An examination of incarceration-induced trauma in the prison system of Manipur

Purpose This paper examines incarceration-induced trauma in the prison system of Manipur through the sociological frameworks of symbolic interactionism and social constructivism. It interrogates the socio-symbolic processes by which trauma is embedded and experienced within carceral spaces, particularly among undertrial prisoners, convicts and former inmates in Manipur. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on both primary and secondary sources of data. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork that includes in-depth interviews, non-participatory observation, and media narratives, the study foregrounds the voices of inmates, ex-prisoners, and their families. Employing purposive and snowball sampling techniques, the data were analysed thematically to explore how trauma is constructed and internalised through institutional symbols, routine practices, and societal labels. Findings Incarceration in Manipur is shaped by layered structural violence, including overcrowding, lack of mental health infrastructure, prolonged undertrial status, and social stigmatisation post-release. Trauma emerges not merely as a psychological by-product of confinement but as a social phenomenon rooted in disrupted identities, symbolic exclusion, and coerced role transformation. Originality/value By applying social constructivism and symbolic interactionism to the context of Manipur, this paper reframes carceral trauma as a socially embedded process of identity rupture and symbolic violence, arguing for a shift from punitive to trauma-informed, rehabilitative frameworks.