The 91st Commemoration of KUKI RISING
(Anglo-Kuki War 1917-1919) 20th May, 2010 New Delhi

On this day i.e. May 20 in the year 1919, the historic Anglo-Kuki War known as “the Kuki Rising(1917-1919)” came to the end after the Kuki warriors had surrendered to the British due to shortage of their food supply. The Kukis had to surrender for peace as they ran out of food stock because in the midst of such fighting, they had not been able to cultivate their crop fields for the previous two consecutive years.

The KSDF salutes our brave forefathers who, in a spirit of nationalism unmatched so far in Kuki history gave a staunch fight to the mighty British. Their heroic fight made the Anglo-Kuki confrontation one of the greatest War ever fought against the British in the Military history of India. The Kuki Rising occurred when Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India. In present-day context, Kuki country as defined by the extent of the rising broadly covers the upper Chindwin including Somra Tractand the Thaungdut, Burma,
in the East; the hills in Manipur; and Aisan, Nagaland, in the West. It extends over some 6,000 square miles of rugged hills.

The leaders were
1) Pu Chengjapao, Chief of Aisan;
2) Pu Pache, Chief of Chassad;
3) Pu Tintong, Chief of Laijang;
4) Pu Enjakhup Kholhou;
5) Pu Khotinthang (Kilkhong), Chief of Jampi;
6) Pu Vumngul, Chief of Tujang;
7) Pu Ngulkhup, Chief of Lonpi,
8) Pu Ngulbul, Chief of Longja and
9) Pu Nohjang, Chief of Saisem.

In the war, the British deployed 2600 soldiers of Assam Rifles Brigade under the Deputy Inspector General, Col. L.W. Shakespear, who was assisted by a contingent of Burma Military Police numbering 400. According to a War Paper of the Government of Burma’s Secret Political Department dated December 23, 1919, “23 principals were involved - 13 in Manipur under Assam and 10 in the Somra
Tract under Burma.” The British Military columns commandeered by Coote, Herbert, Higgins and Clocte, “crisscrossed the area and fought a number of battles to successfully suppress the Kukis. In the process, the soldiers won 1 CIE, 1 OBE, 14 IDSMs, 1 King’s Police Medal, innumerable Mentions-in-Dispatches and Jangi Inams.’

Cause of the rising: According to Chief Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam, J.E. Webster’s (C.I.E., I.C.S.) letter dated 27th June, 1919 to Secretary, Government of India, the province of Assam was asked to furnish a quota of ‘labourers’ for employment with the Army in France’. As the Maharajah of Manipur in whom the Kukis saw a neighborly ally was committed to effect this without prior consultation with the Kuki Chiefs, the latter felt shocked and deserted. The Maharajah of Manipur’s appeal was an
insult to the sentiment and pride of the Kukis to the core that they immediately rose in armed struggle with a vow that they would commit themselves to their chiefs for protection of their independence, culture, tradition, etc. The Labour Corps drive has often been mistakenly propagated as the cause of the Kuki rising by various scholars and journalists downplaying the actual significance of the event. In fact, the event was a natural and spontaneous defence of their land, tradition, inalienable rights and liberty. It is a preposterous notion that the cause of such a nearly three years movement against the imperialists, could be merely because the Kuki people wanted to resist working as labourers. It demonstrates Kuki’s relationship to their land, and is a veritable reminder of their legitimate status as a nation. The ongoing struggle for political self administration into two ñ one each under India and Burma ñ is an extension of the Kuki Rising.

Result of the Rising: The Kukis were inferiorly armed, and after a long drawn out war that lasted nearly three years, had no choice but to concede their defeat as they were surrounded on all corners, and both the supply of arms and food had been cut off. The British Government also adopted administrative measures to keep the Kuki people suppressed.

Kuki areas were brought under civil authority. The first Sub-Divisional Offices were opened at Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Churachandpur, which are now hill districts in Manipur. In Dr. T.S. Gangte’s words, these new administrative posts successfully achieved two planned objectives:
a) “containment” of Kuki activities to prevent another rising and
b) ensure Naga domination especially in Ukhrul and Tamenglong sub-divisions.

The British Advisory Committee passed recommendations to subject the prominent leaders to a “period of restraint”, each for fifteen years, with the exception of Pu Tintong of Laijang, who received a penalty of twenty years. The main Kuki chiefs were arrested and put in different jails in Assam, Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

As per warrants dated 8 December 1919, Delhi, signed by RE Holland, Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Department, the Kuki Chiefs restrained at Sadiya Jail in Assam were:
1) Pu Chengjapao, Chief of Aishan;
2) Pu Khotinthang (or Khilkung), Chief of Jampi;
3) Pu Lhukhomang (Pache), Chief of Chassad;
4) Pu Pakang, Chief of Henglep;
5) Pu Tintong, Chief of Laijang;
6) Pu Ngulkhup, Chief of Lonpi;
7) Pu Leothang, Chief of Goboh;
8) Pu Heljashon, Chief of Loibol;
9) Pu Mangkholun, Chief of Thingphai;
10) Pu Semchung, Chief of Ukha;
11) Pu Ngulkhokai of Chassad;
12) Pu Enjakhup Chief of Thenjol.
13) Pu Mangkho-on, Chief of Tingkai
14) Pu Lunkholal, Chief of Chongjang.

Whereas at the Tonggyi jail, prisoners of the Kuki chiefs engaged in the war in Somra track and Kalay Kabaw valley of Burma were listed under.
1) Pu Kamjahen, Chief of Phailenjang-I;
2) Pu Tongkholun, Chief of Phailenjang-II;
3) Pu Letkhothang, Chief of Khotuh;
5) Pu Semkholun, Chief of Phaisat;
6) Pu Jalhun, Chief of Molvom;
7) Pu Tukih, Chief of Tonglhang;
8) Pu Vumngul, Chief of Tujang;
8) Pu Holkhopao, Chief of Molvailup;
9) Pu Nohjang Chief of Saisem;
10) Pu Ngulkholun.
11) Pu Songkhopao, Chief of Tuisom
12) Pu Letjahao, Chief of Khomunnom
13) Pu Kondem, Chief of Sachih.

We therefore, on this commemoration of Kuki historic day, make fervent appeals to the International community’s:
1) To help scrap the current Burmese military government’s drafted constitution and the proposed 2010 parliamentary election laws for they are mockeries to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2) To help release all the political prisoners in Burma. 3) To help in all possible ways the Kukis enjoy rights to dignity and self-rule they deserved as an indigenous people of the present day Burma on equal terms with all other ethnic nationalities such as Kachin, Kaya (Karenni), Karen, Chin, Mon, Rakhaine (Arakan), Shan and Burman.

On this historic day, the KSDF makes fervent appeals to the all the Kukis of the present day Burma to ponder over the following points.
1) Read and be well versed with our history, assess our present and formulate a strategy for our future course of action.
2) Always remind yourself that we have yet-to-be fulfilled political dream of resurrecting our past dignity and rights as a distinct ethnic nationality of Burma.
3) Identify your weakness and strength and accordingly Choose your way of participation towards fulfilling our aims and objectives.
4) Work harder and faster for we have longer distance to march than others.
5) Give loyalty to our movement a priority and contribute your part willfully.
6) For those who are resettled in foreign lands, know your roots and never be self-complacent with the comfortable lives there.
7) Never compromise with ideas unbefitting our political context and goals.

Central Committee,
The Kuki Students’ Democratic Front.