Identity formation is a complex issue considering self-identification, community recognition, and construction concerns. Manipuri communities in Bangladesh face the challenge of claiming ‘Manipuri’ identity. Meitei, Bishnupriya, and Pangan communities have different social, cultural, political, and religious practices. Despite practicing diverse social orders, norms, and values, all of them claim one specific identity: the Manipuri identity. This study aims to explore the processes of identity formation in Meitei, Bishnupriya, and Pangan communities in relation to their ethnic, historical, and political dynamics. Adopting a qualitative study design, we conducted fifteen in-depth interviews with elders, cultural organizers, and businessmen; six key informant interviews with teachers, government employees, NGO workers, and community leaders; and three case studies of peer researchers who belong to Monipuri communities. Results revealed that Monipuri identity formation is interlinked with the diaspora and sense of belonging. Monipuri communities migrated from Monipur State, India. Every community has its own migration history and differs based on its social, cultural, linguistic, and religious contexts. All of them share similar language, physical appearance, and cultural ceremonies, whereas the Pangan practise the Muslim religion and Meitei and Bengali languages. The findings suggest the local sociocultural, linguistic, and religious contexts should be considered in the Monipuri identity formation issues among the diverse indigenous peoples living in Bangladesh.
