Recently, I had the privilege of meeting Pu P. Gangte, IPS (Retd.), who retired with the distinguished rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG). A man of remarkable service and integrity, Pu Gangte served the nation during the Sino-Indian War of 1962 as a Captain in the Gorkha Rifles, having voluntarily accepted commission into active service during the national emergency.
Historical records of the Manipur Police note that he was among the officers posted to the newly raised 2nd Battalion of the Manipur Rifles on 1 November 1962, where he served as Assistant Commandant, a deputation consistent with the wartime mobilization of officers from civil and police services. Subsequent references and reminiscences about the Manipur Rifles also mention 2/Lt P. Gangte, confirming his later service and eventual retirement as DIG (Manipur Rifles).
Meeting such a venerable figure was deeply enlightening. Today, Pu Gangte lives in New Delhi, displaced by the current crisis in Manipur. Despite enduring persecution and even surviving an attempt on his life in 1996 at Haokip Veng, Imphal, owing to his principled stand against the inclusion of "Any Kuki tribes" in the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur, he remains steadfast and resilient. He was also denied the position of President of the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) after certain groups questioned his community's identity(MIZO), yet he bore these injustices with quiet dignity.
Beyond these events, what strikes me most is that his very life is a blessing in disguise for Manipur in general and the Thadou community in particular. He is a living repository of Manipur's history and a guardian of Thadou heritage. I sincerely wish him long life, good health, and continued strength, for his wisdom and experience remain invaluable to all who seek truth and harmony in our society.
James Thadou
Historical records of the Manipur Police note that he was among the officers posted to the newly raised 2nd Battalion of the Manipur Rifles on 1 November 1962, where he served as Assistant Commandant, a deputation consistent with the wartime mobilization of officers from civil and police services. Subsequent references and reminiscences about the Manipur Rifles also mention 2/Lt P. Gangte, confirming his later service and eventual retirement as DIG (Manipur Rifles).
Meeting such a venerable figure was deeply enlightening. Today, Pu Gangte lives in New Delhi, displaced by the current crisis in Manipur. Despite enduring persecution and even surviving an attempt on his life in 1996 at Haokip Veng, Imphal, owing to his principled stand against the inclusion of "Any Kuki tribes" in the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur, he remains steadfast and resilient. He was also denied the position of President of the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) after certain groups questioned his community's identity(MIZO), yet he bore these injustices with quiet dignity.
Beyond these events, what strikes me most is that his very life is a blessing in disguise for Manipur in general and the Thadou community in particular. He is a living repository of Manipur's history and a guardian of Thadou heritage. I sincerely wish him long life, good health, and continued strength, for his wisdom and experience remain invaluable to all who seek truth and harmony in our society.
James Thadou
~ Thadou Nam
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