Kpi commemorates 100 years of Anglo-Kuki War with car rally

From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI | Oct 18

A massive car rally was held on October 17 along Imphal-Tamenglong road, the historical route of World War-II in Twilang area to commemorate the worldwide centenary celebration of the Anglo-Kuki War 1917-1919.

The car rally was jointly organised by Kuki Inpi Twilang Lhang, KSO Twilang Block and Twilang Area Chief Association. Thousands of Twilang people congregated at Songjang Pakang village, where the rally was flagged off by local MDC, Seikhosat Kipgen by beating a traditional gong in the presence of his colleague MDC, Seilen Lhoujem and various Kuki chiefs with gun salute during a brief commemoration ceremony.

Around 90 vehicles including 36 two-wheelers, 17 bolero, 19 cars and vans, 13 Tata Sumo and five Shaktiman participated in the rally from Songjang Pakang village to the end of Kuki village called Govajang covering around 22 Km.

The massive rally was greeted in every Kuki village with beating of traditional gongs, folk music and songs by the villagers standing along the roadside while some greeted with gun salute and others by clapping or raising their hands in honour of the unsung Kuki heroes of the Anglo-Kuki War. Students, villagers, church leaders and many others participated in the greeting of rally. Every Kukis were restricted to do any other activities on the day.

The slogan of the rally was sung as ‘Be bold and of good courage’ to commemorate the 100 years of Anglo-Kuki War in the historical route of World War-II presently known as Imphal-Tamenglong road or Galngam road by the local.

The commemoration function was also held at Chalwa village where resources persons including chief of Tujang Vaichong village, Lhunkhohen Kipgen and other prominent civil body leaders of the area and Kuki chiefs were present apart from the two local MDCs.

Seikhosat Kipgen said that Kuki forefathers bravely fought against the British without fear of defeat in all the Kuki dominated areas in the state while Laijang, now Tamenglong is the main war field where many of brave forefathers valiantly defended the lands and sacrificed their lives.

Galngam road in Twilang area was used by the British as the only route for connectivity during the Anglo-Kuki War, he added.

He further said that the commemoration of the centenary celebration will go on till 2019 and the people of Twilang will place a giant monolith in honour of the martyred forefathers.

President, KSO Twilang block, Enock Kipgen said that the rally has been organised to pay rich tribute to the unsung Kuki heroes on the prestigious occasion of its centenary celebration. He also pointed out that the inspection bungalow in between Tujang Vaichong and Chalwa village (already damaged) and other existing bungalow at Tujang Vaichong indicate the significance of Galngam road or Imphal-Tamenglong road.