Manipur top in NE, one of the top in India as google search user

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jan 5: How high is internet and computer literacy in Manipur? This is a question anybody in any of the advanced metropolises of the country would probably be wondering with a measure of scepticism.

Let them think again. Google search`s insight team has come out with a detailed worldwide survey on which region of the world, as well as which states or provinces in individual countries uses google search the most.

Be ready to be surprised. Within India, Manipur ranks as one of the top users of google search engines.

To see it for yourself, check this out at the following web link:

http://www.google.com/insights/search/

Of the north-eastern states only Manipur and Assam figure in the list of states with significant use of the search engine. Between the two, Manipur is way ahead of Assam.

The search topic also tell a story.

Web searchers in Manipur most look for the words "India", "Pay Commission" and "News" etc. They also look for words like "ndtv" and "youtube".

Searchers here are also not self absorbed as in the case of so many other states, and do not look words like "Imphal" or "Manipur" etc. Is this a show of self confidence?

The other north-eastern state to figure in the list of significant users of the google search engine, Assam on the contrary is a lot more self absorbed. The top searches from this state are "India", "google", "Guwahati". They also look for words like "orkut" and "Assam".

Manipur ranks better than even West Bengal. However Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh etc do marginally better than Manipur. The search topic here are also significantly different.

The words most searched for from these states are in the nature of "download", "songs", "video" etc. From Maharashtra, the word "India" does not even figure.

While it would be hasty to draw conclusion, it would definitely be a point for the policy makers in the state to do a closer study of the phenomenon. After all this is a very neutral portrayal of the things that an educated, intelligent and most probably young section of our population, are curious about if not aspire for.