Khoijuman: A Green Belt Land 

Khoijuman is a rural village in Bishnupur district, Manipur, India, situated approximately 35 kilometres south of the state capital Imphal, approximately between 24°372 N 93°472 E and at an elevation of around 760 meters above sea level, it occupies a position in the Imphal Valley near the North-West periphery of Loktak Lake. The topography of Khoijuman is dominated by flat alluvial plains that exhibit a gentle slope toward Loktak Lake, facilitating natural drainage and supporting extensive wet rice agriculture. These plains, formed from sediment deposits of river (Thongjaorok) feeding into the lake, are ideal for paddy fields, with much of the land dedicated to rain-fed cultivation of rice and vegetables. Extensions of phumdis—floating masses of vegetation, soil, and organic matter characteristic of Loktak Lake—occasionally encroach onto adjacent shorelines, influencing local land use and providing a unique semi-aquatic environment that blends terrestrial and lacustrine features. The proximity of Khoijuman to Loktak Lake highlights its place in Manipur’s natural and cultural heritage.
While there is no single widely documented “official” legend for the name Khoijuman, its origin is rooted in the Meitei language and local geography. The name is generally understood through its linguistic components and the village’s relationship with the Thongjaorok River. The name is derived from the following Meitei (Manipuri) roots: Khoiju: Often refers to a type of wild plant or weed (Ageratum conyzoides) that was once abundant in the area. Man: Meaning “to look like” or “resemble.”Another version based on the, historical and geographical context of the Bishnupur district in Manipur, the name Khoijuman (also spelled Khoijuman Khullen/Khunou) is primarily associated with the Khuman clan, one of the seven Yek Salai (clans) of the Meitei people, and its association with the Thongjaorok River. Historically, the Khuman clan was a distinct, ruling clan that controlled parts of Manipur prior to its integration into the Ningthouja dynasty. According to Ethno-Linguistic Roots, While the exact breakdown of “Khoi” + “Juman” isn’t explicitly defined in the provided text, the prefix Khoi or Khui in various Manipuri contexts refers to aspects of community or traditional, while “Juman” likely links to the place of settlement of the Khuman clan within the region. Archaeological surveys in the Bishnupur area and surrounding valley sites reveal settlements influenced by Meitei clan dynamics, with migrations and consolidations occurring as early as the 11th-13th centuries CE, when kings like Loiyumba ( 1074–1122 CE) extended control over principalities including the Moirang clan, which traditionally occupied shores along Loktak Lake. These movements facilitated the establishment of agricultural communities in elevated and lakeside terrains, adapting to the wetland environment for sustenance. Specific historical records for Khoijuman itself are limited, but the surrounding Bishnupur area’s development aligns with these broader Meitei settlement patterns around Loktak Lake, where groups dispersed to exploit the lake’s resources amid inter-clan conflicts and kingdom-building efforts in the 12th-13th centuries. Narrative traditions and historical accounts, such as those in the royal chronicles, describe how these migrations from central valley strongholds like Kangla led to new habitations in peripheral areas, including the south-western fringes near present-day Bishnupur.
The post-merger period saw the gradual establishment of local self-governance structures, culminating in the enactment of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act in 1994; Khoijuman was incorporated into the Khoijuman-Kwasiphai Gram Panchayat. Administratively, Khoijuman falls under the Bishnupur C.D. Block. The village falls under the Oinam Assembly Constituency within the Manipur Legislative Assembly and the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency in the Indian Parliament, enabling political representation at state and national levels. According to the 2011 Census of India, the population of Khoijuman Khullen stands at 2,951 residents (1,457 males and 1,494 females), across 589 households, predominantly engaged in agriculture. Literacy levels in 2011 were approximately 76.8%. Khoijuman’s ethnic composition is dominated by the Meitei people, who form the vast majority of the population, reflecting the broader patterns of Manipur’s Imphal Valley. Scheduled Castes are absent, while Scheduled Tribes (Kabui Naga) constitute less than 5% in Khoijuman Khullen. The primary language is Manipuri (Meiteilon), spoken by the vast majority in daily life, administration, and culture. Hindi and English are used secondarily in education and official contexts. Religiously, the village aligns with Imphal Valley trends, featuring a majority adhering to Hinduism (predominantly Vaishnavite with local customs) and significant influences from Sanamahism, an indigenous faith. Khoijuman’s traditions and festivals reflect the rich Meitei cultural heritage, emphasizing communal rituals and celebrations that honour ancestral deities and foster social bonds. These events, observed by the predominantly Meitei population, draw on indigenous Sanamahism practices predating Hindu influences in Manipur. The prominent festival of Lai Haraoba of Ebudhou Yangoiningthou, held annually in April-May according to the Meitei lunar calendar (Kalen month). To maintain our traditional& cultural heritage, the Temple of Ebudhou is opened once in every month on nongma panba of lunar calander which is taken care of by a committee. Yaosang, known as the Manipuri Holi and celebrated over five days in March starting on the full moon of Lamta (Phalguna).
Khoijuman primarily relies on local primary and secondary schools for basic education, with several institutions providing foundational schooling amid modest infrastructure. The Khoijuman Govt. Junior High School, established in 1963, as primary school initially, serves students in grades pre-nursery to 6 through a co-educational setup in a building featuring four classrooms, a playground, and functional toilets for boys and girls, electricity connection, and mid-day meals prepared on-site. It has enrolled 112 students under the leadership of its Head Master& his staff with people’s cooperation, which will be increased to 130 plus in the coming session. Another key facility, Khoijuman High School, established in 1991 and Govt. Aided, supports secondary education with a focus on rural accessibility via all-weather roads. In addition to these, there is one more private School’’ THE EMINENT SCHOOL’’ established very recently, offering education from nursery to 10th standard. Access to higher education in Khoijuman is limited locally, requiring students to commute to nearby towns such as Bishnupur, where institutions like Bishnupur Higher secondary School, C.I College offer higher Secondary and undergraduate programs in arts, science, and commerce.
Since the ancient times, the people of the Khoijuman village have been relying on planting of winter crops, off season crops and vegetables and paddy. The people of the village, which is situated just beside Thongjaorok River, plant various crops in the surrounding fields like a kitchen garden thus sustaining them all year round. Besides, Thongjaorok, Loktak Lift Irrigation (LLI) canal also support water required for agricultural activities. Khoijuman, renowned for its role as a key hub in the region’s vegetable belt, where farming drives the local economy. Khoijuman’s economy is predominantly agrarian, driven by vegetable farming as a key hub in Manipur’s vegetable belt, with additional influences from aquatic activities due to its location along the shores of Loktak Lake. Khoijuman features fertile lands supporting diverse horticultural crops, including high-yielding varieties of yard long beans, cucumbers, cabbage, cauliflower and other vegetables that contribute significantly to Manipur’s agricultural output and farmer incomes. The village’s economy relies heavily on crop cultivation, with recent initiatives promoting scientifically bred varieties, which offer improved yields (up to 25 tonnes per hectare), extended shelf life, and resistance to pests, enabling farmers to achieve net profits exceeding ¹ 50,000 per small plot through better market access.
Khoijuman, benefits from its proximity to extensions of Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, which features unique floating islands known as phumdis composed of vegetation, soil, and organic matter. These phumdi islands, create a dynamic ecosystem supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as habitats for a variety of bird species, including migratory ducks such as the northern pintail (Anas acuta) and common pochard (Aythya ferina) that arrive from November to March. The Nambul River, which empties into Loktak Lake near Khoijuman, forms extensive wetlands that enhance the region’s biodiversity by providing nutrient-rich inflows and supporting rare flora, notably vibrant lotus blooms (Nelumbo nucifera) during the monsoon season from June to September. These wetlands sustain a variety of aquatic plants and serve as critical corridors for fish migration and wetland-dependent species, though they face challenges from siltation and pollution. This site provides unobstructed vistas ideal for observing the lake’s ecological rhythms. Khoijuman itself is noted for bird watching opportunities and its fertile horticultural landscapes, which attract visitors interested in rural agricultural tourism and local biodiversity.
In the 21st century, Khoijuman has grappled with environmental challenges, particularly recurrent flooding from Loktak Lake, intensified by the Ithai Barrage’s role in maintaining water levels for hydropower since 1983, which has submerged farmlands and affected agricultural livelihoods. Specific impacts on Khoijuman include inundation of vegetable fields during monsoons. Besides this, Khoijuman faces acute potable water scarcity as the Thongjaorok River has dried up due to environmental catastrophe & mismanagement of water policy, though it has abundant water resources in the proximity of the village. These miseries & social related issues are trying to solve by a Civil Society Organisation emerged lately under the banner “Khoijuman Apunba Chaokhat Thourang Lup (KACKTL)” at its best level with people’s cooperation. A brigade of young people under the banner “KHOIJUMAN KHUNJA” comprising young govt, employees of Khoijuman is looking after development & enhancement of education in the village. “Global Science Club’’ one of the oldest Science Club in Manipur has been engaging in Environmental Protection, Science popularisation activities, wild life protection etc. It also one of the pioneer organisation which organised BHARAT JAN VIGYAN JATHA, a crusade against illiteracy in association with Science Teachers Forum, Manipur under the sponsorship of National Literacy mission during 1987-88.People of Khoijuman are contemplating government attention for its all-round development which has been neglecting by the authority for years.
In spite of various challenges faced by its people like that in worldwide due to Climate change, hard work of its people and being proximity to Loktak Lake and Thangjaorok River plays a vital role in agri-horti, aquaculture practices, art & culture, games & sports that Khoijuman produced many prominent sportsperson in the international arena. In fact Khoijuman, a green belt region can be called the “Punjab of Manipur”.
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