Inpui tribe rubbishes WKZIC's genealogical claim
Source: The Sangai Express / Ukhrul Times

Ukhrul, July 08 2025: The Inpui community has strongly refuted claims made by the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) in a press communique titled "Blood is Thicker Than Water", dated July 4, 2025 .

The WKZIC, in the document, had presented what it called a 'Kuki-Chin Genealogical Tree', listing the Inpui tribe as one of their "blood brothers" and asserting that the Inpuis were socially divided in the prehistoric era due to "tribal internecine clan wars" .

In a firm response the All Inpui Students' Union (AISU), Inpui Naga Women's Union (INWU) and Inpui Naga Youth Organisation (INYO), categorically rejected the statement, labelling it as "baseless, fabricated, and historically unfounded" .

"We categorically reject this statement as baseless, fabricated, and historically unfounded.

In fact, most of the statements made by WKZIC, including their responses to press releases issued by the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee, are riddled with falsehoods and deliberate distortions of history.

In their desperate pursuit of land security in Manipur, they have resorted to unashamed lies and fabricated narratives.

Despite knowing their refugee origins, the Kuki-Zo group continues to assert themselves as an indigenous people.

Although they arrived in Manipur only around 100 to 200 years ago - granted settlement by the Nagas purely on humanitarian grounds - they now shamelessly claim Naga ancestral land as their homeland.

To justify their claims, they have gone as far as erecting commemorative stones backdated to suggest ancient settlements, with no historical basis or logic.

"One example of their incoherent and contradictory claims was in a meeting on 12 June 2025 at Khunkhu, a Liangmei village, when representatives from Leilon Vaiphei and SAHILCA, in the presence of the UNC Working Committee, Joint Tribe Council, Liangmei Naga Council, Inpui Naga Union, and Naga Women's Union, admitted that a certain piece of land belonged to Khonsakhul.

However, they added that the Khonsakhul people could cultivate the land but not construct houses on it.

This statement defies logic: if the land belongs to Khonsakhul, what justifies restricting them from fully utilizing their land? Even more disturbing is the fact that approximately 400 Kukis violently assaulted the village Chief, Authority Chairman, Pastor, and other members of Khonsakhul while they were working on their land.

Such actions expose the hollowness of the Kukis' moral and historical credibility.

While we do not wish to lower ourselves to respond to every falsehood they spread, the continuous publication of these distorted narratives compels us to issue this rebuttal.

The Inpui tribe rebuttal issued on July 7, 2025 said; "The Inpui tribe, formerly known as Kabui, has a well-documented history rooted in Makhel, Senapati, where we lived as part of the Tenyimi brotherhood - alongside Angami, Chakhesang, Rengma, Pochury, Mao, Paomei, Thangal, Maram, Zeme, Liangmei, and Rongmei.

From Makhel, groups such as the Thangal, Maram, Inpui, Zeme, Liangmei, and Rongmei migrated southwards and settled at Makuilongdi, where they were collectively called "Hamei." From there, they dispersed into different regions, eventually forming distinct dialects and subtribes.

"Originally, the Inpui were known as Kabui.

During migration, some Kabui and Rongmei groups travelled as far as the Lushai Hills.

It was there that the Kabui dialect evolved, incorporating some Lushai words.

The term "Kabuimei" (people who followed the trail of mithuns) was used by Rongmeis, which later became "Kapuimei" .

Eventually, the Rongmeis began referring to them as "puimei," Over time, a section of the Rongmei also began to identify themselves as Kabui, leading to an identity conflict for the minority group of original Kabui.

To resolve this issue and preserve our distinct identity, we adopted a new nomenclature- Inpui.

We were officially recognized as a separate tribe under the name Inpui in the year 2012 .

Cultural and Ethnic Distinction

Despite the few Lushai words found in the Inpui dialect, there exists no cultural, ethnic, historical, or social similarity between the Inpui and the Kuki-Zo .

We do not share beliefs, myths, legends, kinship structures, or traditions.

As Kabui, our presence in Manipur dates back to the BC era.

Our village, Kabuikhullen, has historical records tracing its existence as early as 7000 BC .

How then can the Kuki-Zo people- who migrated to Manipur in the 19th century as refugees driven out of the Chin and Lushai Hills by the Shukte Poi and Lushei tribes - claim us as blood relatives? How can they include Inpui (Kabui) in a genealogical tree, when the very name "Inpui" came into use only in the early 21st century? .

Comment