Vocal for justice : Pandemic makeway for the observance of Kuki Black Day ‘Sahnit Ni’ 2020

TS Haokip
Contd from prev issue
Bangalore Sahnit Ni
Adhering to the Social distancing norms laid down by the concerned authorities, the Kuki Students’ Organisation Bangalore observed the 27th Sahnit programme at KWS Bangalore Hall with 100 odd participants. Pu Rev. Silas J Haokip, Pastor Kuki Worship Service (KWS) Banglore was the main speaker of the event. He explained, why is Black Day or Sahnit Ni observed. Building his speech based on Joshua Chapters 3 and 4, he gave four reasons; 1. To shake our memory 2. To share our faith in Just God 3. To shape our future, and 4. To shatter our past. Following that, a one minute silence and candle lighting ceremony was held in memory of the more than thousand departed souls.
Similar events were organized by the Kuki Students Organisation at Kolkata, Guwahati, Ernakulam, Agartala, etc. and also in the United States, at Washington D.C where a silent procession was held by a few Kuki diasporas in the States with placards that read, ‘Justice to the victims of NSCN IM massacre’ and ‘Resolve the issue of 1000 plus Kukis killed by NSCN IM’ etc.
Justice and the way forward
The Kuki people have been observing Sahnit with a belief and hope that the GOI will hear and heed their silent cries. The Kuki Inpi in its latest memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, dated 12th of September 2020 said, ‘we express our hope that the Government of India will no longer remain indifferent to the constant pleas for justice of the Kuki Genocide and also for honourable political settlement for the Kukis under the purview of Indian Constitution.’
As the Government of India endeavours to resolve militant issues in the North East India in its bid to usher in peace and development, the long pending issues of the Kukis deserve the Government’s attention not just for the sake of peace, not just to resolve the Kuki militants and their political demands, not just as an acknowledgement of the Kukis’ rightful claim for self-administration but mainly to deliver justice to the Kuki people for their irreparable loss of thousand innocent lives, the uprooting of hundreds of villages and the displacement of tens of thousands Kuki families.