Kukis for a Development Council?

Untold history and misery of the Kuki people who today want something back for the service they have rendered to the country., demands for a development council

- Joe Hmachhuana

The term Kuki, in literature, first appeared in the writing of Rawlins when he wrote about the tribes of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It refers to "Hillsmen" comprising numerous clans. These clans share a common past, culture, customs and tradition. The term Kuki can be thought of as been synonymous with Mizo and Chin tribes, predominantly all Zo groups.

An important landmark in the history of the Kuki people with considerable social, cultural and political ramifications came with the arrival of missionaries and the spread of Christianity among the Kuki's. The acceptance of Christianity made a departure of their tribal customs and traditions, and along with the spread of English education, it saw the arrival of modernity within the Kuki People.

The first Resistance movement by the Kuki People was the Kuki Rebellion of 1917-19. Kuki was subjugated by the British and divided between British India and British Burma administrations following the 'Kuki Uprising of 1917-19'.Up until the fateful defeat in 1919, the Kukis were an independent people ruled by their chieftains. During WWII, seizing the opportunity to regain independence, Kuki fought with the Imperial Japanese Army and the Indian National Army led by Subhas Chandra Bose. The success of the Allied forces over the Axis group dashed the aspiration of the Kuki people.

Now, for years there has been a well known alert of insurgencies in parts of North East. And it has become a regular daily affair where innocent civilians are deprived of their right or identity and many have lost their lives in a battle to tackle these problems for their people. Over the years Kukis has been fighting for a better future, with groups of humble civilians representing one voice to materialise what has been a dream for years into a reality.

Representing its people, United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), one of the militant groups formed in March 2000 submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister to put across a demand to create Kuki (KHULMI) Development Council (KDC) on the model of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council of Assam, for amelioration of the welfare of the deprived Kukis.

This raises a lot of questions on how the UKLF are planning to go about, especially with the disturbance in the peace march in Manipur and Nagaland. However, contrary to the insignificance of time and conditions; UKLF and its people are thirsty for the outcome of something positive.
*Hmmm*