New Delhi, December 2: Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba has called on the Central Government to formally recognise Sanamahi as a distinct religion in the upcoming national census, stressing the need for accurate documentation of its followers. The appeal was made today in the Upper House under the parliamentary procedure of “Special Mention.”
Raising the issue as a matter of urgent public importance, MP Sanajaoba said that thousands of adherents of the indigenous Sanamahi faith remain inaccurately categorised in existing census formats, leading to under-representation of the community’s cultural and religious identity. He urged the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner to take necessary steps to include “Sanamahi” as a separate entry in the religion column.
A video of the intervention, shared widely on social media, shows the MP emphasising that official recognition would not only ensure accurate population data but also support cultural preservation efforts for the Sanamahi community.
Sanamahi, rooted in ancient Meitei traditions, is one of Manipur’s oldest indigenous belief systems. Community organisations and scholars have long advocated for a separate census category, arguing that existing classifications fail to reflect the faith’s unique identity and practices.
MP Sanajaoba’s appeal has drawn significant attention across Manipur, with many cultural groups welcoming the renewed push for official recognition in national demographic records. The matter now awaits consideration by the Central Government ahead of the next census exercise.
