Kuki – Manipur News

ST Demand Issue: Positive discrimination, affirmative action and the cracks within

India’s reservation policy has spawned forms of conflicting categories of the ‘exploiter’ and the ‘exploited’, the ‘dominant’ and the ‘subservient’ as if these binaries exist in a permanent cycle sans the dynamics of wresting political power at play. By Dhiren A. Sadokpam In recent times, the political elites of three primary ethnic groups in Manipur […]

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By Dhiren A. Sadokpam

In recent times, the political elites of three primary ethnic groups in Manipur are caught in a whirlpool of anxiety propelled by palpable dissonance in political objectives. This anxiety is not necessarily triggered by the differences in speculative autonomy-demands or even demands based on administrative separatism.

The main anxiety has been caused by the way how the communities have effectively understood the political ideas behind positive discrimination, affirmative action or what in the Indian subcontinent is being referred to as the reservation policy of communities that have apparently lagged behind in holistic development. The most recent play-out that has triggered the spells of anxiety and tension has been the demand of a community considered advanced in comparison to its neighbours, to be included in the Scheduled List of Tribes in India.

While the proponents of the demand and those opposing the same have resorted to socio-political and historical reasoning, both the parties seem to have skipped re-looking at either redefining or refining the concepts they would love to toy with. One is not sure if both the conflicting parties have understood that India’s reservation policy presupposes a social fact – centuries of oppression of one group by another. This presupposition assumes a determinate but constant ‘unchanging oppressor and oppressed’ and ‘advanced’ and ‘backward’ communities. The ‘constant’ is supposedly created by a social order that determined identities of each castes, communities and tribes. This has spawned forms of conflicting categories of the ‘exploiter’ and the ‘exploited’, the ‘dominant’ and the ‘subservient’ as if these binaries exist in a permanent cycle in all societies sans the dynamics of wresting political power at play.

For the mainland India, these terms are defined in relation to the hereditary caste order whereas for Northeast India, the same has been defined by amorphous understandings of communities guided by colonial agenda of the British whose administrators first chose to categorize people from the mixed-prism of the caste order or an anthropological understanding of a system which they considered was durable.

It is against this backdrop that United Naga Council, Manipur (UNC) and the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) have raised objections to the Manipur High Court’s directive to the Government of Manipur to send its recommendation for the inclusion of Meetei Community in the list of Scheduled list of Tribes to the Government of India. The directive of the high court was passed on March 27.

Strident Voices and Social Tension

The UNC stated that “the Meitei/Meetei community of Manipur is an advanced community of India” with their language, Manipuri (Meiteilon) listed in the Eight Schedule to the constitution of India.

“They are already protected under Constitution of India and categorized as (i) General (ii) Other Backward Classes (OBC) and (iii) Schedule Caste (SC),” said the UNC.

UNC termed it irrational that the High Court of Manipur directed the Government of Manipur to recommend for inclusion of Meitei/Meetei community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list of India, “negating the sole objective of scheduling group of people for protective discrimination as ST in the Constitution of India”. The Naga body has strongly condemned and called the high court order “inane” for making “such imbecilic recommendation despite strong opposition from Scheduled tribes of the state”.

The common refrain and rationale behind the objections raised by both UNC and KIM has been rubbished by the proponents of those demanding a Scheduled Tribe status for the Meetei community. One strident voice has been that of the Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL). KKL has critiqued the objections in their own characteristic way stating that the demand for the inclusion of Meetei in the Scheduled list of Tribes in the Constitution of India is not aimed at grabbing “jobs” either from the Naga or Kuki communities of Manipur. It has asserted that the demand is based on safeguarding their “little bit of land” now confined to less than 2000 square kilometers out of the 20,000 square kilometers of the entire state of Manipur.

The KKL has made it clear that the Naga and the Kuki communities need not fear about grabbing “their job reservation quotas currently enforced in Manipur which will remain status quo”. The organization also unequivocally asserted that the UNC and KIM have “no birth right” to deny any other scheduled tribes of India that job opportunity.

The KKL had a message for the UNC too. It reiterated that the Manipuri Language being classified as scheduled languages of India under the Eight Schedule has nothing to do with the classification of the Meetei as a scheduled tribe of India. “Anyway Manipuri language is not confined to the Meeteis only but serves as a Lingua Franca amongst all the tribal communities of Manipur be it between the Nagas and the Kukis but amongst their various sub-tribes also”, it pointed out.

Moreover, the UNC has also been reminded that it was Th Muivah, the top National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) leader who had stated that “only the Nagas and the Meeteis are the indigenous peoples” of Manipur. KKL asked, “So what is the idea of joining hands with the Kukis to block the way for the survival of the Meeteis under the Indian Constitution”. To the question of Meeteis being more advanced than the other tribes of Manipur, KKL asserted that it has nothing to do with genealogy but “mode of production” experienced by the communities.

The Meetei community began to practice settled agriculture and had more time to concentrate on arts, culture and literature while the hill tribes hitherto used to follow a different form of agriculture “before switching to poppy plantation” in recent times that had made them “all become rich”, said KKL.

The organization winded up their statement on a harsher note stating that it would be wrong on the part of both the Naga and the Kuki communities to consider the Meetei community as their “common enemy or else will be constrained to oppose every move or demand made by any tribal group either Naga or Kuki”.

The exchange of statements may not lead towards a reconciliation on the sensitive topic. As the articulation of the issue by those supporting the demand for inclusion of Meetei in Scheduled Tribe list up the ante on their movement, the objections by Naga and Kuki tribal bodies may get shriller by the day.

Empowerment and Social Justice

In all these voices, what has been missed is a dispassionate inter-community/ethnic group deliberation on what would be the best option for all communities to progress and under what protective or empowering mechanism. While the fact of discrimination cannot be denied in one’s everyday experience, ethnicization or communalization of the issue would only create unbridgeable distance between communities. Under such circumstances, one will not be able to project the fact that there are no permanent oppressor and permanent oppressed or instil the fact that the idea of permanent and constant binaries will lead to over-generalization of a theoretical framework to achieve quick practical results.

What is of utmost importance now is truly and honestly grasping the fact that emancipating the socially underprivileged and the marginalized irrespective of community or tribal affiliation or within the same community is a move towards social justice. While doing so, one should not forget that the idea of empowerment of the individual has a far greater value and virtue than a protective mechanism that tends to perpetuate redundant binaries or historical contradictions.

Here, it should also be noted that India’s reservation policy emerged out of a deep flaw in understanding the complex relationship between the conceptions of the ‘cultural/social’ and the ‘economic’. Having said this, elsewhere, this writer had also argued that the stereotyping of the Meetei as a Hindu society both within Manipur and outside, in the image of mainland Hindu ethos and practices has manufactured the idea of the ‘constant exploiter’ and the ‘constant exploited’ in Manipur.

While Hinduised Meeteis have been identified with the former, all other non-Hindu communities are shown as ‘exploited’. Such is the handiwork of those who harp on the ‘politics of divide’ and benefit from it; and endorsed by the ‘ignorant other’ who is happy to own up anything that comes closer to the intolerant and imagined pan-Indian vision.

(Dhiren A. Sadokpam is Editor-in-Chief, The Frontier Manipur. This article was first published by EastMojo under the title ‘ST demand for Meetei: First, acknowledge the cracks within’)

The post ST Demand Issue: Positive discrimination, affirmative action and the cracks within first appeared on The Frontier Manipur.

Manipuri is a classical language

Free Thinker What is the oldest language in the world? Historians remain inconclusive and indifferent because of fragile and conflicting evidences. However, we can mention some of the oldest languages like – Hebrew, Harappan, Mesopotamian, Mayan, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Chinese, Tamil, Egyptian, Nordic, Latin, Greek, Tibetan, Persian, Africans and many others. Of course, Manipuri is also one […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2017/04/manipuri-is-a-classical-language/

Manipur during 1960s

About Manipur: Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south, and Assam to the west; Burma (Myanmar) lies to its east. The state covers an area of 22,327 square kilometres (8,621 sq mi) and has a […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2017/03/manipur-during-1960s/

The Kuki Identity then and now

Tribes belonging to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo or otherwise Zomi have close socio-cultural affinity in terms of their culture, tradition, language, custom and traditional administrative system. They are one and the same people who were collectively called ‘Kuki’ in India and ‘Chin’ in Myanmar. The Kukis are one of the native ethnic communities in Manipur having its […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2016/11/the-kuki-identity-then-and-now/

Looking along community divide For administrative convenience

Four major communities in Manipur. The Meitei, Naga, Kuki and Pangal. The population as per the 2011 Census is 28,55,794 and the geographical area of the State is 22,327 square kilometres. For 28,55,794 people stretched over an area of 22,327 square kilometres, Manipur has nine districts, Bishnupur, Chandel, Churachandpur, Imphal East, Imphal West, Senapati, Tamenglong, […]

Peace talks on the verge of final solution : NSCN (IM) Settle our case first : Kuki bodies

IMPHAL, Sep 1 : In the face of the NSCN (IM) recently announcing that the peace talk with the Government of India is on the verge of a final solution, the Kuki Inpi (Revived Apex Body) and Kuki Movement for Human Rights Trust have submitted a joint memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to first […]

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Peace talks on the verge of final solution : NSCN (IM) Settle our case first : Kuki bodies

The post Peace talks on the verge of final solution : NSCN (IM) Settle our case first : Kuki bodies appeared first on KanglaOnline.

Kuki bodies appeal CM to declare state holiday on December 19

IMPHAL, June 14: Kuki apex bodies the Kuki Inpi Manipur and the Kuki Students’ Organisation general headquarters have submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh appealing for declaration of December 19 as State holiday in tribute to the Anglo-Kuki War (1917-19). The memorandum signed by Kuki Inpi Manipur president Thangkhosei Haokip and KSO […]

Kuki bodies condemn, urge

Chandel, May 23: Kuki civil society organizations of Chandel district have vehemently condemned the Hengshi ambush in which six AR jawans were killed on Sunday and condoled the demise of the AR jawans.
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The post Kuki bodies condemn, urge appeared first on The Sangai Express.

Read more / Original news source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/kuki-bodies-condemn-urge/

Candor in Solving Meitei-Tribal Problems

The Three Bill Stalemate in Manipur has remained unresolved during the past 6 months with the adversaries in locked horns. It still is continuingg more of a game for political hardliners steadfast on their original stands making third party intervention a difficult proposition. One possible outcome of such a situation is obliteration of the

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2016/03/candor-in-solving-meitei-tribal-problems/

Manipur Head Teacher Beaten to Death by ‘Suspected’ NSCN-IM cadres – DNA Reports

Suspected terrorists belonging to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) fraction shot down a teacher at Aimol village in Manipur’s Chandel district on Monday.

Kuki Black day to be observed today

KANGPOKPI, September 12: The Kuki Black Day or Sahnit Ni in Kuki dialect will be observed for Justice at Kangpokpi tomorrow. Chonkam Kipgen, Chairman of Kangpokpi Town Committee said that

Kuki Black Day (Photo for representation only)

KANGPOKPI, September 12: The Kuki Black Day or Sahnit Ni in Kuki dialect will be observed for Justice at Kangpokpi tomorrow.

Chonkam Kipgen, Chairman of Kangpokpi Town Committee said that as part of the observation of the Kuki Black Day all churches within Kangpokpi will organize a mass prayer in their respective areas tomorrow morning.

In the evening at around 6 pm, candle lit service will be organized at the memorial monument site in front of the Inspector Bungalow (I.B) at Kangpokpi under the aegis of Kangpokpi Town Committee in collaboration with KWWO and KYU, he informed.

A giant black banner reading, `Kuki Black Day`™ has already been put up in the heart of the town and every household members of the town had been informed to hang a black flag in their respective households as a mark of mourning, homage and pray for justice.

He also appealed to all the denizens of Kangpokpi to participate in the candle lit service.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/kuki-black-day-to-be-observed-today/

People of Manipur Protection Bill – Lost in Translation: Linda Chhakchhuak

By Linda Chhakchhuak 07 September, 2015 Countercurrents.org Some folklore say that Manipur is land of the three brothers. They are the Meitei, Naga and the Kuki communities. But as most

Manipur police truck has been burnt down by the agitators on the road at Churachandpur
Photo: Deepak Shijagurumayum

By Linda Chhakchhuak

07 September, 2015
Countercurrents.org

Some folklore say that Manipur is land of the three brothers. They are the Meitei, Naga and the Kuki communities. But as most brotherhood stories go they inevitably ended up disagreeing and quarrelling over the inheritance left by their fathers. This myth seems to sum up the history of this troubled northeastern state of India which is once again engulfed in blood, soot and tears.

This being an age in which the information highway passes through almost every hand with a mobile phone, the war cries, chest thumping and ill conceived rumors were mass knowledge in a span of few minutes, each post more virulent than the earlier one igniting ire. Not too soon after the by now famous three Bills were passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31, the house of a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) went up in flames. Homes of Manipur’s health minister Phungzathang Tonsing and five other MLAs were set afire during the protests. Eight persons died in the subsequent mob quelling actions by the state police.

The “angry mob” was people of the hills districts mad at their own tribal MLAs for not standing up against the three Bills which they claimed was a deviously diabolical game to take away their land rights and making them strangers in their own homeland.

The three Bills are The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh) Amendment Bill 2015 (MLRLR Bill 2015), The Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015 and The Manipur Shops and Establishments Act (Second) Amendment Bill 2015, collectively meant to be the Government of Manipur’s solution to the months long demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit system by the Meitei organizations to protect them from the high rate of influx of outsiders. The states of Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have the ILP system which are British enactments made for their own benefit but vaunted as a wall against assimilation from outsiders today.

Obviously the polity is so steeped in local conspiracy theory that common people have not a shred of trust left in the persons they themselves had voted to represent them. On the other hand neither did the representatives or the Government make any effort to get public opinion before legislating on such a sensitive issue. That cost them their homes and credibility. But did people understand what they were they out in the streets for, braving bullets and death?

The MLRLR Bill 2015 clearly outlines the unenviable situation of the Meitei people, who inhabit the valley portion of the Manipur state. The state is 90 percent hills and 10 percent plains. But demography wise, the valley is packed with 60 percent of the total population of the state (27 lakhs plus). The density 731 persons as opposed to 61 persons in the hills just go to show what the valley people are up against. Under the main 1960 MRLR Act, Scheduled Tribes of the state who are native of the hills can buy land and settle down in the plains. On the other hand the plains based Meitei people are forbidden to acquire land in the hills by this same law. This same Law permits the Scheduled Tribe (ST) to sell off their lands in the valley with the provision that if they are selling it to a non-Scheduled Tribe it can be done only with the consent of the Deputy Commissioner. This would mean that if they are disposing it off to another Scheduled Tribe person, then it would not need any consent of the DC.

What seems to be happening as can be surmised from reading between the lines of the MRLR Amendment Bill 2015 is that there is an influx of ‘outsiders’, not so much as that of non-tribals from outside the state, but also of persons of affiliated kins-tribes from across the network of Kuki-Chin-Mizo community as well as Nagas from neighboring borders whether it is from Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam and Myanmar. Affiliated and based on close-knit kinship systems it is impossible to differentiate the ‘native ST’ from the ‘outsider Tribes’ in the state where the buying and selling of land may be happening. This is a cause of concern for the valley inhabitants of the Meitei heritage, who are struggling to keep their ancestral lands from slipping away right under their noses. They are a beleaguered people hemmed in by dozens of problems, the least of them being officially categorized as “non-tribal” , settled on the fulcrum of a tribal volcano of resentment. (Long ago they refused to be clubbed under the category of “Tribe” which they want reversed now but it is another complicated
story.)

Instead of directly dealing with the issue of influx, the MRLR (Seventh) Amendment Bill2015 seeks to curtail this transfer by invoking sale against the “Non Manipur Person”(NMP). The amendment is to ‘regulate the sale of land to Non Manipur Persons of the state so that the limited land in the valley is available to the permanent residents of the state in the interests of the general public.” From now on any sale and transfer of land in the valley to Non Manipur Persons of the state, firms, institutions or any other entities intending to purchase land will be done only after getting state government approval. This is actually a cry for space and the plight of the growing population of Meitei people and the other non-tribal residents of the tiny valley jostling for space with the Scheduled tribe people who have the upper hand as far as the right to buy or sell land in the state is concerned.

The MRLR (Seventh) Amendment 2015 is supported by The Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015. The objective of this Bill is to regulate the entry and exit of Non Manipur Persons and tenants. It defines who are the “Manipur People” in Clause 2 section (b) which says “b) “Manipur people” means Persons of Manipur whose name are in the National Register of Citizens, 1951 Census Report 1951 and Village Directory of 1951 and their descendants who have contributed to the collective social, cultural and economic life of Manipur;. This is the clause which has raised mayhem among the Kuki affiliate tribes and the Nagas who say, rightly, that during the early fifties there was hardly any infrastructure or government presence capable of capturing the whole population of the region in a register.

But these misgivings should have melted as the Bill carries a caveat in Paragraph 8 which unequivocally states that the persons to be exempted under the provisions of this Bill are “the native people of the state of Manipur.” The Bill does not give details about this, but going by definition by the heavyweight expert on Manipur, T C Hodson it refers to the Meitei, Kuki and Naga of the state.

Predictably, politicians of all hues and categories from the inside the state and the neighboring regions of Manipur have lost no time in fishing in troubled waters of Manipur. They should know better as the same equations of conflict are just a spark away in their own homes and states.

(Linda Chhakchhuak is an independent Journalist and anthropologist, based in Shillong, Meghalaya)

Who is a Meitei ? – Yumnam Devjit

Who is a Meitei ? As a young boy I was always troubled by the question of, who am I? And like all of us from Manipur who studied outside,

Festival Of the Gods – Lai Harouba

Who is a Meitei ?

As a young boy I was always troubled by the question of, who am I? And like all of us from Manipur who studied outside, the problem was made worse by the constant taunts of ill mannered school/college mates; Chinky, Chinese, Nepali, Japanese, Chimpu. These were the common identity given to us. These comments made me angry and resolute to find out who I was? What was Manipur? Who are the Meiteis? School text books offered no help either, there wasn’t any mention of Manipur anywhere in history. I had to find it out on my own.

First of all let me put this straight, no matter what language we speak, what color our skin is or what religion we are. We are all Homo sapiens, one specie.

There is a theory called “out of Africa theory”. It proposes that man evolved from apes into humans (Homo sapiens) in Africa and moved from Africa to the rest of the world. These migrations were done as families or group of families. Whichever group wanted to move on, moved on and which ever wanted to stay at a place stayed and became the natives of the place. The natives of Andaman Islands the Jarawas were one of the groups who went out from Africa and they settled in the Andaman Islands. Their relative isolation has left them unchanged in features and culture from the tribes of Africa.

During this time of migration Manipur was submerged under a sea called the Tethys Sea. Due to this, Manipur never had any original out of Africa settlers. However later on as the Indian subcontinent began to push into Asia the land began to rise and the sea gradually disappeared and gave way to mountain chains, in what is now the north east India.

As habitable land began to emerge in these places, the region was claimed by 2 major groups. The Tibeto Chinese tribes coming from the north and the Thai tribes from the east. The southernmost settlements of the Tibeto Chinese tribes were the northern hills of Manipur and the western most settlements of the Thai tribes were the territories of the Khasis. Drawing a straight line through the middle of the overlapping regions of the tribes, those settling to the north of this line were Tibeto Chinese tribes and south of it were the Thai tribes.

In our quest to find the history of ourselves I and my sisters went to Kangla, when it was still under the control of the Assam rifles. No civilians were allowed in at the time. We went in with the help of an uncle who was in Manipur rifles. In there we saw the Kanglasha still in ruins, the seven ponds of the seven salai and also the place where the puya was burnt. After that we came across an old man with long beard dressed in white with his long hair tied in a knot. Sitting under a huge mango tree he was eating green mango with mint and green chili. He looked like a Maichou we read about in old meitei books, a spiritual man of vast knowledge. We went up to him and asked “pupu kangla gi matang da wari khara libi o” .My elder sister was our leader , she had lots of energy and enthusiasm in searching the history of Manipur.

Occasionally taking a bite of his mango he told us a story of how Kangla got its name and why it is the most sacred place in Manipur.

When our forefathers first came to this land, there was no Imphal valley, only a big lake. They all settled in the hills. But during this time in the whole of Imphal valley one place was dry. This dry land was kangla. The name kang meaning dry and la meaning land. Because of this reason it was regarded as the most sacred place. Whoever controlled kangla was considered to be the most powerful group in Manipur. Later on the water gradually receded and more dry land emerged and they started settling in these newly emerged dry land. The different pats, Keisam pat, Lamphel pat, Khongham pat, etc were the reminiscent of the earlier Tethys Sea.

With this new knowledge we went home satisfied and got a good scolding from our parents for wondering off on our own.

As for our forefathers more and more of them started settling in the Imphal valley and 7 different groups were formed, the seven salai namely: Mangang, Luwang, Khuman, Sarang-Leisangthem, Moirang, Kha-Nganba and Angom. Around 14000 BC, a powerful leader by the name of Pakhangba conquered all the seven salais. And name the new united groups as “Meitei”.

In simpler words Meitei was formed by the unification of Tibeto Chinese and Thai tribe of Manipur 16000 years ago. The Tibeto Chinese tribes are the tribes we now know as the Nagas and the Thai tribes are the tribes we now know as Kuki.

The very word Meitei is synonymous with unity. The identity of various tribes vanish as we try to find a single race behind it. Meitei is not a one race, diversity is the very fabric on which Meitei originates.

The story of Meitei does not end there. I have heard stories that Kabui were supposed to be the 8^th salai of Meitei and that coming of Hinduism created problems in that happening. I would argue that as of now meitei consist of 9 salai and not just 7. The two others being Bamon and Pangan. It is said that the clan Nongmeikapam were originally Muslims who were proficient in using firearms and later on got assimilated into one of the Meitei salai.

In my search I also found that Yumnam the sagei to which I belong although categorized as Mangang were not in the original Mangang salai. We were assimilated into Meitei fold later on. Earlier we were considered as Hao/non meitei. My looks support the story…. Ha ha. Meiteis originated from the fore fathers of Nagas and Kukis.

We are at a very critical juncture in the fate of Manipur. Are we going to destroy each other? Naga vs Meitei,Meitei vs Kuki, Kuki vs Naga. Or unite as one and take Manipur into the future as a symbol of what unity can achieve. Our forefathers did it 16000 years ago and resulted in Meitei. We don’t need another Pakhangba to unite us, we just need to let love guide us and crush all feelings of hatred plaguing us. Bigger problems lurk just around the corner which threatens the whole of humanity, climate change, end of oil, war, religious conflict and what not. Let’s face them together as one and secure a bright future for our next generation.

If a hand full of tribes from naga and kuki unite to form the rich and diverse culture we see in Meitei, imagine what will happen if the whole of Naga, Kuki and Meitei unite to form a ‘new race’ of people.

There would be nothing we can’t achieve.

This is the time to unite as ONE.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/who-is-a-meitei/

ILP rally sparks clashes at Moreh as police remain mute; indefinite curfew clamped

IMPHAL, August 18: Tension erupted in the border town of Moreh cohabited by different communities today as a a mob protested against an Inner Line Permit rally in the town.

Police personnel turn a blind eye as protestors throw stones at a rally in Moreh

IMPHAL, August 18: Tension erupted in the border town of Moreh cohabited by different communities today as a a mob protested against an Inner Line Permit rally in the town.

A mob went on a rampage for more than three hours damaging more than 45 houses and business establishments including hotels and more than 20 vehicles belonging to a certain community, informed a source.

The violence has since been brought under control with the arrival of SP Chandel, an official report said.

Meanwhile, the DC Chandel has imposed an indefinite curfew in Moreh.

Leaders of civil organisations of Moreh have agreed on holding a public meeting to solve the issue. According to a latest report received, things are under control now as both the sides have come to an understanding, according to a NNN report.

More than six persons were also injured in the mob violence, informed local sources.

Several houses including the offices of the Meetei Council Moreh and the All Community Development Organisation Moreh were also set ablaze by the mob even as the police remained as mute spectators, the sources informed.

Sources informed that around 9am today, the All Manipur Students`™ Union, Chandel district, Kha Nongpok Apunba Nupi Lup, Moreh and Nupi Khunai Chaokhat Lamjing Lup, Moreh organised a rally supporting the demand for ILPS in the State.

According to sources, a mob came out and disrupted the rally.

This resulted in stone pelting between the ILP supporters and the other group.

However, the mob ran berserk and started singling out houses and business establishments belonging to a certain community in the heart of the Moreh bazaar. Properties worth more than one crore rupees were damaged in the violence, informed a source.

Meanwhile, locals have also claimed that no security forces including both the State police and the Central forces came to control the mob in time.

A joint statement of the Meetei Council Moreh and the the All Community Development Organisation Moreh has strongly condemned the violence during which their offices were set ablaze.

The statement said the two organisations strongly condemned the action wherein the offices of the two which has been working to bring peace and development in the town were set ablaze.

It continued, the two organisations also strongly condemned that the mob had singled out houses and business establishment of a single community.

The mob after robbing the houses of their belongings including valuable ornaments carried them away in Tata DIs, hand carts and other vehicles, it claimed. The houses were then set ablaze or damaged, the statement continued.

The two organisations have also condemned that the mob which included properly armed individuals also attacked the women participating in the rally. They even fired towards the womenfolk, it said.

It is also unfortunate and condemnable that no security forces arrived to control the mob which went on a rampage for more than three hours, it said.

No Malice No Bias Only Truth: Rejoinder to Dinesh Sharma’s “Introspection: A blog on ILP”

By: Leishangthem Dijen Apropos Dinesh Sharma’s “Introspection : A blog on ILP” published in August, 2015 in your esteem daily/news portal, Mr. Sharma’s account is really touching, no doubt. But

By: Leishangthem Dijen

Apropos Dinesh Sharma’s “Introspection : A blog on ILP” published in August, 2015 in your esteem daily/news portal, Mr. Sharma’s account is really touching, no doubt. But the matter of unchecked influx of Nepali and Bangladeshi migrants into Manipur is a fact.

We know the Nepali/Gurkha people arrived in Manipur in the 19^th century as mercenaries employed by the British Colonial power. They were stationed in Imphal as guards, for the British political agent both before and after 1891, Anglo-Manipuri war. When war broke out between the Manipuris and the British; the colonial power largely used the Nepali/Gurkha mercenaries to attack Manipur from both Burma and India front. Indeed the loyalty of the Nepali/Gurkha mercenaries to the British are known the world over. Till today Britain has maintained its Gurkha Rifles.

During the British period the mainstay of the British forces in Manipur were the Nepali/Gurkha mercenaries when the British left Manipur on August 14, 1947 not all Nepali/Gurkha mercenaries left Manipur along with the British. That was how Nepali settlement officially originated in Manipur that MK. Binodini d/o Maharaja Churachand Singh reportedly did not know as Mr. Sharma have mentioned in his write-up.

It needs to be known that when Gambhir Singh and the British made the deal to drive the Burmese out from Manipur, the limited service of the Gurkha/Nepali mercenaries were part of the deal. The British helped Manipur for their own interests and the Nepalis/Gukhas cannot claim credit for it because they were only serving the British.

Another claim that Mr. Sharma made was the nationality of “Major Subedar Niranjan Singh Chhetry”. We know that the Nepalese/Gorkha in Manipur make a strong claim that “Niranjan Subedar” was a Nepali/Gorkha”. They even observe his death anniversary. But the fact is “Niranjan Subedar” as he was lovingly known by this name, was a Hindustani.

Hindustanis both —- Brahmin and non-Brahmin, who came to Manipur from time to time became part of the Manipuri society and they become one of us, though they identify themselves as Sharma, Kshetri or Chhetry (as spelt by the Nepalese/Gurkha), Roy, etc.; Even Chinese and Kabow (Ava) were amalgamated into our society in the early period as recorded in our Puya (ancient chronicles) Indeed ours is a crucible pot like the Americans are. And there is no problem about it.

We welcome guests. We receive and entertain our guests. But we have a tiny population of around 21 lakhs consisting of native/indigenous Kuki, Meetei, Naga and Pangal (Meetei Muslim) against a total population of 1.25 billion Indians.

The estimated migrant population in Manipur is around 7 lakhs which constitutes a-fourth of the population. If this trend is not stopped the indigenous/native population of Manipur would be reduced to a minority in another 2 or 3 decades like in the case of Sikkim and Tripura. But one thing, those who came before 1951 have no problem; they become Manipuris.

Would any society or state in India or any country in the world ever accept it? This is the grim reality in Manipur today and people are fighting for their survival. Hope every right thinking human being would agree with us.

—–x—–

Read Dinesh Sharma’s article on ILP – “Introspection: A blog on ILP”

Kuki Research Forum Reply to IMF’s Rejoinder : KuRF PR

Apropos the International Meitei Forum states stand-a rejoinder by Pu Ch. Birendra dated appearing in the 4th and 5th June, 2015 issues of The Sangai Express and other local dailies,

Apropos the International Meitei Forum states stand-a rejoinder by Pu Ch. Birendra dated appearing in the 4^th and 5^th June, 2015 issues of The Sangai Express and other local dailies, the Kuki Research Forum (KuRF) wishes to clear any whiff of resultant misconception on the intellectual credibility of KuRF that is bound to emanate from the level at which the ongoing public spate has further degenerated into one of personal attacks, name calling, wild invectives and innuendos.

The forum initially responded to Pu R.K Rajendro, President, International Meitei Forum’s incendiary, baseless, communal and exclusivist statements made in his inflammatory speech on ISTV dated 16th May 2015 as it appeared to the forum that the esteemed individual was attempting to incite communal passion based solely on wild and unfounded distortion of Kuki indigenity in the state of Manipur.

The KuRF is independent and guided by the vision of intellectual integrity and logic and stands for peaceful co-existence above all else. Irrational arguments or one that borders on violence does not find place in the forum. The forum generally does not comment on everything and from every individual or group that claim to espouse the cause of the Kukis. However, given the nature of IMF’s provocative and historically untenable statements, KuRF is obliged to issue its last reply/rejoinder for the introspection of IMF and discernment of the public.The forum call upon all esteemed readers, intellectuals, scholars, academicians, Political leaders and concerned citizens of the state to exercise their best judgment as to which of the two forums is attempting to sow seeds of communal hatred, parochial sentiments and disintegration of Manipur.

First, your salutary address with the words “D/Descendant of Immigrants” is in bad taste and the tone and tenor of your write up is rather conspicuous for the absolute lack of basic decency and factual veracity, normally expected in a civilized discourse, and not so much for the historical narrative. Through its brazen attack on Kuki-Chins, IMF exposes a total absence of both academic scholarship and dignified restraint.

The level of your discomfiture with KuRF reasoned response dated 1^st of June, 2015, has apparently overwhelmed you so much so that you have taken recourse to the all too familiar strategy of divide-and-strike, first by dividing the Kukis into New and Old as the British Colonial did and second, by amusing attempts at entangling the Naga community into this fruitless diatribe, the significance of which is not lost sight of.

In so far as the intra-ethnic relationship among consanguineous brothers viz., the so called Old and New Kukis are concerned, the KuRF is conscious of the apparent fragmentation between the two, but suffice to say here that the fundamentals (Stalk) are too strong not to withstand divisions (Barks) as in a family (Tree). It is but natural for siblings from a common parentage to evolve into nucleated families of their own which in no way repudiates their root. And, may it be noted that when push comes to shove, the identity will still find its hold as strong as ever. Historically, linguistically, socially and culturally they belong to Kuki-Chin family. There is no scientific or ethnographic basis for distinguishing between ‘Old’ and ‘New’ Kukis. The semantic, ‘Kuki’, if anything, binds both Old and New under one irrefutable identity and destiny.

The KuRF appreciates the latest statement of the IMF that ‘Meiteis and Nagas are indigenous people of Manipur’. The Manipur government was also contemplating at one point of time to make an official declaration that Meiteis and one particular community of Manipur are blood brothers. This is almost in line with what T.C. Hudson had said; “Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas are brothers.” Unlike IMF, the KuRF considers Meiteis, Nagas and Kukis as indigenous people of Manipur with significant affinities. The perceived ethnic ties between Naga and Meiteis are indeed a positive sign of historical milestone by scholars and intellectuals who transcends the mythological barriers to establish new and emerging genealogical findings on continuing basis. But these apparent gung-ho is surprisingly intermittent and situational as they are contextual to needs and nothing more. IMF’s policy of dividing tribals would lead to more anti-Meitei and anti-Manipur rhetoric’s, thereby causing irreparable damage to the tribals’ ties with the majority Meiteis. The IMF’s desperate attempt to divide the tribals is bound to be an exercise in futility. It is high time for the IMF to realize that Manipur is not mono-cultural but multi-cultural and multi-racial. The political problem that beset Manipur, then and now could be resolved only when policies and strategies reflect this diversity.
Why are the issue of Immigrants (Foreigners) and Nomads so dear to IMF and its tall leaders? Northeast India has been described as ‘one of the greatest migration routes of mankind’ (Barpujari: 1992. 35). Various ethnic groups came to Manipur from pre-historic times. The present ethnic groups of Manipur, viz., the Meiteis, the Naga tribes, the Kuki-Chin tribes and other Indian communities are the descendants of those migrating people. (H.S.Sharma, History of Manipur: An Independent Kingdom, 2011). The entire people of Manipur belong to the same ethnic group (N. Tombi Singh:1972.17). Meiteis had their ultimate origin in the hill areas of Manipur. (V. Chakravarty 1986). “Manipuris(Meiteis) are a mixed race between the Kukis and the Nagas.” (Elwin 1969, 451). Grierson, Konow, S.K. Chatetterjee and many other linguists classified Meitei under Kuki-Chin group of the Tibeto-Burman group of language. Touthingmang, the third Meitei king was from Touthang clan. (Manimohan, Poirei Sanna Leibak). Nongdam Lairen pakhangba, the first historically recorded king of the Meithis (Meiteis)’s mother was a Kuki woman named ‘Lenghoi’ or Nungmaidenga. (William Shaw 1929:47-48). As Reid said, while the Raja reigned over the valley of Manipur, the Kukis “ruled the roost in the hills that surrounded the valley of Manipur. (History of the North East Bordering on Assam). IMF’s repeated attempt to suppress the historical truth is motivated and a slur to basic right of every ethnic community to dwell peaceably in the land that has been their own since known history, to develop and progress and to contribute their share in the evolution of Manipur culture and civilization.

Nonetheless, the sequence of inroads into present state of Manipur by one ethnic group preceding/succeeding another is a normative reality and does not in any way confer the right of exclusive ownership over land or its resources to one group to the exclusion of others nor does it deprive the later migrants of their right to claim ownership over the land settled by their ancestors.

The Kukis of Manipur are Indian by nationality and indigenous tribe of Manipur by birth and descent. James Johnstone, writing on Kukis as being heard for the first time in between 1830-1840 in Manipur valley similarly betrays a monumental misunderstanding or ignorance or both. The British colonialists may have transferred some Kukis from one area to another, but it is hugely preposterous to imply these relocations to account for the entire Kuki population. Normally, immigrants and nomads have no land and do not conquer land and people. The Kukis have land and country to rule over, to fight wars to protect their land to conquer others as shown during the Kuki Rising (1917-19). The Kukis have been a dependable ally for the Meitei Maharajas from the first historic King Meidingu Nongda Lairen Pakhangba to the times of Chandrakirty. They upheld mutual co-existence, peace and dignified relations with Meiteis and in that spirit had opposed the Manipur Merger Agreement and patiently attempted to make the state of Manipur a success in the post independent period. The exclusivist and chauvinist attitude of fanatic elements as represented by IMF are consistently trying to destroy the historically friendly relations between the Kukis and Meiteis. After the merger of Manipur with the India Union in 1949, the erstwhile communalities of the state of Manipur have become citizen of India. The Kukis are as much indigenous and masters over the land they occupy as any other community in Manipur and don’t owe anybody any explanation for their existence. Perhaps, the IMF argument is based on The History of Manipur by J.Roy (PP.2 &34)
With regard to your farfetched innuendo of killing Meitei’s as a pattern within an overall strategic domination architecture to populate and dominate Manipur by Kukis, it made a nice fairy tale reading and nothing needs to be said where imagination can take one to ridiculous conclusions! On various incidents that you mentioned, surely, there would have been incidents and differences of opinion and even misunderstandings. Such things do happen between neighbours and sometimes inevitable. However, these incidents and occasional differences of opinion should be set aside keeping in mind the larger interest.

Lastly, the Kuki Research Forum again reiterate that every saner element within the Meitei and Kuki communities should guard against grossly false, misleading, communal and historically untenable utterances and statements of IMF. Since KuRF stands for peaceful co-existence among the different communities of Manipur, the forum would like to have scholarly debates and discussions with Meitei civil societies other than the IMF (which need not be engaged seriously) by looking at the past to explain the present situation for constructive dialogue and debate. Be that as it may, the fulcrum of the KuRF rejoinder rest on the non-negotiable rights of Kukis as a citizen of India and indigenous ethnic community from the throes of pre-historic age right down to the age of post-independent India; which was, is and shall remain an abiding reality for now and for posterity.

Issued by Kuki Research Forum, they can be contacted at kukiresearchforum@yahoo.com

Kuki student from NEFIS elected unopposed to the post of General Secretary of MSAD

Manipuri Students Association Delhi (MSAD) elects its new President, General Secretary and Executive Committee Members Kuki student from NEFIS elected unopposed to the post of General Secretary of MSAD Two students from the North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) … Continue reading →

Manipuri Students Association Delhi (MSAD) elects its new President, General Secretary and Executive Committee Members

Kuki student from NEFIS elected unopposed to the post of General Secretary of MSAD

Two students from the North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) who have been actively raising issues of North-East youth in Delhi, were elected unopposed to the post of President and General Secretary of Manipuri Students Association Delhi (MSAD) for the year 2013–2014. Chinglen Khumukcham and Thanglunmang Khongsai from NEFIS were elected as MSAD President and General Secretary, respectively.

The election of these two members into the Executive Committee of MSAD is an extremely positive development and is part of the larger process through which NEFIS has been encouraging Manipuri students to raise their issues in connection with the issues and problems faced by other north-east students. It is with this spirit of bringing different north-east communities together on a common set of concerns that NEFIS spearheaded the two-month long agitation against the imposition of a compulsory Hindi language course under Delhi University’s FYUP course. Arguing that such a language imposition was a discrimination against north-east students who have little or no school education in the Hindi language, NEFIS sparked off a militant struggle for withdrawal of the compulsory Hindi language course as it would play havoc with the academic performance of north-east students. By precipitating the struggle, both at the level of Delhi University and at level of the HRD Ministry (Government of India), NEFIS succeeded in getting the adamant University to accept the genuineness of the north-east students’ concerns and to withdraw the paper. Apart from the issue of the compulsory Hindi language paper, NEFIS has also helped mobilize north-east students across the board on glaring problems like police inaction on complaints by north-east youth, police atrocities and also on highly sensitive issues like sexual harassment of north-east women in Delhi.

The concerted efforts of Chinglen Khumukcham and Thanglunmang Khongsai as members of NEFIS have been helping to gradually spread larger sense of solidarity amongst students of different communities/nationalities of North-East . An indication of such solidarity and growing radicalization of youth politics is reflected in the simple fact that for the first time a Kuki student has been elected to the post of MSAD General Secretary. It is hoped that the emerging solidarity amongst different communities of the north-east will prove longstanding, and will be nurtured in letter and spirit by the newly elected Executive Committee of MSAD. The newly elected President and General Secretary hope that MSAD politics is not only radicalized further, but that students of Manipur in large numbers become more active in the progressive and democratic movement existing in Delhi.

NEFIS pledges to extend full support and to work with the newly elected Executive Committee of MSAD in order to usher in an egalitarian, democratic and progressive functioning of society.

Yours Sincerely

Ginminlun Haokip

North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)

Contact: 7838983871 Email: nefis.delhi@gmail.com

The Bad Image – Manipuri Feature Film – Mami – Review

The post The Bad Image – Manipuri Feature Film – Mami – Review appeared first on KanglaOnline.com.Mami The Bad Image – A opinion/review by CT Haokip, Delhi Manipuri feature film – Mami – The Image has go…

The post The Bad Image – Manipuri Feature Film – Mami – Review appeared first on KanglaOnline.com.

Mami The Bad Image – A opinion/review by CT Haokip, Delhi Manipuri feature film – Mami – The Image has got wide publicity thanks to the portrayal of prostitute Kuki women in their traditional ‘Khamtang’ attire and the protest against it by a … Continue reading →

The post The Bad Image – Manipuri Feature Film – Mami – Review appeared first on KanglaOnline.com.

The Bad Image – Manipuri Feature Film – Mami – Review

The post The Bad Image – Manipuri Feature Film – Mami – Review appeared first on KanglaOnline.com.