Imphal Times Supplementary issue Page No. 2 Centennial Commemoration of Kuki Rebellion 1917-

Sunday, October 20, 2019, 1919 is an a historical outlook towards The string of Movement led by Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu By - Richard Kamei, PhD M), Council, Organisation (AMUCO) etc also against the British by not delving Tata Institute of Social Sciences (LNC- M), 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 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 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 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. recognition Anglo Kuki war is and resolve issue based on its Their mother and our mother; eventually massacred Thousand While law and order is a concern due. A state holiday, museum and fairness and justnes. Our father and their father, all marking; Kuki innocents. These same group that all communities in the state Scholarships to name a few do not The Manipur Govt. ever since the of people had even protested a should shoulder, your Govt. chose require a demand if only the issuance of the highly One in the head, one in the neck memorial service for the Kukis so to ignore glaring threats from Government is non-discriminatory controversial and discriminatory One in the arms, one in the hand massacred. Now, your surprise various organisations, allegedly in its governance. order has by the day lost the trust and apprehension on their raising fuelled by NSCN IM’s ambitious All FIRs on Kuki CSO leaders, of the and if the One in the breast, one in the belly concerns about the centenary plot of claiming all the Hills as their who are no criminals by any Manipur Govt. really represent its One in the thingh, one in the leg commemoration by out rightly “ancestral land”. Meanwhile, the measure but law-abiding citizens people, some reality checks have ordering the ban of the Kukis are befooled by your Govt. paying tribute to the freedom to be effected. The trust deficit Piece by piece; solid by solid inscription, knowing very well that to be torch-bearers of peace even fighters of Anglo Kuki war should between the Govt. and the Kuki Shedding bloods, so easily violent; the reaction is expected, shows as you open new domains for be dropped at the earliest possible. people are too wide now and the either you are immature to handle voice of dissent against the Any design to target any 10 points are not exclusive issues Holding by’her’ hair; not an eye catches love; communal politics or you have “inscription “ to creep in. The Kuki individuals or organisations who but few basic concerns the Govt. Draining and drinking; so wild dancing, ulterior motives on your own. CSO leaders were subjected to are connected to the under Biren could look into it to That KIM is invited after the order undue pressure and an 11th hour commemoration of Anglo-Kuki ensure the Government is for all “My land! My mother, my birthright; to ban the inscription was passed agreement was forged much to the war will tantamount to waging war the people of Manipur including Behold tight, wishing it could be ‘we’re together; clearly indicates that your Govt. dismay of the Kuki public. All the on the Kuki people and their rights the Kukis and not exclusive to Your temple their church, has taken the Kukis for granted. A CSO leaders you have pressurised and the same will be protested particular communities, as is series of meeting and consultation to fall in line to your authoritative with all means. evident now. Your masajid their temple, should have preceded the order. and one-sided governance have An investigation should be Their wishing your wishing; How many non-biased now resigned. conducted on alleged plot by Yours sincerely academicians have you consulted The inscription says “in defense NSCN IM to sabotage Anglo Kuki Tears! Oh tears, your sheding’s so mimicry; before deciding on changing of our ancestral land”, which is war commemoration programme Sd/- Make the bond; make the slogan; Anglo-Kuki war to Kuki exactly the reason for the Kukis and the open threat and hateful WISDOM KUKI Rebellion? Will you dare fall to a to fight the British during the propaganda given by various Secy General This string of attachment, all decoded. demand by certain community to Anglo Kuki war. Your organisations like TNL etc which Kuki Intellectual Group question Khongjom war? It is a Government’s illogical order to incites the public with their (KIG) known fact that the Britishers have eliminate inscriptions of blatant-lies filled PR that could Letters, Feedback and Suggestions to ‘Imphal Times’ made all efforts to hide one of their “ancestral land” should be fuel communal disharmony in the Sd/- can be sent to our e-mail : [email protected]. most humiliating experience by revoked at the earliest possible. state and the connection between S KIPGEN For advertisement kindy contact: - 0385-2452159 (O). recording the large scale war as Nowhere in the world has a state the two. Chairman For time being readers can reach the office at Cell Phone just Kuki uprising. Be that as it objected to its people using The Kukis have seen repeated Kuki Intellectual Group No. 9862860745 for any purpose. may, your Government is expected defence of ancestral land in provocations be it when they (KIG)

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