Ref.No.58/WKZIC-GHQ/(Memo)/2023-25, Date: April 10, 2025
'MEMORANDUM'
From:
World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC)-GHQ.
Subject: Refugee Narratives and Colonial British 126 Kuki Village in Sadar Hills Survey 1911 and Kuki Chiefs Council Statement of Memorandum 1917.
Date: Songpi, the 10th April 2025 (Thursday),
Background: The Kuki Village Survey of 1911 was a comprehensive survey conducted by the British colonial authorities under the supervision of British Officer Lieutenant Colonel H.W.G Cole CSI, to gather information on the Kuki villages in the Sadar Hills area of Manipur. Here are some details of the survey:
Purpose: The purpose of the survey was to gather information on the Kuki villages in the Sadar Hills area, including their population, economy, social organization, and administrative setup. The survey was conducted to help the British colonial authorities to better understand the Kuki people and their way of life, and to identify areas where they could provide assistance and support.
Methodology: The survey was conducted by a team of British officials, who visited each of the Kuki villages in the Sadar Hills area and collected information through interviews with village leaders, observations, and documentation of existing records. The survey team used a standardized questionnaire to collect information on various aspects of village life, including:
i) Village name and location - Population and demographic characteristics
iii) Economy and livelihoods,
iv) Social organization and customs,
v) Administrative setup and governance,
vi) Education and healthcare
vii) Infrastructure and amenities.
Findings: The 1911 survey found that there were 126 Kuki villages in the Sadar Hills area, with a total population of approximately 40,000 people. The survey also found that the Kuki people were primarily engaged in agriculture, with many villages practicing shifting cultivation. The survey noted that the Kuki people had a rich cultural heritage, with their own language, customs, and traditions.
Village-Wise Data: The survey collected detailed information on each of the 126 Kuki villages, including the below selected 10 villages which are tabulated as per British colonial era record data of 1911 survey and the British colonial era record, (Imperial Gazetter of India 1911 & Bengal District Gazetter: The Bakarganj District Statistics, 1911-1912 to 1920-1921)._
Sl.No - Name of Village - Community - Population Economy - Social Orgn.
Remarks.
1 Saitu - Kuki/ Haokip - 1,200 - Agriculture - Clan based,
2 Saikul - Kuki - 1,500 Agriculture - Village Council,
3 Kangpokpi - Kuki - 2,000 Trade & Commerce - Village Council,
4 Motbung - Kuki/Sitlhou - 1,000 - Agriculture - Clan based,
5 Taphou - Kuki - 800 Agriculture - Village Council,
6 Lamdan - Kuki - 1,200 - Agriculture - Clan based,
7 Nungba - Kabui/Rongmei - 1,500 - Agriculture - Village Council Village,
8 Tongjei - Kuki/Khongjai - 1,000 - Agriculture - Clan based,
9 Phaijol - Kuki - 800 Agriculture - Village Council,
10 Chalwa - Kuki - 1,200 Agriculture - Clan based.
CHART: Colonial Kuki Village Survey 1911 in Sadar Hills - Data of 10 selected villages out of 126 villages.
Recommendations: The survey 1911 made several recommendations to the British colonial authorities, including:
i) Provision of education and healthcare facilities in the Kuki villages.
ii) Support for agricultural development and livelihoods.
iii) Establishment of village councils to improve governance and administration.
iv) Promotion of trade and commerce in the region.
The overall Kuki Village Survey of 1911 provided valuable information on the Kuki people and their way of life, and helped to inform British colonial policy in the region.
Kuki Chiefs Council Memorandum to Colonial British Officer 1917
When the colonial British government required Labour Corps to go to France as porters and for various logistic works in Mesopotamia, 2,000 Labour Corps were demanded from Manipur, which the Kuki Chiefs flatly objected. The first meeting of Kuki Chief leaders under Pu Ngulkhup, Chief of Mombi (Lonpi) and Pu Ngulbul, Chief of Longya, and the colonial British officials under the guidance of Lt. Col. H.W.G Cole was held at Oktan, 20.4 kms away from Tamenglong, on the 9 October 1917.
The Kuki Chiefs citing their traditional way of life and reluctance to work abroad, submitted their grievance memo points which is briefly reproduced as below:
i) Forced Labour: That Kuki Chiefs shall not go to France and Mesopotamia as labour corps, whatsover it may be.
ii) Land and Governance: That the colonial British authority must respect Kukis system of governance and land ownership.
iii) Cultural Identity: That the distinct Kuki culture and traditions should be respected and preserved.
Kuki- British War or Kuki Rising 1917-1919
As the demands of the Kuki Chiefs to the colonial British authority was not accepted by the colonial British authorities, and that of the demand for supplying corps to the Kukis was not fullfilled, the war between the two broke out on the 17th October 1917 at Lonpi, where the British burnt down Lonpi village. The war between the two went on continuosly till the 8th of December 1919. During this 3 years running war, the colonial British exchequer spent Rs. 28 lakhs (2.8 millions) to suppress the warrior Kuki tribes, the amount which is said to be more than the money spent to suppress the 1857 Indian Revolt or Sepoy Mutiny.This war between the Kukis and the British is recorded as Kuki Rising by the British, and as Kuki Rebellion by Indian Historians, and as Anglo-Kuki War 1917-1919 by the Kukis who fought the war to defend their freedom and liberty.
Rewards and Punishments from Colonial British Authority
Some of the tribal communities who willing went to France as labour corps for logistic works and as porters were favoured by the colonial British officials in the form of creating Tribal Hills as Naga Hills, Khasi-Garo-Jantia Hills, Lushai Hills and Chin Hills respectively. Here below is the chart of various tribal communities supplying Labour Corps to help the colonial British which is tabulated below:
SL.No - Community - Strength of Labour Corps - Rewards & Punishments - Remarks :
1. Naga - 3000 Labour corps - Creation of Naga Hills - NAGALAND,
2. Khasi, Garo, Jantia - 500 Labour Corps each - Creation of Khasi-Garo-Jantia Hills - MEGHALYA.
3. Lushai - 2100 Labour Corps - Creations of Lushai Hills - MIZORAM,'
4. Chin - 3500- Labour Corps - Creation of Chin Hills - CHIN STATE.
5. Southern Haokip - 500 Labour Corps - Revoked Haokip Reserved 1907 that was cancelled in 1934-35 in 1941-42 - Drawing of Haokip Reserved Map in 1941-42 which cannot be granted autonomy or separated with KUKI HILLS.
6. KUKI - Fought British for 3 years - CONCEALING of Khongjai Hills (1741- 42) later KUKI HILLS (1852-1949) - Colonial British Authorities purposely trifurcated Kuki Hills into 3 International boundaries as PUNISHMENT.
Concluding Monologue: The colonial British government patronised all the above stated Hills and created a sort of autonomy as rewards, which all later became UT/ States in Independent India, as recommended by the outgoing government who handover the administration to GoI. The Kukis inspite of joining the Indian National Army (INA) under Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose during 1942-1945, undergo the brunt of colonial British anger for more than a century of 108 years (1917-2025), enduring all sorts of hardships and subjugations. Analysing all the social and political upheavals, the Political solutions of the Kukis seem to be not in the hands of the Government of India, as GoI is not at all interested and keen on solving Kuki issue, which is within Indian constitution.
Sd/-
(SAMUEL T. ZOU),
General Secretary, WKZIC-GHQ.
Sd/-
(DR. TS HAOKIP) President, WKZIC-GHQ
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