and for women is [[Kurti top|Kurti]]s, [[Shalwar]] and [[phanek]]. Both also wear western attire. They maintained their own identity though they assimilated and intermixed with the other local communities.

=== Stratification ===
Meitei Pangals are divided into many clans or family titles.
{{dynamic list}}
*The Ayekpam descend from an artist. Ayekpam translates to "the one who paints".
*The Baseimayum descend from a kingdom in [[Sylhet]] known as Basa (or Pasha). However, R.B. Pemberton suggests this kingdom was in [[Cachar]].
*The Makak trace their heritage as the founders of the 12th-century [[Hajo|Barmaqam Powa Makkah]], renovated by the 15th-century [[Sultan of Bengal]] [[Alauddin Husain Shah]]. They are divided into three clans:
#The Makakyum Ariba clan are descended from a member of the [[Banu Makhzum]] tribe in [[Makkah]].
#The Makak Amuba clan are descended from Lukhiyarful, who is a descendant of Nurullah Herati, the [[Subahdar]] of [[Kamrup region|Kamrup/Shujabad]] in 1677 - who comes from [[Herat]], Afghanistan.
#The Makak Angouba clan are descended from Sunarful, who is a descendant of [[Lutfullah Shirazi]] - a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal officer]].
*The Malsam are descended from an early seventeenth-century man called Malsa who migrated to [[Manipur]] from the [[Brahmaputra Valley]].
*The Mansam are descended from a seventeenth-century man who migrated to [[Manipur]] from the [[Sylhet District|Surma Valley]].
*

== Issues ==

=== Discrimination ===
Despite the Pangals having a long history in the area, sharing many cultural traits with their non-Muslim neighbors, and generally living in peace as a minority; they have recently faced episodes of discrimination, marginalization, and [[Violence against Muslims in India|Islamophobia]] from the Manipur government, some politicians and other Manipuris. Stereotypes of Pangals include that they are anti-social and prone to certain crimes like thievery or drug trading.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

The [[1993 Pangal massacre]] saw the death of around 130 Pangals and the burning of their homes. Mobs killed and assaulted Pangal men and women and destroyed Pangal-owned commercial establishments. The police were criticized for doing little to curtail the violence or stop the misinformation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Mander|first=Harsh|date=21 July 2019|title=A Manipur Muslim family struggles to understand why a lynch mob thought their MBA-son was a thief|url=https://scroll.in/article/928470/a-manipur-muslim-family-struggles-to-understand-why-a-lynch-mob-thought-their-mba-son-was-a-thief|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=30 June 2020|website=[[Scroll.in]]|language=en-US}}</ref> The rise of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] in Manipur since 2016 has led to a rise of attacks against Pangals.<ref name=":0" /> Yumnam Devjit, the son of [[Yumnam Joykumar Singh]], wrote in a [[facebook]] post that the [[Qurban (Islamic ritual sacrifice)|Qurban]]i ritual done during [[Eid al-Adha|Eid al- Adha]] "was nothing but training for Muslims to kill."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Sarkar|first=Sonia|date=22 September 2018|title=What it means to be a Muslim in lynch-era Manipur|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/at-home-nettled-frontiers/cid/1669850|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=30 June 2020|website=[[The Telegraph India]]}}</ref>

In September 2018, a Pangal entrepreneur named Mohamed Farooq Khan was [[lynched]] by a mob and the video of his lynching was soon spread throughout [[social media]]. He was lynched for allegedly stealing a scooter but there has been alternative reports that Khan was wrongfully framed for the theft. This incident had led to local Pangals fearing for their safety.<ref name=":0" />

=== Political marginalization ===
According to a report of a journalist named Chingiz Khan of [[The Pioneer (India)|The Pioneer]], Meitei Pangals have little political representation in the Manipur government and institutions with very few of them holding political office. The Manipur government initially refused to include a Muslim representative during the drafting of the Protection of Manipur People proposed by the State Government on 23 May 2018.<ref name=":2" /> The bill was meant to prevent [[Rohingya people|Rohingyas]] (and certain other migrants) from settling in Manipur. A narrative that was spread during the creation of the bill was that Pangals gave asylum to the Rohingyas and placed blame on them for the perceived offense.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Khan|first=Chingiz|date=7 April 2019|title=Pangals victim of manufactured insecurity|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/sunday-edition/pangals-victim-of-manufactured-insecurity.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=30 June 2020|website=[[The Pioneer (India)|The Pioneer]]}}</ref>

The Pangals generally receive a disproportionately low amount of aid from the government compared to the Meiteis and other native groups in the area. The implementation of the [[Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya|KGBV]] program was established among the [[Naga people|Naga]] and [[Kuki people|Kukis]] but not in areas with sizable Pangal populations.<ref name=":1" /> Access to higher education, healthcare, and employment is considered an obstacle.<ref name=":2" />

According to a piece in ''[[Firstpost]]'', Pangals have experienced the loss of some of their land in a more frequent rate after the [[1993 Pangal massacre]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Malik|first=Amir|date=14 April 2020|title=JNU research scholar accuses Manipur of harassing Pangal Muslims in newspaper article, state government responds with author's arrest|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/jnu-research-scholar-accuses-manipur-of-harassing-pangal-muslims-in-newspaper-article-state-government-responds-with-authors-arrest-8257101.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=30 June 2020|website=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref> There was an 2018 incident in where the Manipuri government forced 400 Pangals to leave their residences, alleging that the locals lived in forest reserves and paddy rice areas. The government deployed the police and utilized environmental laws to execute the evictions. The Pangals have not yet been given compensation for these evictions. Advocates have claimed that comparable areas inhabited by Meiteis face much less scrutiny and evictions.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Chingiz Khan, writing for ''Manipur Daily'', stated that these actions by the state has encouraged other native groups in the area to threaten Pangals and their businesses to vacate the place.<ref name=":2" />

== Notable people ==
*Amjad Ali, MLA Yairipok Kendra in the 1950s
*[[Ashraf Ali (Manipur politician)|Ashraf Ali]], MLA/Minister of [[Andro Assembly constituency|Andro]] in 1974
*Chaoba Pangal, Politician,MLA,1970s, Wankhem Constituency
*[[Mohammed Alimuddin]], former [[List of chief ministers of Manipur|Chief Minister of Manipur]]
*[[Sheikh Noorul Hassan]], MLA of [[Kshetrigao Assembly constituency|Kshetrigao]]
*[[Nurul Huda (CPI(M) politician)|Nurul Huda]], Marxist from Cachar
*[[Muhammed Alauddin Khan]], former Manipur minister
*Yaima Haji, MLA, Keirao Constituency,1970s
*[[Abdul LatiF]], two-time MLA of [[Mayang Imphal Assembly constituency|Mayang Imphal]]
*[[Kutub Ahmed Mazumder]], Congress politician based in Assam
*[[Muhammad Abdul Nasir]], MLA of [[Lilong Assembly constituency|Lilong]]
*[[Muhammad Fajur Rahim]], former MLA of [[Wabgai Assembly constituency|Wabgai]]
*[[Habibur Rahaman]], former MLA of Wabgai
*[[Haji Abdul Salam]], 3-time MLA of [[Wabgai Assembly constituency|Wabgai]]
*[[Amin Shah]], former MLA of Kshetrigao

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* Irene, Salam (2010). ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Muslims_of_Manipur.html?id=RHmkHBTT_T0C The Muslims of Manipur]''. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. {{ISBN|9788178358284|817835828X}}

== Further reading ==

*Hui Legends of The Companions of The Prophet, China Heritage,20 Sep 2010, www.chinaheritagenewsletter.org/article.
* For Muslim settlement since 7th century see ''History Of Migration In the Valley Of Manipur'' by Dr. Oinam Ranjit Singh.
* Manipuri Muslims: Socially Speaking

== External links ==
* [http://twocircles.net/2010jan11/muslims_manipur_look_their_socio_economic_condition.html Muslims in Manipur: A look at their socio-economic condition] - TCN News
* [http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=kshow&kid=54 How Muslims came to be in Manipur]

{{Indian Muslim}}
{{Ethnic groups in Bangladesh}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Meitei Pangals]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Manipur]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Myanmar]]
[[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Persecution of Muslims]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in South Asia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Southeast Asia]]

Meitei Pangals - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article