International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.3, Issue-7(4), July, 2016 Impact Factor: 3.656; Email: [email protected]

Diverse Political Aspiration of Kukis; the sarcastic trend for politics of Identity in

Dr. Ch. Rupachandra Singh, Department of Political Science, Kamakhya Pemton College, Hiyangthang

Abstract: The consequences of identity politics nowadays become to weaken and disrupt the common movement which is necessary to be built up against the marginalisation and social deprivation in the State of Manipur. It became a basis of separatism therefore government try to pacify those minority ethnic groups by granting autonomy to some extent. Some of those get a separate entity as a state but in this little paradise with a of population of 27 lakhs or little more, would it be a long term solution to create states within this state is the dilemma. It is noted that development of all ethnic groups and minorities is possible if larger interests of the state are served. The demand for greater autonomy may come up more and more and also needs to accommodate it, although further division of existing state into a smaller and smaller one along the ethnic lines will not be a lasting solution. It also leads to micro level of exclusive politics verses inclusive politics in between hill-valley relationship. The Manipuri Meitei are claiming periphery to the Indian Union. In the same vein, the Manipuri Nagas and Manipuri Kukis claim themselves as periphery within periphery.

Key Words: Identity politics, Kuki, Marginalization

Introduction; emergence of a wide diversity of social The politics of identity or movements in different part of the Globe. identity politics, is a word that is widely Identity politics are political used in the social sciences to describe the arguments that focus upon the self- deployment of the category of identity as interest and perspectives of self-identified a tool to frame political claims, promote social interest groups and ways in which political ideologies, or stimulate and people's politics may be shaped by aspects orientate social and political action, of their identity through race, class, usually in a larger context of inequality religion, sexual orientation or traditional or injustice and with the aim of asserting dominance. Though, not all members of group distinctiveness and belonging and any given group are necessarily involved gaining power and recognition. in identity politics. It is based on the Additionally, identity politics refers to politics on group marginalisation tensions and struggles over the right to fractures the civil polity, and therefore map and define the contours and fixed work against creating real opportunities “essence” of specific groups. It has for ending marginalization. become increasingly common since the 1 necessary to be built up against the The consequences of identity marginalisation and social deprivation. In politics nowadays become to weaken and this era of post modernism, identity disrupt the common movement which is politics had weakened the common

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International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.3, Issue-7(4), July, 2016 Impact Factor: 3.656; Email: [email protected] movement, may be creating the Aimol, Anal, Chothe, Chiru, Kolhen, differences between the people or groups Kom, Lamgang, Purum, Vaiphei, and but did not touch the system. Thus post Khochung. The reason for calling it as modernism goes with identity including appeared that they were old settlers and with its multifaceted predicaments. In are recorded in Manipur chronicles as Manipur these led to witness the ethnic early as in the 16th century whereas new clashed in between the two major ethnic Kuki consists of Thadou, Khongsai, groups from the early part of 90s. This Hangsing, Chongloi, Singson, Doungel, ethnic identity and narrow nationalism Baite, Simte, Paite, Guite, Mizo, based on their consciousness had brought Lupheng, Lupho, Gangte, Vaiphei and the situation of the state in conundrum Zou as they were immigrants of 18th with demanding their own homeland. century.6 The highway politics as a tool for Although this same group of achieving their demand on some vested people was known in different name as interests had kept other communities in ‘Chin’ in and Kuki or Mizo in hostages. , Meitei called them as Khongsai. Kukis is one of the main ethnic The scattered habitation resulting from groups of Manipur. The word ‘Kukis’ their nomadic habit, T.C. Hodson cited a refers to an indigenous ethnic groups Kuki who told him “. . . we are like the inhabiting in a contiguous region of birds of the air, we make our nest here north-east India, north-west Burma this year, and who knows where we shall (Myanmar) and Chittagong Hill Tract in build next year”.7 As a result, the Kukis . This term appears to be are found today scattered all over the hill originated in Sylhet, in erstwhile East districts of Manipur. Such demographic Bengal. Elly refers to ‘the tribe called distribution of tribal ethnic groups of Kuki’ by . An attributed meaning Manipur has been since existence till of the term is ‘hill people’.2 In the date. Encyclopedia Britannica records, it is a This group of people lived in this name given to a group of tribes place since time immemorial. But one inhabiting both sides of mountains may argues that they were come to dividing and Bengal from Burma, Manipur only in between 16th to 19th south of the Namtaleik River.3 century from , Burma to Again this term was first used as a Manipur. Although it is said that the reference in 1777 AD when this kingdom of Manipur had a larger area in tribesman attacked the British subjects the olden days than the one at present, it in Chittagong where Warren Hastings covered the portions of Burma into was the Governor General of Bengal.4 ET Ningthi River in the east and in the south Dalton mentions that the Kukis were it was extended beyond Chin Hills up to first known from an article by surgeon the sea.8 The king of Manipur had been Mc Crea in Asiatic Researcher vol.2, on using the Kukis as warriors. It was the 24th January 1799 who described the Kukis, whom the king of Manipur used Kukis as a ‘nation of hunters and that, subdued the Maos of the north. warriors’.5 Even today, the people of Mao have the Lt.Col. Shakespeare in his book story of their defeat at the hands of the ‘Lushai Kuki ’ classified these Meitei king who used the Kosameis group of people as old Kuki consisting of (Kukis in Mao).9

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International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.3, Issue-7(4), July, 2016 Impact Factor: 3.656; Email: [email protected]

The word ‘Naga’ though it is given supporters of the independent by the outsiders, became a cementing in Manipur, who were sulking after the force to the varied tribes despite their setback they had suffered in extreme heterogeneity and cut throat Churachandpur the year before, took hegemony but in the case of Kukis it heart and joined the Mizo rebels. Thus appears to be a division in unity. with a well defined political motives, the Linguistically, unlike the Nagas, they can Kukis began enhancing their struggle to communicate to one another with the achieve their asserted interest. least effort in their respective dialects. In August 1987 there had emerged For the first time, the Kuki elite Kuki National Organization (KNO) with organized themselves into the Kuki its constituent Kuki National Army National Assembly (KNA) in 1946.10 It (KNA), while KNA is demanding an was the apex social organization that autonomous state for the Kukis in spearheaded the issues relating to the Sakaing division of Myanmar. Another interest of the Kukis in the early part of section wanted a Kuki homeland in parts independence in India. In its general of Ukhrul, , Churachandpur and assembly held at Thingkangphai, then Imphal valley (including Imphal and Manipur south district, KNA passed a Bishnupur) and Kuki inhabited areas of resolution to create a ‘Kuki state’ and Assam and . Again in 18th May send a representation to the Prime 1988, an organization was also formed to Minister, Nehru.11 It demands the perpetuate the political demand of KNA immediate creation of a Kuki state as Kuki National Front (KNF) to pursue comprising all the Kuki inhabited areas creation of a Kuki homeland within the of Manipur. As an offshoot of the Naga framework of Indian Constitution as unrest in the Naga Hills and offspring of initiated by KNA in 1960.13 From 1990 the Mizo rebellion in Mizo hills, towards onwards their demand for a new polity the beginning of 1965, the Kukis of has been rejuvenated. Thus the demand Manipur and their cousins, Lushai of for the right to self-determination, which Mizo hills held a conference at means secession from the Indian union or Churachandpur to discuss about their greater internal autonomy, is the main political future. One group wanted to ideological basis of the present conflict. demand a sovereign state for the Kukis However in the early part of 90s NSCN and Lushai of Manipur and Assam known (IM) had attempted to wipe out the Kukis as Mizoram whereas another group in the name of ethnic cleansing in 1992, wanted Mizoram but as a state within the as a part of their struggle for the Indian union. The later outnumbered the attainment of sovereign state of former and the members of the Nagaland based on . conference pulled themselves apart.12 In Overlapping territorial claims; January 1966, KNA meet near Imphal When there are competing and passed a resolution to uphold the demands for the same geographical areas, unity and territorial integrity of the tribe talking with one group and sidelining the within Manipur. The Manipur other could engender more problems. The administration had hardly time to politics of identity of both the Nagas and consolidate the Kuki loyalties and form Kukis is always associated with territory. them into anti-Naga unrest as earlier This directly created the clash between done by the colonial authorities. But the these two warring tribes. The clash

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International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.3, Issue-7(4), July, 2016 Impact Factor: 3.656; Email: [email protected] erupted in May 1992, on the border town been made grown with its proper and of Moreh on Kuki refusal to pay the so- legitimate seed long before”.15 called ‘Nagaland Tax’ demanded by the On the other hand, Kuki Student Nagas. In January 1993, in retaliation of Organization (KSO) defended the charges killing Kukis, quit notice were served on levelled by the Nagas that there is no war the Nagas by Kuki National Army between the Kukis and Nagas in (KNA). Then Nagas also served quit Manipur. It is only disharmony notices on the Kukis chiefs. Thus violence germinated by the banned NSCN (IM) erupted again and again. who forcibly collected what they Allegation had been made that egoistically termed as “Nagaland Tax” ethnic clashes between the Nagas and within the Manipur state from the Kukis had been deliberately incited by bonafide citizens, the Kukis who are the authorities. In reality the clashes original citizens of Manipur, especially in between these two ethnic groups are due the present Ukhrul and Chandel district to demand and counter-demand for the r for the last so many years.16 Further the expansion of their greater territories organization stated that ‘as history inhabited by each groups though some reveals the Kukis were owners and rulers scholars opines that it has its genesis in of north eastern of the present India the colonial period. The Kuki militants including upper Myanmar, prior to the are alleged to have received moral British period. To defend these areas the support from the government agencies, Kukis did fight against the mighty both of Manipur and Union Government. British Empire for the three continuous They were demanding financial years (1917-1919). To deny this fact is to assistance, arms and material to fight deny Indian freedom struggle. The and finish the NSCN.14 present day Kukis did not lose heart to S.R. Shimray extremely safeguard to integrity of these areas. This criticized the Naga-Kuki conflict that is made clear when the Kukis sacrificed KNA of Myanmar’s direct involvement in their lives and all they have instead of collusion with the KNF and Kuki Defence paying the NSCN (IM) taxes that lost Force (KDF) in this Naga Kuki strike is a many lives, villages and other valuable naked aggression to India and Manipur in properties’.17 particular. He openly further asked a By refusing to pay the so-called question stating “Can we allow such ‘Nagaland tax’ collected by the NSCN mercenaries forces to remain in our land (IM), the Kukis proved themselves as a and secede the land of Manipur with loyal citizen of Manipur because there them to Myanmar?” He also stated could be ‘no two parallel governments regarding the occupying of land by the simultaneously’. It is said that the Kukis Kukis conceiving the idea that their land are not projected as defenders of the state (land of Naga) occupied by the Kukis, despite so many evidences. And, when who are coming from Myanmar that Shelley Chara (an MP candidate for outer “Each and every nation has got the Manipur parliamentary constituency) has legitimate right to determine its course of no problem on NSCN (IM) tax for life within the prescribed limit of the Nagaland, he could not be counted as land. As such, a stray seed fallen in the protagonist of the NSCN (IM). Results garden of others cannot be rooted and and findings of Shelley Chara ‘close grow there since the garden had already

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International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.3, Issue-7(4), July, 2016 Impact Factor: 3.656; Email: [email protected] examinations’ on the matter is the neo-liberal economic policy with the immediately required by the Kukis.18 emergence of globalization are at the Thus, both the Nagas and the centre scale of the state of affairs. The Kukis blamed each other having elite emerge from this jargon become interaction and reaction within these difficult to implement the schemes, feuds. But both of them have hidden programmes etc. for the deprived section agenda of occupying land in order to because they had their vested interests make greater Nagaland and Kuki and get political patronage from the homeland. Here the Meities which elected representative. In this the nexus constitutes majority of Manipur populace between politician, bureaucrats and are at the center of the scale because both insurgents’ outfits are one of undeniable of them are fighting for alteration of features. boundary of Manipur which is very small As long as the matter of such in size. Nevertheless from the side of the patronage is not addressed, there seems Meities, a social worker gives his that the true spirit of democracy could statement that ‘if we Manipuri’s not be achieved. It further needed to (Manipuri’s means those people who were occupy the so called marginalize space, inhabited in Manipur. So we may say that ‘citizens space’ i.e the space of the groups Manipuri Naga, Manipuri Kuki and that have been marginalized by local Manipuri Meities) fight among ourselves political process. It would automatically on the issue of land, linguism, strengthen the working of democratic communalism, sectarianism and politics which seems to have an in-built parochialism. Who will survive? If there bias against pro-poor policies. Since, is no Manipuri’s there will be no Manipur there is an zero sum character in each and if Manipur no longer exist there will and every redistributive policies, it had to be no Manipuris. Lakhs of contend that democratic politics is the have watered to the turmoil situation of process of contestation, self- Manipur with great tolerance and determination and struggle where it were patience without having enmity among the important yardstick of deepening of the brothers of different ethnics. It can democracy. also be possible because they never dream Regarding the Kuki aspiration, about forming Meitei land like other Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) ethnic groups in Manipur particularly had strongly come out against the claims Naga and Kuki. Meitei seemed to be very of NSCN-IM, the main stakeholders of happy to live with other fellow ethnic the issue and its frontal organization. brethren in the valley of Manipur. They Even it called an indefinite blockade for a do not seem to have any tendencies to Kuki state prior to the Naga solution. take side with either of the groups Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) had also instead they have tried to build the asserted that any settlement reached bridge between them with neutral with the NSCN-IM may affect the effect.19 interest of other tribal communities, Changing paradigm; whom are ‘equally or more deserving’ of The politics of identity assumes such an ‘alternative arrangement’ and an undeniable feature in the successful added that accommodation of a particular working of democracy. The ‘identity section could result in denial of justice to bargaining politics’ which emerge from the larger society.

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It had questioned the historical basis The statehood demand for the for an ‘alternative arrangement’ for the Kukis was made in its first time Nagas of Manipur. Numerically, Kukis representation submitted by the Kuki were more to other tribes in the hill areas National Assembly (KNA) to Jawaharlal of Manipur. Even it argued about the Nehru, the first prime minister of India gross miscarriage of justice, violation of in 1960. Again KSDC also submitted a universal human rights, State sponsored memorandum to the Government of terrorism, the rights of the Kukis of India in this regard back in 2010, he said Manipur are mercilessly ignored and the demanding formation of a separate Kuki aggressors rewarded with special state comprising of Churachandpur, Constitutional privileges.20 Moreover, Chandel districts, Sadar Hills and Kuki State Demand Committee issued a adjoining Kuki inhabited areas. KSDC Map to the general public for its claim as also said that the Kukis, prior to the Kuki state or Kukiland or Zalengam. British colonial incursions into the Definitely it turns out to be a counter region, governed themselves under the proposition of the NSCN-IM demand for benign and capable leadership of their Nagalim or the areas demarcated for the chiefs and enjoyed full freedom over their ‘alternative arrangement.’ Whole the hill ancestral territory. The Kukis assert districts were overlapping in their their inalienable right of "self- territorial claims except Churachandpur determination" by virtue of their district. Retorting to NSCN-IM claims, historical consciousness and distinct KIM said that they were one of the nationality within a definite territory of original settlers of the place since time their own since time immemorial, it said. immemorial. It draws from the historical Claiming that the Kukis are peace loving events like Kuki uprising of 1917-1919 as people, KSDC said the quest for one of the legacies where statehood is also founded on their show their resentment against the demand for a rightful identity in the colonial rule. This historical event clearly political firmament of the country and indicates that the administration/control added that it is the bounden duty of the of Manipur prior to the British rule had Government of India to uphold the right been in the hands of the majority Meiteis of the Kukis to live as free people in their (plain areas) and the Kukis (hill areas).’ ancestral homeland, restoration to them It further said that this anti- their properties and uphold their dignity colonial struggle had cemented the and inalienable civil and political rights. relationship of the Kukis across the It blames the state government villages and brought the chiefs closer to for pursuing determined policies and each other. The Kuki identity was also program to annex the ancestral land and widened. With the coming to infringe their rights. Some of the inapt an end, the Kukis formed the Kuki mechanisms being espoused by the state National Assembly (KNA) in October governments vis-a-vis Kukis are being 1946, to press forward the cause of the manifested in the form of: Kukis and demand for a homeland for (i) Denial of Sadar Hills themselves. However, with the merger of District; Manipur into the Indian Union in 1949, (ii) Denial of Tribal their demand was subsided. Protection under the Sixth Schedule;

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(iii) Denial of the Eight (i). Empowerment of the people Schedule; by maximizing self-governance (iv) Disparity in and participatory development Development: through grass-roots planning. Neglect of Such planning will help to evolve Tribal/Kuki Areas; development strategy based on (v) Rendering Hill the resources, needs and Areas Committee aspirations of the people. Non-functional; (ii). Rural development with a (vi) Denial of focus on improving agricultural Proportionate productivity and the creation of Representation; non-farm avocations and (vii) Land Alienation and employment. Annexation of Tribal (iii). Development of sectors with Land through state comparative advantage agro- administrative processing industries, mechanisms, which modernization and development is being taken up by of sericulture, investment in COPTAM manufacturing units based on the (Committee on resources available in the region, Protection of Tribal harnessing the large Areas, Manipur); hydroelectric power generation (viii) State Government potential and focus on developing meddles with chieftains' services such as tourism that will rights to deprive them of help to accelerate development their land. and create productive employment opportunities. The Kuki State Demand (iv). Maximising self-governance, Committee firmly believes that a separate introduction of participatory state for the Kukis would provide them a planning, rural development and political identity and a constitutionally- development of sectors with documented institutional space and comparative advantage call for protection within the broader territorial significant augmentation of boundary of India. In order to guarantee capacity of the people and the Constitutional provisions of equality, institutions both in the freedom, liberty and opportunity to the government and private sectors. Kuki people as individuals and as a Capacity development will have collective, it is imperative that they to address the issue of imparting should govern their own affairs in their skills among the people to traditional lands, as a separate state of enhance their productivity, the Indian Union.21 generating a class of Conclusion; entrepreneurs within the region Regarding the present volatile willing to take risks. They will situation, the government even put also have to be provided with the forwarded the six inter-dependent necessary support through the components to meet the challenges viz, creation and development of

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institutions at all levels to expedited, it would be in misnomer. In a undertake planning. representative democracy like ours (v). Augmenting infrastructure, economic development and social including rail, road, inland water development are mutually reinforcing. and air transportation to Disparities in economic development and facilitate a two-way movement of social development are also mutually people and goods within the reinforcing. Socially excluded are region and outside, economically marginalized. Economically communication networks marginalized remain socially excluded. including broadband and wireless Therefore, it becomes two sides of a same connectivity, and harnessing of Coin and it happens to be an important the vast power generation yardstick for national integration in the potential, all of which will open processes of nation building. up markets for produce from the Sometimes identity politics region, attract private become a basis of separatism therefore investment, create greater government try to pacify those minority employment opportunities and ethnic groups by granting autonomy to expand choices for people of the some extent. Some of those get a separate region. Making the Look East entity as a state but in this little paradise Policy meaningful for the region with a of population of 27 lakhs or little by connecting it with Southeast more, would it be a long term solution to Asian markets. Connectivity of create states within this state is the NER with ASEAN would require dilemma. So it is said that from 80s there opening up the sea route through emerge the issue of identity politics in the the Chittagong port and the land state. It brings animosity between routes through Myanmar and different communities who had been China. In addition, opening up residing in this place since time the land route through immemorial. The consecutive Bangladesh could enormously government does not act in the right time benefit both countries and and these further consolidate the old diplomatic efforts should focus on wounds. So therefore it is better to trace improving relations with the back their ancestral relationship and neighbors. compelled to see how far the crisis of (vi). Ensuring adequate flow of nationalism gives acute anxiety to the resources for public investments people and keep them in the turning in infrastructure, implementing a point for better or worse. framework for private It is noted that development of all participation in augmenting ethnic groups and minorities is possible if infrastructure and creating an larger interests of the state are served. enabling environment for the The demand for greater autonomy may flow of investments to harness come up more and more and also needs to the physical resources of the accommodate it, although further region for the welfare of the division of existing state into a smaller people.22 and smaller one along the ethnic lines But if we analyze how far will not be a lasting solution. It also leads such inter-dependent components did had to micro level of exclusive politics verses

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International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.3, Issue-7(4), July, 2016 Impact Factor: 3.656; Email: [email protected] inclusive politics in between hill-valley relationship. The Manipuri Meitei are claiming periphery to the Indian Union. In the same vein, the Manipuri Nagas and Manipuri Kukis claim themselves as periphery within periphery. Therefore it would be better to serve their aspiration by granting effective say in the management of their affairs particularly by creating an atmosphere of participant political culture where it will come only when the people come forward to recognise the incentives of it. Otherwise there would be echoes of claiming periphery within periphery again and again.23

References

1 . Rupachandra Ch. (2013), “Periphery within periphery’, Anshah Publishing House, New Delhi, p. 23. 2 Elly, E B. (1893), “Military report on the Chin-Lushai Country”, Calcutta, 1.Firma KLM (P) Ltd. 1978. 3 “The New Encyclopedia Britannica”, vol.13. (1962). Encyclopaedia Incorporation, Chicago, p.511. 4 Gangmumei Kamei (1998), “Genesis of the Ethnoses of Manipur” Edited by N. Sanajaoba, Manipur Past and Present; vol.3. Mittal Publications, New Delhi, p.34. 5 Ibid. 6 P. Misao, (1998), “The early life of Kuki-Chins”, Edited by N Sanajaoba, Manipur Past and Present; vol.3. Mittal Publications, New Delhi, p.137. 7 ‘T C Hodson, (1984), “The Naga Tribes of Manipur”, Neeraj Publishing House, New Delhi,P.2. 8Jyotirmoy Roy, (1973), “”, Eastlight Publishing House, Calcutta, p.2. 9 S.Prim Vaiphei,(1995) “The Kukis”, Edited by N. Sanajaoba, Manipur Past and Present, Vol.3, Mittal Publications, New Delhi, p.127. 10 Lal Dena,(1999) “The Kuki-Naga conflict: Juxtaposed in the colonial context”, Edited by K S Aggarwal, Dynamics of identity and inter-group relations in NE India, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, p.186. 11 T S Gangte,(2005) “Land problem and ethnic tension N E India with special reference to Manipur”, Paper presented at the national seminar ‘Land problem and

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ethnic crisis in N E India’, dated 27th to 28th July, organized by MAKAIAS, Kolkata and Dept. of History, Manipur University. 12 R. Constantine, (1998), “Manipur: Maid of the Mountains” Lancers Publishers, New Delhi, p.66. 13Op. cit.

14 S R Shimray, “Nagas and Kukis Conflict” in Expression of Freedom (1992-1994), published by the Freedom, Imphal, 1994, 12th December .p.9. 15 KSO,(1994) Manipur, “Kukis are Defending Manipur by all Means” in Expression of Freedom (1992-1994), published by Freedom, Imphal, 12th December.p.35. 17 Ibid. 18 Ibid. 19 Dhanabir Laishram,(1994) “No Manipur without Manipuris”, Expression of Freedom (1992-1994) , published by freedom, Imphal,12th Dec, p.39. 20. The Sangai Express, Imphal, Dec.4, 2012. 21 Press release, Kuki State Demand Committee, Dt.30:11:201.1 22. North East Region Vision 2020, (2007), Ministry of Department of North East Region & North Eastern Council, 23 Opp. Cit. Periphery within periphery’,

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