Manipur Government’s Silence on Anglo-Kuki War Exposes Deep-Seated Complicity in Kuki Marginalization : KSO

In a scathing statement, the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) has condemned the Manipur government’s ongoing refusal to officially commemorate the Anglo-Kuki War (1917-1919), accusing the Meitei-led administration of systematically erasing Kuki history. The KSO expressed outrage at the government’s failure to declare a public holiday on October 17 to honor the anniversary of the historic anti-colonial uprising, labeling the silence as part of a deliberate attempt to suppress the identity and heritage of the Kuki people.

The KSO pointed out that the state had only once, in 2019, reluctantly acknowledged "Kuki Rising Day" as a restricted holiday after decades of appeals. However, the government has since abandoned this recognition, which the KSO attributes to pressure from dominant Meitei groups. The organization called this silence a “revelation” of the state’s complicity in marginalizing the Kuki people, portraying the government’s actions as a concerted effort to erase the contributions of the Kuki community to the region's anti-colonial history.

The Anglo-Kuki War, the statement said, was a pivotal event not only for the Kuki people but also for the history of Manipur, involving “the largest military operations conducted in this part of India” according to historical records. The KSO criticized the Manipur government for refusing to acknowledge these facts, likening the situation to an Orwellian agenda that seeks to “obliterate” Kuki history while elevating Meitei narratives.

“Can there be integrity when your history is attacked, omitted, and obliterated?” the KSO asked, accusing the government of pursuing a false sense of unity that disregards the emotional and historical integrity of the tribal people. The Kuki community, they said, is being forced to accept Meitei history as their own while their own past is systematically erased.

The KSO's statement went further, endorsing the demand for a Separate Administration for the Kuki people, citing the government's failure to respect their culture and identity. They declared that the Anglo-Kuki War would forever remain a central part of their history, regardless of state recognition.

In a powerful closing statement, the KSO warned that "TRUTH will always prevail," emphasizing that the ongoing erasure of Kuki history by what they termed "habitual deceivers" would not succeed in silencing their people. They urged the broader Indian public to recognize the contributions of the Kuki people, who had supported India's freedom struggle without demanding anything in return, only to face continued marginalization today.