Name of leader Rajkumar Meghen
Alias Sana Yaima
Organization United National Liberation Front (UNLF)
Alt. Org. Name The United National Liberation Front of Manipur
Conflict country India
Gender Male
Year of birth 1946[1]
Place of birth Manipur, India
Year of death N/A
Deceased
No, there is no evidence he has died.
Birth order
His birth order is unknown.
Age at start of rebel leadership
In 1984, so at age 38.[2]
Leader entry method
He was elected general secretary.[3]
Powersharing
No, there is no evidence of powersharing.
Education (also name universities attended, if any); note any relevant experiences while a student
He has his postgraduate degree in International Relations from Jadavpur University in Kolkata[4] or Law at Jadavpur University in Kolkata.[5]
Ever married? If yes, age of first marriage
Yes, he is married.[6]
Children
Yes, he has at least one son.[7]
Religious identification
He is likely Hindu.[8]
Elite family background
Yes, “Mr. Meghen is the great-grandson of Manipuri patriot Prince Tikendrajit Singh, who led the army of the Manipur kingdom in the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891.”[9]
Political affiliations and intellectual circles; note any relevant social connections made
He established contact with the Naga underground in Myanmar.[10]
Physical and mental health
No, there is no evidence of poor physical or mental health.
Pre-militant leader occupation
He was an activist, it appears he went directly from college to the UNLF.[11]
Experience in a state military, and role; any relevant social ties
His experience in a state military is unknown.
Experience in a nonstate military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, there is no evidence of experience in a nonstate military.
Combat experience prior to assuming resistance organization leadership?
His combat experience is unknown.
Held government position prior to assuming leadership?
No, there is no evidence he held a government position.
Lived in exile?
No, there is no evidence he lived in exile.
Study abroad?
Whether he studied abroad is unknown.
Did the leader receive military training abroad?
Whether he received military training abroad is unknown.
Did the leader have extensive work experience abroad?
No, there is no evidence he had extensive work experience abroad.
Serve time in prison? Social connections during that time?
No, there is no evidence he served time in prison. In September 2010, he was arrested, but was no longer leader after being arrested.[12]
Was there an assassination attempt on the leader by the state?
No, there is no evidence of an assassination attempt by the state.
Cause of Death?
N/A
Primary language, and other languages spoken as adult
He spoke Meitei language as his primary language, and he also possibly spoke Hindi.
[1]Image Credit: https://c.ndtvimg.com/2019-11/m5kgqcik_rajkumar-meghen-ndtv-_625x300_10_November_19.jp
(For non-commercial use, all credits belong to the original owners, please contact for removal)
Sushanta Talukdar, “Meghen seeks plebiscite, peacekeepers in Manipur,” The Hindu, February 22, 2011, Accessed January 5, 2018, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Meghen-seeks-plebiscite-peacekeepers-in-Manipur/article15454389.ece.
[2] Bertil Lintner, Great Game East: India, China, and the Struggle for Asia's Most Volatile Frontier (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2015), 128.
[3] Ibid.
[4] See f.n.1
[5] See f.n.2
[6] “NIA gets 13 days custody of UNLF chief Meghen,” rediff NEWS, December 3, 2010, Accessed January 5, 2018, http://www.rediff.com/news/report/nia-gets-13-days-custody-of-unlf-chief-meghen/20101203.htm.
[7] Sushanta Talukdar, “Sanayaima remanded to 13 days in NIA custody,” The Hindu, December 4, 2010, Accessed January 5, 2018, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Sanayaima-remanded-to-13-days-in-NIA-custody/article15580054.ece.
[8] “SOUTH ASIA:: INDIA,” The World Factbook, Accessed January 2, 2018, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html.
[9] See f.n.1
[10] Ibid, 59.
[11] See f.n.2
[12] See f.n.4
