After the Thadous recently declared to dissociate themselves from Kuki, three MLAs belonging to Hmar, Paite and Vaiphei tribes of Manipur denounce the ethnic nomenclature “Kuki-Zo” and its imposition on their tribes.
The three MLAs in their separate press statements issued on August 22 and 23 have asserted that they want their own tribes to be called by their correct names, instead of being associated only with the term “Kuki-Zo”.
The three MLAs from the Hmar, Paite, and Vaiphei tribes who issued the statements are Ngursanglur Sanate of Tipaimukh Assembly Constituency, Vungzagin Valte of Thanlon Assembly Constituency and Lallian Mang Khaute (Manipur’s former Director General of Police) of Churachandpur Assembly Constituecy.
Notably, the three MLAs belong to the seven MLAs of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of the 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs who have been demanding a “Separate Administration” from Manipur since May 12, 2023 when the violent conflict between the Kuki-Zomi militants and Meiteis that erupted on May 3, 2023 entered second week. Of the other three of the 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs two Kimneo Haokip Hangshing and Chinlunthang Zou belong to Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) while Haokholet Kipgen is an independent MLA.
Moreover, amidst the violent conflict the 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs and representatives of the “Zo” ethnic tribes belonging to the Kuki-Zomi-Mizo-Hmar community in Manipur in collaboration with the NGO Coordination Committee in Mizoram have agreed to come under one umbrella and formed “Zo United” during a gathering on September 6, 2023 in the hall of the Central Committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) in the southern portion of Aizawl City.
The newly formed common organisation for Kuki-Chin-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar tribes in Manipur called ‘Zo United’ had constituted its Cabinet at Center YMA Hall at Aizawl on September 20, 2023. The event was led by the Manipur cabinet minister Letpao Haokip and all other Kuki Zomi-Hmar’s MLAs and 48 delegates from the “Zo” descendants in Manipur.
The appointed Zo United committee members include MPC Consultant Alber Rentlei as Convenor; Zomi Council Chairman John K Ngaihte as Co-convenor; Kuki Inpi Manipur Chairman Ajang Khongsai as Co-convenor; Acting President Hmar Inpui Hrilla Hmar as Secretary; Helen Kipgen of COTU as Finance Secretary; all tribe presidents as executive members, and Chairman ITLF PaGin Haokip as information Secretary.
Now, the three MLAs from the Hmar, Paite, and Vaiphei tribes – Ngursanglur Sanate, Vungzagin Valte and LM Khaute in their separate statements said the term “Kuki-Zo” is not adequate to refer to their own tribes.
Ngursanglur Sanate who belongs to Hmar tribe, representing Tipaimukh Assembly Constituency, has made his stance clear through a press release issued on August 22, 2024.
“I hereby reaffirm my unwavering stand on the “Kuki-Zomi-Hmar” nomenclature. I remain committed to upholding the aspirations and dreams of my people. I would like to make solemn clarification that I have never endorsed, nor will I endorse any platform, organisation or statement that excludes the “HMAR” nomenclature, whether press statement, group declaration or on print, electronic or social media platforms,” Ngursanglur said in the release.
Ngursanglur’s statement is a direct response to the ongoing debate over the proper terminology to describe the various tribes in Manipur. He further expressed that his position and commitment remain unchanged and he will continue to advocate for the interests, dreams, and aspirations of all the communities within Pherzawl District.
Moreover, Vungzagin Valte who belongs to Paite tribe and representing Thanlon Assembly Constituency in a public statement issued on August 22, 2024 to address the community on an important matter concerning their identity and representation, has declared that he is a Paite.
Vungzagin Valte in the statement said, “After careful consideration and extensive consultation with leaders, elders, and members of our community, it has become to declare that I am from the Paite Scheduled Tribe belonging to the “Zomi” community.”
Vungzagin also maintained that “Zomi” is an accepted nomencalture as it reflects the true historical, cultural, and social identity of his people.
He stated that the recent usage of “Kuki-Zo” is perceived by many within his represented communities as non-inclusive and aasimilative and does not do justice to the rich and unique identities the different tribes cherish.
Vungzagin Valte said that he is committed to upholding the integrity of the collective identity of his constituency, the Zomi, Kuki and Hmar communities while ensuring that every member of their community feels recognised, respected, and valued.
“It is my firm belief that any term that seeks to define our identity must be inclusive and reflective of our diverse backgrounds. Therefore, I cannot, in good conscience, accept and endorse any term that does not respect the individuality and dignity of all the groups that form the fabric of my constituency,” Vungzagin Valte said.
He urges all stakeholders to promote a term that truly unites all of the communities, honours the shared history and future aspirations; and continue to work towards peace, unity and progress.
Furthermore, Lallian Mang Khaute who belongs to Vaiphei tribe and Manipur’s former Director General of Police representing Churachandpur Assembly Constituency in his press statement issued on August 23, 2024 asserted that it has always been his endeavour to ensure usage of a suitable and appropriate terminology that encompasses all the relevant identities within their community.
He said that he has issued this press statement apropos to some press statements and media coverage wherein the term “Kuki-Zo” has often been used as the nomencalture for their community.
“I would like to re-affirm that the most suitable and inclusive term to describe our community in the media, social media and so on is “Kuki-Zomi-Hmar,” LM Khaute said.
LM Khaute said that the term “Kuki-Zomi-Hmar” has consistently been used in previous press statements issued in the name of the Ten MLAs from their community and that he cannot accept anything that excludes “Zomi” and any other term that describes their identity.
Now, it is very clear that the three MLAs from Hmar, Paite and Vaiphei tribes have disowned the use of the nomenclature “Kuki-Zo”, which is widely and popularly used in various press statements, social media posts; print and electronic media coverage, on them.
It may be mentioned that the Thadou Community International (TCI) in an open letter on August 8, 2024 has urged Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren and the people of Manipur including individuals, elected members, organisations, the media and the government to stop calling the Thadous by any other name (Kuki) but to refer to them only as Thadou. The TCI also urges other Zo/Mizo tribes that they should be called by their proper names individually and Zo/Mizo collectively.
The TCI was formed on August 3, 2023 under the aegis of Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) which has been asserting Thadou identity disowning Kuki for many years.
Disowning Kuki, the TCI, in a release on August 4, also said the Kuki community was created fraudulently and listed as a Scheduled Tribe of Manipur in 2003. “Thadou is not Kuki but a distinct tribe. The fake Kuki tribe was fraudulently created and listed as a separate tribe in the list of scheduled tribes of Manipur in 2003 with a population of 28,342 as per the 2011 Manipur census under the name ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ for their own personal wealth creation and political control. We support the proposition that this AKT needs to be deleted before it is too late to secure the collective interests of all the Indigenous/native people of Manipur, including the original 29 scheduled tribes under the 1956 Orders,” the TCI said.
The TCI underlined that Manipur is a multiethnic society and home to various communities such as Meiteis, Pangals (Manipuri Muslims), and the original 29 linguistic and cultural tribes of Manipur. The 29 tribes listed in the Scheduled Tribes Lists Modification Order, 1956 are Aimol, Anal, Angami, Chiru, Chothe, Gangte, Hmar, Kabui (Rongmei), Kacha Naga, Khoirao, Koireng, Kom, Lamgang, Any Mizo (Lushai), Maram, Maring, Mao, Monsang, Moyon, Paite, Purum, Ralte, Sema, Simte, Suhte, Tangkhul, Thadou, Vaiphei, and Zou.
Additionally, Manipur BJP spokesperson T Michael Lamjathang Haokip, who is from the Thadou tribe, in a post on X said the three Hmar, Paite, and Vaiphei MLAs’ statements “have explicitly stated they are not Kuki, raising questions about the true identity of Kuki.”
“… The remaining 7 MLAs should adhere to their tribe identities to reach a common consensus. The individual statements of the 3 MLAs signify their rejection of Kuki supremacists…,” he urges.
On the other hand, Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren on the last day of the 6th Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly during the discussion and voting on demands for grants on August 12 said “violence was perpetrated by some, not all, people.”
Referring to the August 1 peace meeting at Silchar between Meitei and the Hmar tribe representatives and Thadou Students’ Association, where they agreed to work for normalcy nearly two months after violent conflict reached Jiribam district bordering Assam on June 6, 2024, Chief Minister Biren said, “Not every Thadou, Paite, Hmar had a hand in the violence. You have seen, Hmar people spoke so well (in the peace meeting), we had tears, they too had tears; that all this happened due to misunderstandings.”
Significantly, Hmar people of Jiribam who fled to Cachar district of Assam due to violence in the district some months back have started returning to their respective homes and leading normal life on August 21.
Nevertheless, while the Thadous dissociate themselves from Kuki the three MLAs belonging to Hmar, Paite and Vaiphei tribes disown “Kuki-Zo”. And amidst the violent conflcit that has continued for 16 months ethnic cauldron continues within the “Kuki-Zo”.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
