Apropos to "Debates on the origin of Kukis, Meiteis, Nagas and Meitei Pangans" published in The Sangai Express, Dec 24

Imphal, Dec 27, 2012 [OPEN LETTER] --- Dear Sirs, In appreciation to and support of Dr. Khomdon Singh Lisam's letter to the Editor from Southern Palace Compound, Palace Road, Imphal, published by respected Editor of Sangai Express on 24 December 2012, the following few lines are penned down for kind publication in the daily papers by respected Editors in the Spirit of peace, social harmony and in defence of fundamental rights of Indigenous people in the north eastern region of India which is noted as "2nd Kashmir" by the UNPFII Rappourters. Indeed T.C. Hudson's statement in his book clearly stated that he travelled the length and breadth of Manipur and found out one unanimously accepted tradition; Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas are brothers. Their father is said as Ashu, his sons are Kukis, Nagas and Meiteis. This must be accepted as an undeniable truth the British could not conceal against their divide and rule policy. In fact these three communities had been living together in Manipur State harmoniously. They were not in need of any outside power to rule over them. They were and are the owners of the land together, and even the British umbrella Government did not interfere in their land management. The unfortunate betrayal policy is the coercive signatures of His Highness Maharaj Budha Chandra Singh of Manipur and that of her highness the Regent Rani of Tripura, in September and published on 15 October 1949 to merge to India at the cost of Manipur and Tripura valleys. How and why these signatures of Manipur King and Tripura Regent Rani have been forced has been revealing day by day of the happenings in the so-called north east India uptil now. Present negotiators with the Govt. and those asking for integration, supra state, alternative arrangement, and demanding states etc etc. must take maximum care, less they are giving away our ancestral land to people who have not done anything to the Britishers who came tried to take the land. The Meiteis fought bravely in defence of the land, so also the Kukis sacrificed their lives and villages by defending our ancestral land. Our ancestral land has not been given by any known power on earth. The British tried to take it, but failed. Though the valleys have been illegally taken, still 90% of our land remains in the hands of the indigenous people. If care is not taken by negotiators, those who voice for states will be used to give away our land by any means. Let us be reminded that we live in our land, and we need to defend the land together as our forefathers did in the past. Because of their sacrifices we could boldly say that this land is ours. Let us learn to live together with brotherly love and social harmony. Let us recall that there were problems in the past, but all could be settled peacefully without any help from outside. We live as neighbours, brothers and sisters for centuries past, even before and during British colonial regime. At the same time, let us also reason together on what has brought about the present chaos, fighting within, reducing the land into a killing field. The Kuki Inpi has been asking the Government of India to peacefully settle the problems once for all by submitting over 60 Memoranda. Yet, no response is made till date. While trying to talk over the damages done through five Prime Ministers including Shri Manmohan Singhji, no chance was given to meet them. Besides, PIL case has been submitted to the highest Supreme Court of India, but admission to this case was denied without any cogent reason. Whereas the Govt. remains unattended to our plea, the chaotic situation is getting worse that is marked by daily killings, road blockades, indefinite bandh, etc etc. Citizens of this country must hold the Government responsible for all damages or loses. One must also ask whether the Government has abandoned this land. Who and where is the Govt. now? If there is any Government(s), the suffering of the Indigenous people must be settled peacefully without further delay. By:- T. Lunkim Chairman Kuki Movement for Human Rights Manipur ================================================== Letters to Editor THE SANGAI EXPRESS December 24, 2012 Debates on the origin of Kukis, Meiteis, Nagas and Meitei Pangans Sir, Perhaps we should not enter into the debate regarding the origin of Kukis, Nagas, Meiteis or Meitei Pangans. There are four main tribes in Manipur - Kukis, Nagas, Meiteis or Meitei Pangans. Trying to trace the origin of any particular tribe will be like tracing the origin of HIV virus or tracing the origin of Syphilis germ, which unnecessarily led to discrimination of many innocent nations in the past. Let it remain for academic interest only. Let us not fight with the past. If you fight with the past, there will be no future. We have to act in the living present. The fact remains that the Kukis, Nagas and Meitei Pangans took great roles and active part in protecting the sovereignty of Manipur and in personal protection of Manipur kings and princes on many occasions. Now Manipur belongs to Kukis, Nagas, Meiteis and Meitei Pangans. Earlier the arrival of Hinduism has built a wedge between Meiteis and the hill people introducing concept of pollution and Mangba –Sengba culture. Taking advantage of the then Mangba-Sengba culture during the monarchy, the British introduced a policy of further divide and rule in the name of protecting hill people and wooing them to accept Christianity. The British played this policy of "divide and rule" to turn the ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious differences within Manipur to their advantage to ensure their stability, supremacy and power. The Government of India continues the same "divide and rule policy" started by the British in the name of protecting hill people and inciting one ethnic group against another in the name of Greater Nagaland, Nagalim, Supra State, Alternative Administrative Arrangement, Schedule VI or Kuki state., General, Schedule Tribe, Hill people, valley people etc. The fault is not with NSCN-IM or Muivah. The fault is entirely with the Government of India and discriminatory provisions of the Indian Constitution. Earlier, we have been living in peace and harmony without any differences as one people and one nation. Why should we be allowed ourselves to fight with each on the instigation of some outside agencies just like frogs in the well? We are mature enough to know the hidden agenda of the Government of India to prevent us from being united. Let us forget the past and think for the future . Let us forget our differences. The Meities can not live in isolation without the Kukis or Nagas. The Kukis can not live without Meiteis or Meitei Pangans or Nagas. Let us concentrate on how to build solidarity and unity among all ethnic groups in Manipur and build a strong, united and progressive Manipur for our future generations. Otherwise, our future generations will blame us for not doing anything good for them. While we are fighting, some smaller tribes like Aimol (2643/2001), Chothe (2675/2001), Koirao (1200/2001), Koireng(1056/2001), Monsang- 1634/2001), Moyon (1,710/2001), Ralte (110/2001), Salhte 311/2001) are on the verge of extinction. There is a law in India to prevent extinction of tigers but there is no law in India to prevent extinction of smaller ethnic groups in Manipur. Is it not our duty to protect them from extinction. United we stand and divided we fall. The time for action is today. Tomorrow, it may be too late. Yours faithfully, Dr. Khomdon Singh Lisam Southern Palace Compound, Palace Road, Imphal ==================================================

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