A Study to Assess the Impact of the Ongoing Manipur Conflict on the Emotional, Academic, and Financial Well-being of Manipur Students Living Outside the State

The violent conflict that erupted in Manipur in May 2023 has caused widespread devastation, forcing many to flee their homes and tearing families apart. While much of the attention has focused on those directly affected within the state, this study shifts the lens toward Manipuri students living and studying outside the state, young people who, though physically distant, are emotionally and psychologically tethered to the crisis back home. Through in-depth interviews with thirty students, this research explores how the conflict has disrupted their emotional, academic, and financial well-being. The findings reveal overwhelming emotional distress, marked by anxiety, helplessness, and survivor’s guilt, paired with a noticeable decline in academic focus, motivation, and performance. Financial instability was further intensified by the prolonged internet shutdown in Manipur, which disrupted online transactions and blocked access to emergency financial support from families. These students live in a constant state of emotional dissonance: trying to survive and study in peace while their families live through war. This paper highlights the urgent need for trauma-informed mental health support, institutional sensitivity, and policies that acknowledge the invisible burden carried by students who, while living away for their education, remain deeply affected by the crisis unfolding in their home state.