Thadou Convention 2024 : Declarations (amended)
- November 2, 2024 :: Thadou Community International -

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Thadou Convention 2024 at Guwahati from November 1-2, 2024

THADOU CONVENTION 2024 – Guwahati
“Unyielding Furtherance - Affirming Thadou Identity & Distinctiveness”

DECLARATIONS
Friday, the 1st November, 2024

THADOU CONVENTION 2024, participated by Thadou leaders and delegates representing the voice and interest of the Thadou community, reaffirm our collective identity and resolve to preserve and protect our God-given distinct Thadou identity and unique heritage, and unanimously and solemnly declare:

1. That, Thadou is a distinct ethnic group of people, with our own distinct language, culture, traditions and great history. Thadou is not Kuki, or underneath Kuki, or part of Kuki, but a separate, independent entity from Kuki.

2. That, Thadou is one of the original 29 Native/Indigenous tribes of Manipur, India, that were all simultaneously and duly recognised as independent Scheduled Tribes of Manipur under the 1956 Presidential Order, Government of India. Thadous have always been known and recorded as Thadou, without any prefix or suffix to it, and it has been the single largest tribe in Manipur consistently since the first census of India in 1881 till the latest census in 2011 that recorded Thadou population at 2,15,913. Any Kuki Tribes (AKT) had a population of 28,342 in the latest Manipur census in 2011, the first time Kuki was ever recorded in a census.

3. That, we reject and condemn all colonial and post-colonial connotations and writings that gave rise to misidentification of Thadou as Kuki and continued imposition of Kuki on Thadou. Today, there is no Kuki other than the ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ (AKT), the fake Kuki tribe (designed for any people from anywhere in the world) that came into being fraudulently in 2003 for political reasons. As such, the AKT must be removed from the Scheduled Tribes list of Manipur posthaste in the larger interest of the Indian nation and of the Indigenous/Native tribes and people. Removal of AKT will do great justice and right the wrong, and is critical to solving or preventing related problems now and in the future.

4. That, we reject and disown the term ‘Kuki’, coined by the colonial rulers, supposedly known as a conglomerate of several constituent tribes, without which it is non-existent and irrelevant. The term has never been accepted by any of the other kindred tribes (Aimol, Gangte, Hmar, Kom, Mizo, Paite, Simte, Vaiphei, Zou etc). Thus, any attempt to conflate or confuse Thadou identity with Kuki will be construed as imposition of Kuki upon Thadou with divisive and malicious intentions and it will never be acceptable to Thadou people.

5. That, any organisation that incorporates the name “Thadou” but espouses Kuki and mis-portrays Thadou as Kuki, or Thadou-Kuki, or part of Kuki, is illegitimate and does not represent Thadou people and Thadou interest. We denounce and condemn outright all forms of cultural appropriation, theft and misrepresentation of Thadou identity such as Thadou language, cultural attires, dances, literature, history as Kuki. Kuki is not the name of a tribe, language or specific group of people and has no cultural attire or dance.

6. That, we pay respect to Thadou elders, leaders, champions and heroes, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge their contributions to the rich cultural tapestry of the land on which we live and the surrounding regions and honour their legacy. We pledge to preserve and protect Thadou identity, values, language, costumes and traditions, ensuring their seamless transmission to future generations.

7. That, we denounce and condemn the historical and ongoing escalating Kuki supremacy and Kuki supremacist agenda, policies, human rights violation, all kinds of anti-Thadou propaganda, disinformation, indoctrination, hate speech and organised annihilation campaigns and crimes perpetrated against Thadou since the 1970s, by Kuki supremacist individuals and groups, including Kuki armed militant groups, politicians and Kuki civil society organisations, including all kinds and acts of rampant and widespread persecution, terror activities, atrocities, oppression/suppression, intimidation, coercive control, bullying, violence, abuse; and we call for an end to this.

8. That, we call upon all, including government authorities, media, civil societies, academics, all other communities and international organisations, to correctly and respectfully identify Thadou as Thadou, with no prefix or suffix to it, to stop imposition of Kuki or referring to Thadous as Kuki, and to make the needed rectifications.

9. That, we encourage and implore Thadou community across the globe to be united and to remain steadfast and resilient in our quest for humanity, respect, freedom/liberation, justice, equality, development, and we extend our hands for peaceful, respectful living with all communities as we assert our rights to our identity, self-determination and political aspirations as a people, seeking equitable representation and participation in governance and the society.

10. That, we fervently call for peace in Manipur and hope for a future defined by peace, justice, non-violent resolutions, and respect for each other’s rights. We honour the memory of all those who have fallen victim to the tragic violence in Manipur since May 3, 2023, of which Thadous are the most affected yet, silenced victims, due to mistaken identity or getting caught up in the violence, and extend our deepest empathy to the survivors of the violence and their families.

This historic declaration, in response to the long-standing profound need and popular demand of Thadou people across the globe and in fulfilment of the principles, vision, aim and object of our forefathers and of the Thadou Conclave Declaration - 2015 and Thadou Inpi Constitution, reaffirms our unwavering commitment to preserving and protecting Thadou heritage and unity, and to secure the best interests and aspirations of Thadou people, now and the future. We implore all to recognise and respect our rights, dignity, heritage and this declaration, which sets a great milestone in the history of Thadou people.

Adopted by Thadou Convention 2024 on November 1, 2024 at Guwahati – jointly organised by the Thadou Community International (TCI) & Thadou Students’ Association (TSA).

Signed by:
Nehkholal Haokip
Chairman, TCGOC, 2024

Mangminlal Sitlhou
Secretary, TCGOC, 2024

Len Sitlhou
Moderator, TCGOC, 2024

Michael Lamjathang Haokip
President, TSA GHQ

Thangminlun Haokip
Secretary General, TSA GHQ

Mangchungnung Sitlhou
Recording Secy., TCGOC 2024

Kapchungnung Tado
Convenor, TCI

Chongboi Haokip
Convenor, TCI