Kuki Students’ Organisation Delhi & NCR Organises National Conference on ‘Rethinking Our Identity: Past and Present’

The Kuki Students’ Organisation Delhi & NCR successfully organised a two-day national conference on April 25 and 26, 2025, at H.K.S. Surjeet Bhavan Auditorium, New Delhi.

The conference, themed “Rethinking Our Identity: Past and Present,” aimed to critically examine issues surrounding identity, history, and the contemporary challenges faced by the Kuki-Zo community.

In his presidential address, President of KSO Delhi & NCR, Paojakhup Guite, reflected on the purpose of the conference.

Paojakhup clarified that the intention was not merely to debate nomenclature but to address the misinformation propagated by the Meitei community regarding Kuki identity.

The KSO president highlighted the role of media in shaping narratives and stressed the need to educate the younger generation—particularly those living in metropolitan cities—so they remain rooted in their heritage.

The chief guest of the conference, W.L. Hangsing, emphasized the importance of maintaining resistance and patience amidst ongoing political struggles, warning against divisions that could be exploited by outsiders.

Following the formal session, the audience enjoyed vibrant music and cultural displays showcasing the rich traditions and heritage of the Kuki-Zo people.

The plenary session of the first day, themed “Ancestry, Language, and Identity: A Multidimensional Approach,” featured a keynote address by Dr. Thongkholal Haokip.

Professor Jangkhongam Doungel discussed the common ancestry and shared bonds among the Zo (Chin-Kuki-Mizo) ethnic group, emphasizing their inseparable ties despite colonial divisions.

Professor Pauthang Haokip highlighted that most ethnic groups in the region, including the Nagas and Meiteis, belong to the Tibeto-Burman language family, advocating for a scientific understanding of these relationships.

Dr. Lianboi Vaiphei explored global indigenous narratives and their relevance to Manipur, while Professor Jangkhokai Guite reexamined historical myths and documentation regarding the Kukis.

The second day featured three technical sessions, each delving into different dimensions of the Kuki-Zo experience.

The first technical session, under the theme “Sustainability, Faith, Human Rights, and Crisis Management from Conflict Zones,” included presentations by Reverend Dr. Paul Paolen Haokip, Advocate Vishwajit Singh, and Dr. Hatchingthem Haokip, who discussed Christian faith amidst conflict, legal challenges faced by the community, and resilience among women survivors, respectively.

The second session focused on “The Politics of Identity and Autonomy: Nationalism, Land Disputes, and State Influence.”

Dr. Thongkholal Haokip addressed myths surrounding demographic changes in Manipur. Dr. Thomas Haokam Vaiphei analyzed the consolidation of Kuki identity through populism, while Paominlien Haokip discussed land politics as a tool of power and propaganda.

The third session, themed “Margins in Crisis: Narratives of Oppression and Resilience Among Manipur’s Indigenous Communities,” highlighted issues related to health, education, and social survival.

Speakers included Dr. Nem Thian Ngai Guite on public health crises, C. Thangminlal Doungel on educational oppression, Ngahneithem Haokip on literary resilience, and S. Seigoulen Haokip on youth aspirations in conflict zones.

The conference concluded with a plenary session titled “Contours of Identity, Knowledge, and Resistance: Rethinking the Chin-Kuki-Mizo Experience.” Prof. Jangkhongam Doungel spoke on political transitions within the Zo ethnic group.

Dr. Lalsanglen Haokip examined colonial knowledge systems and their influence on Manipur’s conflicts, and Professor Jangkhomang Guite explored post-colonial identity formation.

The event culminated in a closing ceremony graced by dignitaries such as Faggan Singh Kulaste, MP (Lok Sabha), Christopher Doungel, DGP (Prisons), Benjamin Mate, Chairperson of KOHUR, and Marlyn Haokip, Convenor of the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum Delhi—marking a significant step forward in fostering community dialogue, unity, and cultural pride.