ZUCM backs ZU and ZB rejection of Kabui as separate entity
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 09 2023:
Zeliangrong United Committee, Manipur Valley (ZUCM) has welcomed the statement of Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) and Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) rebutting the narratives of Kabui as a separate entity having no ethnic linkage to Zeliangrong and Naga group.
In a release, ZUCM general secretary Rubi Kamson clarified to the people that the nomenclature of Kabui and Rongmei is a single ethnic entity and further appealed to all the right thinking individuals and organisations/associations, bearing the name of the above stated tribe, not to create unwanted confusion over the said matter in the larger interest of the Kabui-Rongmei tribe which can be used interchangeably.
He recalled that the modern organisational formation can be traced to the establishment of Agangmei Movement in the year 1925 with PG Chikhong as secretary.
In 1927 it was changed to Kabui Chingshang and was renamed as Kabui Samity on March 7, 1934 in a general meeting attended by Zemei, Liangmei, Rongmei and Puimei held at Tamenglong represented by 126 villages i.e 77 from the hills and 49 from the valley.
The name Kabui Samity was changed into Kabui Naga Association in 1946.Following the formation of Zeliangrong Council on February 15, 1947 at Keishamthong in order to encompass the whole cognate tribes of Kabui (Rongmei & Inpui) and Kacha Naga (Zemei & Liangmei), the nomenclature of the Kabui Naga Association was changed as the Manipur Zeliangrong Union on December 14, 1947 at Dailong village.
Further, Manipur Zeliangrong Union was re-christened as Zeliangrong Naga Union in the 11th general meeting held at Joute Pabram village on the February 25 and 26, 1960 so as to cover the entire Zeliangrong people of Manipur, Assam and Nagaland, it continued.
The separate identity assertion arises due to the recognition of Zeliangrong tribe into six separate tribes namely Zeme, Liangmai, Rongmei, Kabui, Inpui and Kacha Naga in the state which creates unnecessary confusion among the general public, the re lease reasoned, while adding that in order to clear the air of confusion with regard to the recognition of Kabui and Rongmei as separate tribes, a Kabui-Rongmei consultative meeting was held on August 10, 2013 at Majorkhul community hall, Imphal wherein it was resolved that Kabui-Rongmei is a single tribe though recognised as two separate nomenclatures.
However, taking advantage of this, some individuals are trying to depict Kabui - Rongmei as two separate distinct tribes which further confused the general public, it contended.