Meiteis & Kuki can Co-exist as Good Neighbours: Dr. TS Haokip

MEITEIS AND KUKIS CAN NEGOTIATE AND CO-EXIST SIDE BY SIDE AS GOOD NEIGHBOURS

~ Dr. TS Haokip (PhD),
  Activist, March 28, 2025.

MEITEIS as majority community and responsible for the current Meitei-Kuki Conflict, need to ponder over the future and initiate compromise with Kukis for the good of the Meiteis in particular, and for both the Meiteis and the Kukis in general.

The first and foremost parameter to negotiate with the Kukis, seemed to be agreeing to their demand for UT with Legislature on Puducherry Pattern, under 239 of the Indian Constitution on "Give and Take" Policy negotiation, based on the following points, seem to benefit the Meiteis in the long run, instead of posing hindrance to the Kukis demand, as no Meitei considered the Kukis as the people of Manipur, who helped Maharaja Chandrakirti  to claim back his Kanglei Manipur throne in the 7 Years Devastation from Burmese continuous invasions in 1757, 1758 and 1765 respectively, by Molbem Chief, Thangkhohen Kuki who sent his younger brother, the Chief of Bijang with 1200 Kuki warriors (William Shaw, 1929) to held the Maharaja.

1. That Meiteis and Kukis shall never ever live together again as before due to the current Genocide backed by double engine government and the whole Meiteis Genocidal attitudes towards the Kukis with slogans "Kuki Tumna Hatlo", alongwith giving out 6000 arms and 6,00,000 ammunitions freely from the Manipur State Armoury, and deploying all the Meiteis and Pro-Meitei about 30,000 Manipur State forces such as Manipur Police, IRB and Manipur Police Commando for "Total Inahiliation" of minority Kukis, will need and take a generation to heal.

2. That Kukis be convinced to win back their trust over only Kuki Areas of historical Khongjai Hills (1741-42) later Kuki Hills (1852-1949) alone were acquired and declared as Protected Forests, Reserved Forests, Wild Life Sanctuaries and Wetlands, without concerned Chiefs consent, which Kuki Chiefs hold during the colonial period as:

i) Mombi (Lonpi) Area 1907,

ii) Chassad Area 1907,

iii) Jampi Area 1907,

iv) Haokip Reserved 1907/ Songpi Sub-Division 1919 @ Churachandpur, maps all preserved in the National Archives, retrieved after 105 years by Kuki Scholars and Researchers. ..............……........ whereas no such acquisitions were made in Manipuri Naga areas of Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.

3. That Meiteis can only get ST Status at the recommendations of the Kukis with Geneological Proofs and evidences for proper pure Meitei blood clans and sub-clans.

4. That Kukis have no much problem in terms of daily essentials in spite of Total Seperation with the Meiteis for the last 23 months (almost 2 years).

5. That Kukis dominated all the lifelines of the Meiteis including National Highways and Trans Asian Highway and International Trade Centres and India's Northeast Corridors for Southeast Trade and Commerce.

6. Recommending Kuki UT under Article 239 of the Indian Constitution through Jammu & Kashmir Bifurcation Act 2019 shall pave the way for Kukis to open all lifelines of the Meiteis as Good neighbours in trade and commerce as before.

7. That Meiteis and Kukis exchange Homestead Plots of land of the Meiteis at Moreh and Churachandpur with that of the Kukis in Imphal Valley.

The demand for a separate Union Territory (UT) by the Kuki people has been a longstanding issue in Manipur, India. The Kuki people, who are indigenous to the region, have been seeking greater autonomy and self-governance, which they believe will address their unique cultural, social, and economic needs.

Historical Context

The Kuki people have a distinct cultural and linguistic identity that is closely related to the Meitei people. In fact, the renowned linguist G.A. Grierson categorized the Meitei language as a part of the Kuki-Chin language family [1]. This linguistic connection highlights the shared ancestry and cultural heritage of the Kuki and Meitei people.

Demands for Autonomy

The Kuki people have been demanding greater autonomy and self-governance for several decades. They argue that their unique cultural, social, and economic needs are not being addressed by the state government of Manipur, which is dominated by the Meitei people [2]. The Kuki people believe that a separate UT will provide them with the necessary autonomy to manage their own affairs and develop their own region.

Sharing of Resources

One of the key demands of the Kuki people is the sharing of resources, including National Highways, Trans-Asian Highways, and Southeast Trade and Commerce routes [3]. The Kuki people argue that these resources are critical to their economic development and that they should have equal access to them. By agreeing to the Kuki demand for a UT, the Meitei people can help facilitate the sharing of these resources and promote greater economic cooperation between the two communities.

Compromise and Negotiation

The Meitei people have expressed concerns about the Kuki demand for a UT, fearing that it may lead to the division of Manipur and undermine the state's territorial integrity [4]. However, compromise and negotiation are essential to resolving this issue. By engaging in dialogue and finding mutually acceptable solutions, the Meitei and Kuki people can work towards a more harmonious and equitable relationship.

Conclusion

The demand for a separate UT by the Kuki people is a legitimate one, driven by their desire for greater autonomy and self-governance. By agreeing to this demand, the Meitei people can help facilitate the sharing of resources, promote greater economic cooperation, and strengthen the relationship between the two communities. Ultimately, compromise and negotiation are essential to resolving this issue and promoting a more harmonious and equitable relationship between the Meitei and Kuki people.

References:

[1] Grierson, G. A. (1904). Linguistic Survey of India. Volume III: Tibeto-Burman Family. Part III: Specimens of the Kuki-Chin and Burma Groups. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing.
[2] Kuki Inpi, Manipur. (2019). Memorandum Submitted to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India.
[3] The Sangai Express. (2020). Kuki Demand for UT: A Genuine Grievance.
[4] The Hindu (2020). Manipur's Territorial Integrity: A Concern for All.
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~ WKZIC

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