CorCom salutes heroes of Kuki Rebellion
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 18 2015 : The CorCom has saluted all the patriots and martyrs who fought valiantly against British colonialism, particularly those Kuki forefathers who took active roles in the Kuki Rebellion (1917-1919) .

A statement issued by CorCom media coordinator Ksh Yoiheiba on the anniversary of the Kuki Rebellion (December 19) remarked that the Kuki Rebellion was the first armed rebellion seen in Manipur against British imperialism after the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891 .

British imperialists occupied Manipur after the Anglo-Manipur War in 1891.Soon after, they started enforcing their infamous policy of divide and rule by setting up two separate administrations for the hills and the valley.

At the outbreak of the first World War in 1904, the British rulers forcibly collected Rs one lakh from the people of Manipur in the name of war fund.

Again, Rs 1,34,000 was collected from the impoverished mass.

They (British rulers) also tried to send a large number of Kukis to battlefields in France to work as porters and trench diggers.

After 2000 Manipuri people, mostly hill people, were sent to war fronts in France in 1819, the then Political Agent Mr Higgins issued an order for setting up a labour corps by recruiting Kuki and other hill people.

The labour corps was supposed to be sent to Egypt.

The order was opposed by most Kuki leaders.

Among the Kuki leaders who were mobilizing people for a revolt against the British rulers was one Chingakham Sanajaoba.

The revolt soon spread to Jampi, Henglep, Mombi and Chassad and fierce battles were fought with British soldiers at these places.

Some key leaders of these rebellion are Tintong Haokip of Laijang village, Chengjapao Doungel of Aaisan village, Pache Haokip of Chassad, Ngulkhup Haokip of Mombi village and Khothinthang Sitlhou of Jampi.

For almost three years, a series of battles was fought against British soldiers but the rebellion was ultimately suppressed on account of inferior and inadequate weapons and shortage of food supply.

Most of the leaders of rebellion including Sanajaoba were arrested and they were imprisoned in the jails of Imphal, Kohima and Assam.

Some of them were sent to cellular jails in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The rebellion was not an ordinary revolt against involuntary recruitment and forced labour.

It was a direct challenge to the very idea and foundation of imperialism.

It is a source of inspiration to the future generations to fight against all forms of imperialism, said CorCom.

Although the rebellion was suppressed, it paved the way for both the hill people and valley people to wage a collective struggle against imperialism and its varied repressive measures, added the statement.

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