"An Interactive Session on Greater Mizoram', organised by the Department of Political Science, Pachunga University College, in collaboration with Mizoram University & Zonet Cable TV Pvt. Ltd on the 27th February 2025, at Seminar Hall, Pachunga University College, Aizawl, Mizoram."
~ Dr. T S Haokip, (PhD) President, WKZIC-GHQ
Background: The genesis of Greater Mizoram for the creation of a single administrative unit for Kuki-Mizo people (Vumson,1989), dates back to '1965 Kawnpui Convention' at Churachandpur, Songpi (1772 AD) of British Songpi Sub-Division 1919, southern part of historical Khongjai Hills,1741-42 (Court Chronicles, Parrat) later called Kuki Hills (History of Kuki Hills in Kanglei Manipur, 1852-1949, 2010 & The Indian Mutiny of 1857, G.B Maleson), of outer Manipur, held on the 15 to 18 January 1965 and attended by 13 Kuki-Zo organisations such as PNC, VNO, SNO, ZNO, MUM, MNU, HNU, KNA, GTU, KNU and BCC (Baite) respectively. This historical Convention was held in continuation of the resolution of Kuki National Assembly (KNA) and Manipur Mizo Integration Council (MMIC) of 1964, signed by Holkhomang Haokip, General Secretary of KNA (former MP from Manipur) and KT Lala, Chairman of MMIC. (Twenty Years of Peace in Mizoram, 1986-2006: A Kuki Perspective, DIPR, Govt. of Mizoram)._
MNF Cadres and Volunteers from Manipur: According to KHALVONTAWI@https://www. khalvontawi.in, under the caption, "MNF Cadres from Manipur 1966-1986", the list of MNF cadres and volunteers from Manipur, from Thadou-Kukis with ranks and portfolios are briefly capsulated as under:
1. No. of Senator:
01 - Lalkhohen Thangeo, Kangpokpi
2. No. of MP: 02 - Thangkholet Kipgen, Kangpokpi & PK Kipgen, Songjang (Nominee)
3. No. of DC: 01 - Thangcha Sitlhou, Imphal
4. No. of ADC: 01 - Aseh Thangneo, Sapormeina
5. No. of SDO: 01 - Doujathang Haokip, Senam
6. No. of Political Advisor: 01 - Demkhosiek Gangte, Imphal
7. No. of DIG (Police Dept.): 01 - Vumjaam Haokip, Pallen
8. No. of SP: 02 - Ngamjatong Chongloi & Seikhogou Sitlhou, Sapormeina
9. No. of Police Constable: 02 - Hempao Kipgen, Hengbung & Sehpu Hangshing, Hengbung
10. No. of MIS (Mizo Intl. Service): 02 - JF Rothangliana, Ccpur & Paokhosei Kipgen, Haipi
11. No. of Volunteer VC: 09
12. No. of CSO, PO, SO: 05
13. No. of Military-1 Major & 6 Leut.: 182 + 3 (including 3 Women Cadres)
Total - 213
No. of long suffered (sick): 27
No. of those lost lives (death): 81
No. of Manipur MNF cadres in Jail: 17
No. of Villages Burnt in Manipur: 11.
(Thadou-Kuki villages of Kuki Hills @ camouflaged into Sadar Hills).
Failure of Greater Mizoram Movement 1960s
The probable causes of leaving behind Kuki Hills (1852-1949), former Khongjai Hills (1741-42) of outer Manipur at the 'Gates of Triumph' in 1987 at the attainment of Mizoram statehood by Pu Laldenga, may be substantiated briefly under the following 3 heads as below:
i). Disapproval of Abolition of Chiefship by Guitekual Chiefs: Guitekual is a Chieftaindom of the 2000 Guite clansmen and kins, whom Dr. Tualchin Neihsial described as the 'Tonglawns and Maites' (History of Zomi,(2023), p. 35), and M. Ranjit labelled as in 1877 where 2000 Suktes migrated en mass to Manipur (E-pao@https://e-pao.net), from Chin Hills during 1877-78, located in the southernmost part of Parratt's Khongjai Hills (1741-42), later Kuki Hills (1852-1949).
According to Associate Professor, Stanley Touthang, the idea of abolition of Chiefship in Lushai Hill District, under Chiefship Abolition Act. 1952 was passed by the Assam Legislative assembly with effect from January 1, 1953 was enforced and implemented in Lushai Hill district, which was changed into MIZO DISTRICT on the 29th April, 1954, under 'The Lushai Hills District (Change of Name) Act. 1954, was the main reason that the Guitekual Chiefs, who were not a part of Kawnpui Convention 1965, were unwilling to surrender and abolish their traditional Chieftaindom. In the words of Nengzatun, who was among the 21 Paite and 19 Hmar tribesmen from Manipur, who went to Saharanpur, Himachal Pradesh, in the year 1968 for training to evade Indian Army atrocities. The following year, some Simte, Vaiphei, Zou and other tribesmen too joined the VVF, (Ethnicity and Insurgency in Myanmar/Burma, 2018).
ii). Pu Laldenga's Sceptism: Some of the surviving veteran MNF volunteers from Manipur (names withheld) opined that Pu Laldenga had the sceptism that once his era of holding the top post position fades, the chair may be transferred on to Manipur, which made him discard 'Shillong Accord 1975' where the proposed Mizoram state covered till "Senapati Bridge" of outer Manipur Kuki Hills, covering British Jampi Area 1907, British Chassad Area 1907, British Mombi (Lonpi) Area 1907 and British Songpi Sub-Division 1919 (Assam Archive, Dispur, Map.Nos.SA.1/2020/385 Vide.Lib/R135/S1/12,.... S1/13 & ...S1/63) respectively._
iii). Government of India's Reservation: Many Kuki scholars and intellectuals are of the view that the government of India deliberately convinced Pu Laldenga to leave out 'Kawnpui Convention 1965' resolution of the proposed Mizoram state covering 'Khongjai Hills (1741-42) later Kuki Hills (1852-1949)', which the Colonial Government and the Government of India hid in the Archives for a century. The stated part by part maps bearing Map Nos. and Library Nos. were finally uncovered after 115 years (1907 to 2022), discovered and procured by Kuki Scholars from the National Archives in 2022. It is also imperative to mention that G.A Grierson's Kuki Country 1904 (Linguistic Survey of India, Vol.III, Part III) is the living Historical and Political testimony that Kukis, who fought the colonial regime for consecutive 3 years (1917-1919), shall one day or the other re-claim their 'Ancestral Land', which the colonial government deliberately trifurcated into 3 international boundaries to supress them as punishments. It is also to note that during the IWW, ethnic tribal 3000 Nagas, 500 each Khasi-Garo, 2100 Lushai and 3500 Chin Labour Corps went to France to assist the colonial government for logistic works and as porters. As a reward, the Colonial authority patronised the Naga Hills, Khasi-Garo Hills, Naga Hills, Lushai Hills and Chin Hills which were all later upgraded into states & UTs by the two Governments of India & Myanmar after their respective independence.
Feasibility of Greater India
G.A Grierson's Kuki Country 1904 (Linguistic Survey of India) can definitely be carved out and merged as "Greater India" on account of the current political turmoil in all Kuki-Chin inhabited regions (Kuki Ancestral Land) in parts of Myanmar/Burma in 2021, Outer Manipur in 2023, and Bangladesh in 2024 respectively.
In this regard, USA (America) who yearned for the creation of a Christian State near India (Statement of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina) , and Israel, the blood brother of Manmasi@Manasseh Kukis, would not deny to co-operate with India in this regard, as both of them (US & Israel) are good partner countries for India as well as for the Kukis.
Why Nust India Say Yes to Greater India- Kukiland State?
India must not deny Greater India- Kukiland State as per Bhutan Status (Indo-Bhutan Perpetual Peace & Friendship Treaty, 1949 and India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, 2007) or any other status it deems socially, politically and economically suited to serve its interest on account of the following:_
i) A consolation to warrior Kukis who confronted the colonial regime during 1917-1919, (Kuki Rising 1917-1919 or Kuki Rebellion 1917-1919), for 3 consecutive years.
ii) A reward for joining hands with Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose during IIWW in 1942-1945, where more than 120 Kuki warriors from Manipur participated in the Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauz, (Manipur Ke Azad Hind Fauz Senani Ek Shrandhanjali, published by the Department of Art & Culture, Govt. of Manipur, 2010), to live peacefully like other Indian citizens under the Indian Constitutional protection.
iii) The success of India's Look & Act East Policy fully relies on the hands of Chin-Kuki-Zo people dominating geographically strategic locations such as:
a) Stretch of 160 kms of Trans-Asian Highway (AH) and South-East Asia Trade & Commerce from Hengbung (India) to Khampat (Myanmar) and International Trade Centre of Moreh border town & Behiang trade centre dominated by the Kukis.
b) Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project which comprised of Paletwa in Chin State (Myanmar), Zochawchhuah (Mizoram) & Zorinpui (Myanmar) all inhabited by the Chin-Kuki-Mizo people.
c) Secure access & security in and around the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) which comprises of the important Chittagong Sea port, inhabited by the Kuki-Chins who play a crucial role in the security of the India-Bangladesh territory bordering Mizoram & Tripura having significant Chin-Kuki-Mizo populations on either side of the international border and other Indian states.
Mention may be made that the marginalized, sidelined, segregated, socially discriminated, economically deprieved and politically subjugated Kuki people's vulnerability for more than a century in the Indian sub-continent during 1919-1919, 1942-1945, 1956-1988, 1993-1997 and 2023 to the present, is beyond human endurance which the world communities must look into.
Greater India @Zoramthar Zalengam
In recognition of the above stated creation of Greater India- Kukiland State, a Greater India-Zoramthar@ Greater Mizoram comprising of Kukiland State, Kuki-Chin State, Chin State and Mizoram State can be amalgamated into Zalengam or Zoramthar, to fulfill the cherished dream of departed leaders of 'Kawnpui Convention 1965' for a single Administrative Unit.
______________________
The presenter of this paper is the Writer /Author of the book entitled "Ethnicity and Insurgency in Myanmar/Burma: A Comparative Study of the Kuki-Chin and Karen Insurgencies", IBSN: 9781545722718, 1545722714 @ 2018.
Contact e-mail: tslhaokip@yahoo.co.in
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