Consequences due to existence of Kuki Hereditary Chieftainship

K Yugindro Singh, M Manihar Singh and Sh Janaki Sharma
Contd from previous issue
The abnormal growth of villages in four districts viz., Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal and Chandel is discernible from the figures shown in Table 1. The abnormal growth of villages implicitly and explicitly tells that a huge number of Kuki refugees/illegal migrants had entered Manipur in the last few decades. This inference is commensurate with the pattern of abnormal decadal population growth of the Nomadic Chin-Kuki-Zo as shown in Table 2:
5. Necessity for abolition of hereditary Kuki chieftainship
The existing institutions of hereditary Kuki chieftainship in Manipur are outdated forms of dictatorial authority that affront the basic principles of Indian democracy. By strictly enforcing ‘The Manipur Hill Areas (Acquisition of Chiefs’ Rights) Act, 1967’, the growth in numbers of both Kuki villages and Kuki militant groups in Manipur can be checked. The villagers in Kuki villages do not enjoy the rights of freedom as provided in the Constitution of India. While the Kuki chiefs and their children have progressed immensely, most of the common Kuki people remain below the poverty line and are highly vulnerable to exploitation by the Kuki chiefs.
It is high time, even if belated, to abolish the institution of hereditary Kuki chieftainship for ensuring peaceful coexistence among all ethnic groups in Manipur. Once the said Act is enforced in letter and spirit, the same will be a guiding force towards bringing peace and normalcy in Manipur. With the implemention of ‘The Manipur Hill Areas (Acquisition of Chiefs’ Rights) Act, 1967’ in letter and spirit, the existing traditional system of chieftainship will get automatically abolished with compensation to the affected chiefs. ‘The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960’ will get simultaneously extended to the hill areas thereby authorizing the State Government to acquire the rights, title, and land in the hill areas.


The said Act may be regarded as one of the first steps towards democratization of hill administration in Manipur. By placing certain restrictions on the powers of the chief and introducing adult franchise at the lowest level of administration as well, the Panchayat Raj institution may be introduced to democratize the Kuki society so that the common villagers can become aware of democratic values and practices of the Indian democratic system.

References:
1. Lewin, Thomas H., The Hill Tracts of Chittagong and the Dwellers Therein with Comparative Vocabularies of the Hill Dialects, Calcutta: Bengal Printing Company Ltd. (1869).
2. Hunter, W.W., A Statistical Account of Bengal, London: Trubner& Co. (1876).
3. Shakespear, J., The Lushei Kuki Clans, London: McMillan and Co. Ltd. (1912).
4. Gangte, T.S., The Kukis of Manipur: A Historical Analysis, New Delhi: Gyan Publishing House (2003).
5. Hutchinson, R.H. Sneyed, The Chittagong Hill Tracts, Kolkata: Kreativmind (2002).
6. Changsan, L. &Borgohain, Alpana, The Traditional Institutions of the Kukis Living in the Dima Hasao District of Assam, International Journal of Research in Social Science, Vol. 8, Issue 4 (April, 2018).
7. Haokip, George T., The Institution of Chieftainship in Kuki Society, E-Pao (April 29, 2009).  
8. Singh, L. B., Hereditary Kuki Chieftainship should be abolished, The Sangai Express (November29, 2023).
9. Singh, L. B., Hereditary Chieftainship exists only in Manipur in the Northeast, E-Pao (December01, 2023).
10. K. Yugindro Singh, M. Manihar Singh & Sh. Janaki Sharma, Abnormal population growth of Chin-Kuki-Zo in Manipur since 1881, The Sangai Express (February 13, 2024).