Thread by @TNGeography

Stories of Tamils in Moreh town of Manipur is fascinating. Moreh is a multicultural town located on the Burma border. In 1962, Military Junta Ne Win, threw out Tamil's from Burma . Many Tamil's who came back to #TamilNadu, found it poor with no job, tried to go back to Burma 1/5

Rangoon Tamils who were born & brought up in the lush green field of Burma tried to re-enter Burma, but Burmese Army blocked them, so settled in the border jungles of Moreh in Manipur. In 1970 Moreh had >13000 Tamils, with their Burma connect, started dominating border trades 2/5

Tamil started dominating the border trade between India & Burma often it sis illegal. Tamil's domination in business led to 1992 Kuki tribe violence, they burnt the town business of Tamils, and many left the town and migrated to Tamil Nadu, now only ~3000 Tamils live there 3/5

Though Tamils in Moreh follow different religions but they are tight-knit community helping each other. They now do wood furniture business..etc. Chinese goods started dominating in Burma/Myanmar market meant trade between India-Burma is very low in the border towns 4/5

The struggle of Tamils who were forced to migrate across the world has two main reason
1. Water(drought killed many)
2. Infighting
Mettur dam..etc helped but even in 2000's we open Kanji Thotti during drought. We need to learn from our past struggle invest on water 5/5

As per me The great Madras famine of 1876 to 1878 killed >20% of Tamil Ethnicity, it changed lifestyle. Tamil's became coolies, migrated out in large numbers. But we hardly learn abt it in our history. We need to invest more in industry, reduce our water-intensive agri-farm 6/5

Moreh also has vibrant culture of Meitei, Sikhs, Bengali's..etc. Kuki's who form a majority in Moreh have the deep influence of the Tamil Catholic church (only Moreh Kuki's). Many shops burnt in Moreh in recent violence, situation is now under control 7/5

Meitei who converted into Hinduism in 1700 from their traditional Sanamahism, even now, they follow some custom of their old Sanamahism. Have close relation with Moreh Tamils. Lai Haraoba Festival for Umang Lai deity 8/5

Velankanni festival by Kuki and Tamil Catholics in Moreh. Though Kuki's follows Christianity for the last 150yrs, they keep their unique culture and dance alive. Lets hope for peace in the divided land of Manipur 9/5

Making Tamil Nadu prosperous is the only tribute we can pay for our ancestors who died in poverty, shifted in the coolie ship by British, French, Dutch. Agriculture uses >80% of our water, we need to make it efficient and reduce farmland in water-scarce areas, diversify TN.

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