'Anglo-Kuki War' is academic bunkum : KCP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 13 2023: The proscribed KCP has asserted that the term "Anglo-Kuki War" is a serious academic fabrication of recent origin intended to lend some legitimacy to the unscrupulous designs of certain divisive communal forces and narco-terrorist elements operating in Kangleipak.

These narco-terrorist elements and divisive communal forces have hired and deployed some pseudo-intellectuals to manufacture false historical narratives vis-a-vis Kangleipak in general and the Kuki-Zo community in particular.

The historically baseless narrative of the so-called Anglo-Kuki War 1917-1919 is a glaring example of how these pseudo-intellectuals have sought to plant counterfactual elements in the globally revered recorded history of Kangleipak, it asserted .

A statement issued by KCP Information and Public Relations Department Deputy Secretary M Punsiba Meitei informed that the outfit did a comprehensive research into the history of the so-called Anglo-Kuki War 1917-19 under the direct supervision of its Politburo Standing Committee Chairman Ibungo Ngangom. The comprehensive research found that there is no mention at all of anything called "Anglo-Kuki War" anywhere in the records of the UK National Archives.

However, in an abstract from "the proceedings of the Chief Commissioner of Assam," 1920, ref.

Mss Eur E325113, held by British Library: Asian and African Studies, the term "Kuki Rising" is mentioned and only briefly described.

The online presence of the term "Anglo-Kuki War" can be traced only back to 16 August 2017, on which an article in Scroll.in first mentioned about the term in question.

So it can be safely concluded that "Anglo-Kuki War" is a freshly minted term arising out of the need for the Kuki-Zo community to invent a historical excuse for grabbing the land of other communities rather than any reliable academic research, it said.

The first-ever book dealing with the theme of the so-called Anglo-Kuki War 1917-1919 was published by Taylor and Francis only on 31 August 2018 under the title of "The Anglo-Kuki War 1917-1919: A Frontier Uprising Against Imperialism During the First World War," edited by Jangkhomang Guite and Thongkhomang Haokip.

On 1 January 2013, a book entitled "Anglo-Kuki Relationship from 1849 to 1937 and Other Essays," written by late biographer Thangkhomang S Gangte and edited by Priyadarshni M Gangte, both Kuki scholars, was published by Ruby Press & Co.

Interestingly, the so-called Anglo-Kuki War is referred to as "Kuki Rebellion" in this book, the outfit pointed out.

Considering the real and present threats posed by the narco-terrorist elements flourishing particularly in the Kuki dominated hills of Kangleipak under the patronage of certain politically powerful individuals of dubious origin, the party (KCP) said it has already taken a resolute stand to respond to these threats in the most befitting manner.

Since the party also views the non-regulated narcotics trade as a severe form of crime against humanity, it is also determined to deal with it with an iron hand, irrespective of community, religion, caste, sex, etc.

that those involved may belong to, it conveyed.

The party has conducted a basic military training programme for a Special Tactical Militia Unit, which was recently conceptualized and established with the central idea of promoting and imparting particularly defensive military tactics and discipline to as many compatriots of Kangleipak.

This batch of the Special Tactical Militia Unit, called the Sigma Batch are expected to be able from now onwards to discharge their responsibilities towards the defence of the territorial sanctity and integrity of Kangleipak.

During the passing-out ceremony of the Sigma Batch of the Special Tactical Militia Unit, which coincided with the Patriots Day of Kangleipak, all the cadets took the oath to defend the territorial sanctity and integrity of Kangleipak under all circumstances, with all of them also solemnly committing themselves to even making the supreme sacrifice for the sake of Kangleipak.

Moreover, the brave sons of Kangleipak who had made the supreme sacrifice for the sake of the Nation were fondly remembered at the ceremony, with vibrant petals of flowers offered to the departed souls as a mark of respect, it conveyed.

Today, many innocent people of Kangleipak have suffered unprecedented brutalities at the hands of narco-terrorist elements and other well-armed Kuki-Zo groups.

So the Kangleipak Communist Party under the Chairmanship of Sir Ibungo Ngangom will continue to undertake special tactical operations against these anti-Kangleipak groups, which have come to pose an existential threat to Kangleipak, it added.

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