The Sarcastic Trend for Politics of Identity in Manipur
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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] Diverse Political Aspiration of Kukis; the sarcastic trend for politics of Identity in Manipur 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 www.ijar.org.in 142 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 Myanmar and Kuki or Mizo in hostages. India, 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 Bangladesh. 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 Bengalis. 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 Assam and Bengal from Burma, Manipur only in between 16th to 19th south of the Namtaleik River.3 century from Chin Hills, 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 Clans’ classified these Meitei king who used the Kosameis group of people as old Kuki consisting of (Kukis in Mao).9 www.ijar.org.in 143 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 Mizoram 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, Senapati, 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 Nagaland. 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 Naga nationalism. 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.