The Chieftaindom of Kukis, a customary practice that has ruined Manipur

Ningthoujam Nilachandra *

The Chieftaindom, self governing their territories, a customary practice of the Kuki tribe was in force till 1903 in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh during British period. But knowing the evils of Chieftaindom which gave absolute authority of the land and people to the Chiefs was revoked by the British in 1903.

After the British Govt, came East Pakistan and then Bangladesh and these Governments also rejected "Chieftaindom".

The Kukis mostly Christians living in Myanmar and Bangladesh have been facing discrimination from the majority Buddhist in Myanmar and Muslims in Bangladesh due to their demand of Chieftaindom. So, they migrated to India (Manipur and Mizoram). They found Manipur to be the Heaven on Earth as there is no restriction to their influx.

In 1970s, one Kuki village named "Sareikhong" near Litan in Ukhrul District sought recognition of the Govt. of Manipur.

But objection came from a nearby Tangkhul Village named "Sikibung" Tangkhul claiming that the said Kuki village is within the boundary of Sikibung Tangkhul and also complained that the Chief of Sareikhong Kuki village is a Burmese Kuki and a case dragged on for about 20 years. The village recognition case failed. But there was no case of deportation as such the Kukis remained settled in the area.

In 1970 this writer was posted at Litan as a Section Officer under Litan Sub-Divison PWD Manipur. Learned Shri Irom Lalit, Advocate Chingamakha Imphal-East was the Counsel of Sikibung Tangkhul in 1990s.

But to my surprise, I found some of the Sareikhong Kukis have settled at Baruni Ching Imphal East District in 1980s. They said that they have established a Kuki Village at Nongmaiching Baruni Hill. Here, no objection came from the Meiteis.

In Manipur, they are considered as hill people like the Nagas by the Meiteis and their settlement anywhere in Hill and plain as Constitutionally legitimate. So long, the Meiteis and the Nagas were unware of the evil of Chieftaindom practice of the Kukis which is the main cause of expansionism of their land and opening of a number of new villages.

The Kuki Chiefs are making themselves landlords in many ways as they are the sole authority of the land, people and the natural resources. One of the most important part of the customary practice of Chieftaindom is that the Chiefs can influence political affairs.

In short, the Chiefs can choose the candidate in times of any election by the unfair means of one man voting. Thus, the Congress and the BJP always tried to appease the Chiefs.

However, in 1956 the Government of India passed the Village Authority Act 1956. According to this Act, village authority election should be held with effect from 1957, as such the powers of village Chiefs should be abolished from 1957.

For the Nagas, village Authority Election has been held and Chieftainship abolished. But the Kuki Tribes never held village Authority election till date. The Kuki Chiefs have absolute power over the land and people as such their Chieftaindom is expanding like "THE BIG-BANG THEORY". Some Kuki Chiefs are having several villages under him.

If we are successful to hold village Authority election to the Kuki villages to replace the "Chieftaindom", the freedom of common Kuki villagers from the yoke of the Kuki Chiefs can be attained thereby ownership of the land they belong to will be entitled to them.

Thus the crisis now, burning in Manipur will be subsided in near future as the common Kuki village will get their due share of properties (land and house). They will stick to small family norms as the Nagas and the Meeteis did. Horticulture and Agriculture product will increase manifold. Manipur will become one family comprising of Nagas, Kukis and Meiteis.

I, therefore, do appeal in earnest to all concerned to do the needful to elect village authorities to all the Kuki villages also.