Maheshwar objects entry date of Kukis into Manipur
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 16 2023: Political activist Maheshwar Thounaojam has lodged a complaint to education minister Th Basantakumar over mentioning of Kukis residing in Manipur since pre-historic times in the Class XI text book 'History of Manipur' prescribed by the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur.

Maheshwar conveyed that the education minister assured to investigate into the matter in a day or two as the information is wrong.

Speaking to media persons at Keishampat after meeting the education minister, Maheshwar pointed out that the information incorporated in page 9 of the book under the topic The Kukis' is baseless and could mislead the students.

He further urged authors of the book Dr M Kaoba and BS Sharma to clarify how the Kukis could reside in Manipur before 33 AD .

In page number 45 of the book Manipur and Naga Hills' penned by British Major General Sir James Johnstone, who stayed in Manipur, it is clearly stated that Kukis came to Manipur in between 1830 to 1840, Maheshwar pointed out.

Though Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that there was no Anglo-Kuki war 1917-1919, it is unfortunate that tales about history of the concocted war has been included in the syllabus of MA 'History in Delhi University.

The inclusion of the book penned by Kuki writers Jangkhomang Guite and Thongkholal Haokip in the syllabus of a reputed university shows the persistent attempts to distort history of Manipur from different fronts, he contended.

Initiative will be taken up to ban the baseless book and a complaint will also be raised to Delhi University, Maheshwar said, while confiding that assurance has been given by the government to soon ban the class 11 history book with distorted contents on Kukis" .

He told reporters, "A portion in the book claims that some Kuki tribes had migrated in pre-historic times.

This has no historical basis and any references".

Claiming that minister Th Basanta has assured him to ban the book, Meheshwar said, "The word Kukis were first heard in the state between 1830 and 1840 according to former Manipur-based British officer Major James Johnstone in his 1896 book Manipur and Naga Hills" .

"The false claims in the book will misinform the students.

It should be banned," he asserted.

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