Imphal Times Supplementary issue Page No. 2 Centennial Commemoration of Kuki Rebellion 1917- Sunday, October 20, 2019, 1919 is an a historical outlook towards Zeliangrong The string of Movement led by Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu By - Richard Kamei, PhD M), Liangmai Naga Council, Organisation (AMUCO) etc also against the British by not delving Tata Institute of Social Sciences Manipur (LNC- M), Rongmei Naga issued statements against the into its ripple to neighbouring tribes attachment Council, Manipur (RNC-M) and inscription on memorial stones for around the time and how it affected Zeme Naga Council, Manipur commemoration of Kuki Rebellion them. This selective making of Certain parts of Manipur witnessed (ZNC- M), released a joint and the projection of ‘Kuki history amounts to a distortion of commemoration of Kuki rebellion, statement urging the Government Rebellion’ as ‘Anglo Kuki War’. history, for the fact that there are 1917-1919 in the last two years. and district authorities to not allow Taking stock of the situations, the accounts of violence carried out By - Dr. Nunglekpam premi devi The Kuki rebellion, as described in centennial commemoration of the government of Manipur issued an heavily on Zeliangrong Naga people Independent scholar the colonial accounts, or Anglo Kuki rebellion. The joint statement order on October 13 where it stated during the Kuki Rebellion. Similar Kuki War in the words of Kuki took strong objection to memorial that memorial stones for Kuki erasure is being attempted to Naga- people, is rooted in the First World stones being erected in the Naga Rebellion 1917-1919 containing the Kuki conflict of 1990s where Kuki War. The British reached out to ancestral land with the inscription inscription “in defence of our are portraying themselves as victims Ah! I see them, so loving and caring; Nagas, Lushais, Kukis and other “In defence of our ancestral land ancestral land and freedom” must to an event where both Kuki and Their parents, their brothers and sisters; tribes in their recruits for labour and freedom.” The statement also be removed on the grounds that it Naga suffered heavy casualties, loss corps in France. The Kuki refused added that during the Kuki may cause a breach of peace and of resources and livelihood. Shared theirs until their growing individuals; the call for labour corps and the rebellion, the Kukis attacked Naga possibility of law and order Presentation of selective history is Laughed and patted; ate and shared bed; British did not take this lightly villages where 289 Nagas and 4 problem. insidious in a sense that it erases which later led to Kuki rebellion Meiteis were killed and burnt 34 A commemoration of Kuki the driving force behind these Shirts and trouser; bike and rides; against the British in 1917, and the Naga villages. The attack on Naga Rebellion means differently for events, which is ethnic tension at Sister! Oh common to all, so lovely; Kuki were eventually contained by happened simultaneously with its Naga tribes who suffered in the worst and ethnic contestation at His sister and her brothers, proud to mention all; the British in 1919. This incident is confrontation with the British. hands of Kuki. There are several best. This becomes very crucial to taken as a significant event in the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Ukhrul writings from scholars like understand the dynamics of She’s so shining like a diamond in the ring; colonial history of the region. The also released a statement on Gangmumei Kamei, Arkotong ethnicity and give attention as to “ Tamo and Echan, Tachaou and tayai” Kuki commemorated ‘Kuki centennial commemoration of Kuki Longkumer, A soso Yonuo, Ursula how a selective narration which rebellion, 1917-1919’ in 2017 and rebellion. They have urged and Graham Bower, Lal Dena etc which overlaps with neighbouring “Baba and Eton, kaka and Endomcha” 2018 to mark its hundred years. conveyed to all the chiefs of Kuki gave an account that emergence of community can do more harm than “Eche and Enao, Nanao and Eyai” This year 2019 marks the last series villages in Tangkhul area not to Zeliangrong movement under it has us believed otherwise initially. of hundred years of the Kuki erect memorial stones with the said Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu stems It is in this regard that both Naga “ Khura and Endon, Mamma and Ene” rebellion commemoration. The main inscription concerning ancestral from the ethnic attack on and Kuki must reflect on what their “ Sagai and Natei, Echil and Enao” centennial commemoration of Kuki land. TNL took strong objection to Zeliangrong people during Kuki ethnic politics does to neighbouring rebellion was held at C. it and informed them that the Kuki rebellion 1917-1919. They saw this community. The cycle of violence “ Mari and matai, chafu and u-yan” Aisan Village, Kangpokpi District. village in Tangkhul land is non point of history as one of the and confrontation embodying Waking up all calls, so verbally fixed; As a part of this commemoration, existent during 1917-1919. A reasons behind the Zeliangrong ethnic politics will not see an end to the Kuki have decided to erect memorandum from Naga civil movement against the British it, unless history is revisited with an Something’s missing all attention, memorial stones in every village of societies in Chandel, was also colonial rule, in the late 1920s. approach to make amends and This string of attachment, all decoding. Kuki with an inscription “In submitted to the Chief Minister of Zeliangrong people around that reconciliation. This can perhaps defence of our ancestral land and Manipur bringing to his attention time were dismayed with the British pave way for building trust and instil freedom.” the inscription on the memorial that they were not protected a sense of co-habitation in harmony Your neighbor their neighbor, neighbor’s The inscription on the memorial stone and the proposed properly from the attack of Kuki, and and peaceful living. The state must neighborhood; stones have evoked strong commemoration of Kuki rebellion they felt that the British were not also take part in it to ensure that no responses from various Naga civil with memorial stones in Langching trustworthy leading to distrust with further divide happens and look for Your boundary their boundary, boundaries societies where they objected that village, Chakpikarong block and the administration. This gave room ways to provide what each group of boundary; it is a ploy to claim the lands of Maolhang village, Machi block. for leaders like Jadonang and Rani tribes seek. The region has been Nagas as theirs and they also Later on, All Naga Student Gaidinliu to include their people’s witnessing endless violence from Your pillar their pillar, boundaries’ pillars; raised that the Kuki were not Association, Manipur (ANSAM), anxiety, fear and insecurity, into the the past, and the present generation Your name their name, name’s name original; indigenous to Manipur. This Zeliangrong Union (ZU), Naga basis of waging Zeliangrong fears a repeat of the past and they ignited the long-standing Students' Union Delhi movement to liberate the Nagas from do not deserve a horror and trauma Your dialet their dialet, dialet ‘s dialects; confrontation between the Kuki (NSUD), United Naga the British colonial rule. which their ancestors experienced Your leader their leader, leaders’ leader; and Nagas in Manipur state. This Coundi(UNC), and valley based In the memorialisation process of it, and immediate elders continue week, four Zeliangrong bodies- the United Committee Manipur (UCM), the Kuki Rebellion, 1917-1919, the to bear them with recurring Your talk their talking, talking talks; Inpui Naga Union, Manipur (INU- All Manipur United Clubs' Kuki present it solely as a fight anxieties. Oh! So sadly, you forgot thy sister’s sister; Cutting and drawing all lining up; Breaking and mapping all in the name of mother; OPEN LETTER to Chief Minister of Manipur Killing and be killed all in the name of father; Your blood so weakened; your existence so lame; to treat the Kukis much better than commemoration of a memorial for observe a memorial for the He’s losing she’s burning, all blaming hell; Dear Sir, the British in acknowledging the Freedom fighters. Thousand massacred Kukis during Wake up! Wake up sisters, your calls be historic event. It is indeed a shameful the NSCN IM Pogrom and now Divisive politics, so glaringly Your pompous display of a circumstance as to how a when Anglo-Kuki war centenary is questioning; professed should have no place particular community’s festival on Government is requested to pay commemorated. Restrain at the No brother’s stands withhelding clear; in a multi-cultured state like one day, and your calculated tribute to the Freedom fighters highest level has been maintained Manipur. That the TNL and other restrain from attending a from its own state. Is it because but the Government chose to land This string of attachment, all decoded. Manipur Nagas opposing the centenary commemoration of a Anglo Kuki war is a tribal its whip on the Kukis thus setting historic celebration is a no eye- historic moment the next day, all movement? Being the head of a a negative trend that ‘the party brow raiser. Anyone with even in a span of two days shows your democratic Government in a state, with highest volume of voice of Moves! All seems so tricky and trigering; superficial knowledge of Manipur Govt.’s divisive politics in the you are at least expected not just dissent’ gets Government’s His steps their steps, all recording; Politics will know how the NSCN Hills prompting the Kukis to feel to grace the commemoration of the sympathy. Your high authority is IM used all frontal Kacha Nagas unrepresented in your event but to accord the expected to rise above that level Discussion and discussing, pulling apart; to issue quit notices and Governance.