"Claim of Churachandpur as their ancestral land not acceptable"
- 07 August 2023 :: World Meetei Council
*
Manipur is an ancient land where Meetei and Naga are the two aboriginal/indigenous people. ChinKuki migrated from Chin state and Sagaing division of Myanmar. Their first arrival was in 18th century though in small number as records say. Then few more during King Narasingh Maharaj reign in 19th century.
After the British took over Manipur in 1891, they put the Chinkuki also known as Khongjai, in surrounding foothill areas of the Manipur valley, which they named as Selected Area Development Administrative Region (SADAR) to fend off attacks from the Naga tribes. Till 1968 the Manipur govt had arranged for the settlement of Chinkuki@Kuki refugees from Burma.
Today the ITLF (Indigenous Tribal Leaders Federation), a Chinkuki organisation - claim as INDIGENOUS but immigrants cannot be indigenous - is found to make some demand to the government of India to legalize the burial site etc. What is not acceptable is their claim of Churachandpur as their ancestral land.
The fact is, it was only in early 1920s that the migrant Chinkukis were allowed to settle in Yelang by the King Churachand Maharaj of Manipur amongst the Naga tribes and the Meeteis who were there long before they arrived. And consequently, the king changed the name of the place taking his own name from YELANG to CHURACHANDPUR to mark his generosity to the refugees.
The ITLF can claim their ancestral land in Myanmar but not in India and particularly not in Manipur. Manipur had given them a place to live peacefully and not to create problems. Indeed, the immigrant Chinkukis should learn to be grateful.
Finally, WMC appeal the Chinkuki people especially the Hon'ble MLAs and also ITLF etc to take back their demand for Separate Administration . Manipur belongs to its people who respect the law of the land and live peacefully. Immigrant community cannot create a homeland out of Manipur.
Yambem Arun Meetei
Secretary General,
CEC - World Meetei Council
* This info was provided by World Meetei Council and can be contacted at worldmeeteicouncil(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This article was posted on August 08 2023 .
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