By – Dr. Kalpana Bora and Laimayum Bashanta Sharma
“You are responsible for your existence. If you forget your history, it will be repeated with you again”
Demography all over the world, Bharat and Manipur is changing faster than one could imagine! Markets, labour-sector, house-helps, unorganized sector jobs, fruit sellers, vegetable sellers, rickshaw wala, taxi drivers, haat-bazars, roads – all are flooded with Illegal Immigrants (IMs). Agricultural lands being cultivated not by the indigenous Manipuri land owners, but by non-Hindu IMs. Huge, beautiful, silent houses with all modern amenities, and with no children! The old, physically and emotionally vulnerable couple living alone and no one there even to lit Diya in the small temple of the house! Luxurious car smiling sarcastically in the garage. Handsome bank balance lying underutilized! And the tragedy is – they are not even sure, who would live in the house after the old couple dies!
Sounds absurd? No, it is reality. Getting actualized faster than you could ever imagine. Demography is changing faster than technology. Ticking like a time bomb – changing physical, social, economic, cultural, spiritual, and territorial landscapes of Nations!
Population of indigenous religion, especially Hindus, has been decreasing consistently. Contemplate upon the grave scariness of the situation with science and real data. According to a new UN demographic report (2025), the birth regeneration rate (Total Fertility Rate – TFR) of Bharat has fallen to 1.9 (below 2%). ‘Regeneration’ implies the replenishment of population through new births. A TFR of approximately 2.1 is needed to keep population stable without migration. As per the census data of IIPS (International Institute of Population Sciences), published in the Economic Survey 2018-19, TFR has already fallen below replacement level in several states of Bharat. Even high-fertility states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh have seen sharp decline.
A 2024 study, “Share of Religious Minorities – A Cross-Country Analysis (1950-2015)”, led by Dr. Shamika Ravi (Economic Advisory Council to the PM), revealed that in Bharat
“Hindus decreased from 84.68% (1950) to 78.06% (2015) – a drop of 7.82%”
“India has witnessed the biggest decline in majority population (7.82 per cent)”
That means – population of followers of religions which originated outside Bharat has increased! Sounds alarming? That analysis only included data up to 2015. What about the last decade? In many states, including some parts of the Northeast, Hindus have become minorities. Forced conversions, mass influx of illegal immigrants and their high birth rates are among the key drivers.
In Manipur, this threat is more real than most realize. For decades, Manipur’s indigenous population, primarily Sanatani Meiteis and various tribal communities, have faced demographic pressure due to unchecked illegal immigration, particularly from Myanmar and Bangladesh. Areas like Churachandpur and Tengnoupal have seen demographic inversion, where the indigenous Hindu and tribal populations are now outnumbered by immigrants.
Many of these immigrants belong to religions that did not originate in Bharat. Their exponential population growth – with little regard for sustainable development – is already shifting the demographic balance. The electoral power shifts, forest encroachments, religious conversions, and cross-border links have created not only a demographic crisis but also a cultural and national security concern.
In 2023, 2,480 illegal immigrants were detected in Manipur before the outbreak of violence on May 3.
Manipur’s forests, hills, and valleys have witnessed encroachment by foreign settlers, many of whom carry fake Aadhaar, PAN, and voter ID cards. The indigenous people’s access to land, jobs, and social resources has been compromised. Several reports also suggest that many of these immigrants are involved in poppy cultivation and other criminal activities, thereby destabilizing the environment, economy and culture. Illegal immigrants have aggressively settled in forest reserves, border areas, and ecologically sensitive zones. This has caused deforestation, erosion, and environmental degradation, in addition to economic strain on the state. Worse, this encroachment also disrupts Manipur’s fragile ethnic harmony and cultural integrity.
This is not just about numbers. This is a civilizational threat – to the continuity of several thousands of years old Bharatiya civilization rooted in Sanatan Dharma. Illegal immigrants pose existential, cultural, and security risks, both internally and at the borders.
Low TFR Creates Aging Nations
Due to the declining TFR, the proportion of young population reduces, resulting in an aging nation with serious consequences: reduced workforce, increased healthcare burden, economic slowdown, and shrinking investment potential. Population over 65 years in some countries are – Japan (28.2%), Germany (21.4%), Italy (22.8%), and South Korea (15.1%), and are already suffering from these effects. India had only 6.1% of its population above 65 in 2020, but as per IIPS projections may increase to:
• 12.4% by 2031
• 15.9% by 2041
And among Hindus, the fertility rate is dropping even faster. This means we will soon face the challenges of aging without the benefits of growth.
What Can We Do?
“Udyamena hi Siddhyanti Karyani Na Manorathaih” – Success comes from efforts, not just wishes. Here are possible key steps:
1. Hindus should have more children – at least three per couple, especially among middle-class families. Many educated, well-to-do families stop at one child despite having the means. This mindset must change. As Bhagavad Gita (2.31) says:
“Swadharma mapichâ vekchyana vikampitu marhasi” – Fulfill your dharma without hesitation.
2. Avoid delayed marriages and childbearing. Career obsession and fear of responsibility are delaying marriages and childbearing. This lifestyle needs introspection. Regeneration of the population is Swa-Dharma of the householder.
3. Boycott illegal immigrants economically. Deny them jobs, stop hiring them as labourers, domestic help, or traders. Crack down on corruption that enables them to obtain Aadhaar, voter ID, etc.
4. Resist forced religious conversions – especially in tribal belts and economically vulnerable regions. Awareness is essential. The trap of “love jihad,” or luring under the guise of education or charity, must be countered.
5. Hindus must unite and rise above caste, region, or language divides. Only unity will prevent further marginalization. As the ancient Sanskrit verse says:
“AikyaAbalaA samâja syatadabhâ vesadur bala%” – Unity is a society’s strength. Without it, we grow weak.
6. Reclaim indigenous labour space. Many Hindus avoid hard jobs and entrepreneurship, leaving them to outsiders. Every honest occupation must be respected and embraced to retain control over the economy and social capital.
7. A comprehensive Population Control Act, by Central govt., uniform for all communities is need of the hour, as was also demanded by the Rashtriya Hindu Front (RHF) in Guwahati some days ago. A memorandum for the same was submitted by RHF to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
8. Only NRC could help to identify and remove potential security threats from illegal immigration.
Hence, Hindus must give birth to more children – not just as a personal choice, but as a civilizational necessity. To protect humanity, to protect identity, to protect the timeless Sanatani legacy, and to defend against the threat of an aging, diluted Bharat – this is not just a matter of policy, but of our responsibility, duty and Dharma.
(The Writers are Professor of Physics at Gauhati University and the Chief Editor of The Morning Bell respectively.)