Manipur’s children are watching : What will ee teach them ?
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Chongboi Haokip, MCIHort
The Church of God should condemn any form of violence, and promote love and peace–Rev Dr V Sitlhou–last comment on the Thadou Tribe group (Facebook), dated 24 April 2026.
For more than three years, Manipur has endured a cycle of violence, fear, and displacement. As someone born and raised in the State, I find it impossible to remain silent as I feel so sad that many have lost loved ones, while children have grown up amid fear and uncertainty. Every life lost is more than a statistic-it is a story cut short, a dream unfulfilled, and a future taken away.
The Weight of What We Have Lost
Irrespective of ethnicity, behind every reported incident is a name, a face, a family left to grieve. Every life matters, and we mourn their departures. For example, at least 15 bullets were found on Rev Dr Vumthang Sitlhou (V Sitlhou), a great pillar of the Thadou community, a key champion of Thadou language, literature, and Christian heritage, leading the completion of the Thadou Bible and advocating peace, social reform, and community development is one such tragedy that has left many in deep sorrow and searching for answers. While we were still grieving, the barbaric killing of six innocent Naga brothers is another one which keep us wondering what is happening with Ma-nipur. And of course, there are others too, in the list. These killings are a disturbing and unacceptable act that has deeply affected the people of Manipur. Such acts of violence and brutality could not be accepted under any circumstances.
These were not anonymous victims of conflict- they were people who dedicated their lives to serving their communities. Their deaths leave painful questions unanswered : Who was responsible, and why? Were they targeted? What does it mean when even Pastors, devoted to peace and service, are not spared from violence ?
That very night, the 13th May, I could not sleep, as I was in deep pain and still am. I know that my Thadou community worldwide is grieving, and I am with them. I managed to speak with some who were in deep pain, as I know it is important to share our grief.
As I was pondering the tragedy and the future of the Thadou community, God gave me comfort through this Bible verse - ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’- Isaiah 41:10 NIV.
The last comment - I came across from (L) Rev. V Sitlhou on the Thadou Tribe group (Facebook), dated 24 April 2026 - ‘The Church of God should condemn any form of violence, and promote love and peace!’ Nothing is strange for God, who prompted me to appreciate Rev V Sitlhou’s comment on the 12th May, just before his fateful day – am unsure if he ever read my reply, and will know only in God’s time. When I woke up the next morning and saw his name among those who had been ambushed, I struggled to comprehend what had happened. The Lord comforted me through 2 Timothy 4:7 NIV-“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Mr Haominlun Sitlhou, son of the late Rev Dr V Sitlhou, has forgiven those who killed his father and his colleagues, offering a powerful testimony of peace and forgiveness that reflects his father’s enduring legacy.
The Government must bring the perpetrators to justice, as our communities cannot be safe while those responsible remain free. We need real justice, a credible, transparent, and impartial investigation - we just don’t know who the next target could be. Truth and justice are not luxuries in moments like this; they are the foundation on which any lasting peace must be built. Without truth and justice, grief curdles into suspicion and suspicion hardens into hatred that gets passed down to children who never even knew the original wound.
A People’s Right to Name Themselves
How come we distort our indigenous heritage ? For instance, the right of communities like the Thadou to define their own identity, language, and institutions without that identity being absorbed, erased, or reassigned by others. To be told who you are by someone other than yourself—to have your name, your language, your history folded into a category you did not choose—is its own kind of wound, even when no phy- sical violence is involved.
Respecting each community’s right to self-identify upholds human dignity and is essential to lasting peace; true peace embraces diverse identities rather than requiring anyone’s identity to be erased.
True Peace Demands Courage, Not Silence
True peace is not the same as appeasement. It requires honesty about the past, space for grief and accountability, and a commitment to prevent suffering from fuelling further violence.
For over three years, the forces pulling toward continued conflict have often been louder than the forces pulling toward peace. But history teaches us that no conflict, however bitter, lasts forever. The two World Wars eventually ended. Civil wars that seemed permanent eventually gave way, however imperfectly, to coexistence.
Manipur’s conflict, too, will end one day—the only question is how much more will be lost before that day comes, and what kind of Manipur will be left for the next generation to inherit. Peace requires courage. Across all communities, voices for peace must rise above calls for retaliation. It takes courage to reject revenge, to say ‘enough’ to cycles of violence, and to reach out to those we have been taught to fear.
A People’s Name Is Not for Others to Decide
Thadou is long-standing, not new to the current conflict. In 1997, Thadou organisations opposed being grouped under “Any Kuki Tribe,” arguing that distinct languages, customs, and histories deserve separate recognition. They warned that such grouping could blur identities and create future social and political tensions.
Nearly three decades later, that same question — who gets to define a community’s identity, and on what basis — remains unresolved, and it has only grown more painful in the shadow of the violence Manipur has endured. The Thadou community continues to trace its presence in Manipur’s first census in 1881, and many within it describe themselves as a distinct people, a community with its own language, customs, and history that deserves to be known by its own name.
Thadou Convention Guwahati, 2024 - Thadou is a distinct ethnic group of people.
Thadou is not Kuki, or underneath Kuki, or part of Kuki, but a separate, independent entity from Kuki. Any organisation, individuals or elected representative that incorporates ‘Thadou’ but espouses Kuki and mis-portrays Thadou as Kuki or a part of Kuki is illegitimate and does not represent Thadou people and interest.
Beyond a Tri-Ethnic Frame - Manipur Is More Than Three Groups
It is inspirational to come across many people who have understood and respected that Manipur holds many distinct ethnic communities, not just three broad-based groups. The trio-ethnic framework-‘Kuki, Meitei and Naga’ erases smaller groups and hides parts of the State’s social fabric. And of course, it is hurtful and disrespectful to those who do not belong to these three groups. Manipur needs to change for healing for the sake of our future generations, as it is a multi-ethnic State.
Another food for thought – it concerns me when the two Deputy Chief Ministers of the State are based on ethnicity. Do we need a Chief Minister based on ethnicity ? Is it essential to have Deputy Chief Ministers? If so, based on ethnicity, when there are over thirty distinct ethnic communities in the State ? A stable system prioritises competence, integrity, and service to all citizens, with representation based on merit and trust rather than ethnic rotation, fostering unity instead of division.
Faith as the Foundation - Stopping the Cycle for the Next Generation
For many in Manipur, faith remains the bedrock from which the call to peace springs. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’ (Matthew 5:9). ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 22:39). These are not soft, sentimental words — they are some of the hardest instructions ever given, because they ask us to extend love precisely to those we may have every human reason to resent.
And yet this is the work that lies ahead: not forgetting what has happened, not pretending the dead don’t matter, not abandoning the search for truth and justice — but refusing to let the cycle continue into the next generation. Reconciliation does not mean the wronged must forget. It means that, even while remembering, communities choose to stop adding new names to the list of the lost.
Reflection - Let This Be the Last Generation of Division!
Every Manipuri family today — has children who are watching. They are watching how the adults around them speak about ‘the other side.’ They are absorbing, even now, whether this conflict will become part of their inheritance or whether it will be the thing their parents’ generation finally laid to rest.
May God touch every heart in Manipur — those who have lost loved ones, those who fear for their families, those who carry anger, and those who carry guilt. May the truth about every act of violence, including the killing of Rev. Dr V Sitlhou and others, come fully to light through honest investigation. May every community’s right to its own identity, language, and faith be honoured. And may the people of Manipur, in all their beautiful diversity, find the courage to walk toward each other rather than away — not because the past does not matter, but because the future matters more.
Can development projects bring lasting progress when basic security and the protection of life remain uncertain ? Let this generation be the one that chooses reconciliation, so that the next generation never has to choose sides at all !
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” – Jeremiah 29: 11 NIV.
Statement : I do not support illicit poppy cultiva- tion. I support sustainable alternatives that strengthen society and help affected farmers in Manipur. I stand firmly behind the Manipur Government ‘War on Drugs’ campaign. As a strong, united community, we must work alongside government agencies that are helping farmers abandon illegal poppy farming. We, the people of Manipur, can eliminate unlawful poppy cultivation through collective effort. I call upon the entire Manipur community to unite as one team in this fight against illegal cultivation of poppy, working together to create sustainable livelihoods and a healthier future for all.
Chongboi Haokip, MCI Hort, is an international development consultant spe- cialising in agriculture, horticulture, trade facilitation and sustainable development. She can be reached at chongboi4community @gmail.com. Join me on X @ChongboiUK.
The Church of God should condemn any form of violence, and promote love and peace–Rev Dr V Sitlhou–last comment on the Thadou Tribe group (Facebook), dated 24 April 2026.
For more than three years, Manipur has endured a cycle of violence, fear, and displacement. As someone born and raised in the State, I find it impossible to remain silent as I feel so sad that many have lost loved ones, while children have grown up amid fear and uncertainty. Every life lost is more than a statistic-it is a story cut short, a dream unfulfilled, and a future taken away.
The Weight of What We Have Lost
Irrespective of ethnicity, behind every reported incident is a name, a face, a family left to grieve. Every life matters, and we mourn their departures. For example, at least 15 bullets were found on Rev Dr Vumthang Sitlhou (V Sitlhou), a great pillar of the Thadou community, a key champion of Thadou language, literature, and Christian heritage, leading the completion of the Thadou Bible and advocating peace, social reform, and community development is one such tragedy that has left many in deep sorrow and searching for answers. While we were still grieving, the barbaric killing of six innocent Naga brothers is another one which keep us wondering what is happening with Ma-nipur. And of course, there are others too, in the list. These killings are a disturbing and unacceptable act that has deeply affected the people of Manipur. Such acts of violence and brutality could not be accepted under any circumstances.
These were not anonymous victims of conflict- they were people who dedicated their lives to serving their communities. Their deaths leave painful questions unanswered : Who was responsible, and why? Were they targeted? What does it mean when even Pastors, devoted to peace and service, are not spared from violence ?
That very night, the 13th May, I could not sleep, as I was in deep pain and still am. I know that my Thadou community worldwide is grieving, and I am with them. I managed to speak with some who were in deep pain, as I know it is important to share our grief.
As I was pondering the tragedy and the future of the Thadou community, God gave me comfort through this Bible verse - ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’- Isaiah 41:10 NIV.
The last comment - I came across from (L) Rev. V Sitlhou on the Thadou Tribe group (Facebook), dated 24 April 2026 - ‘The Church of God should condemn any form of violence, and promote love and peace!’ Nothing is strange for God, who prompted me to appreciate Rev V Sitlhou’s comment on the 12th May, just before his fateful day – am unsure if he ever read my reply, and will know only in God’s time. When I woke up the next morning and saw his name among those who had been ambushed, I struggled to comprehend what had happened. The Lord comforted me through 2 Timothy 4:7 NIV-“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Mr Haominlun Sitlhou, son of the late Rev Dr V Sitlhou, has forgiven those who killed his father and his colleagues, offering a powerful testimony of peace and forgiveness that reflects his father’s enduring legacy.
The Government must bring the perpetrators to justice, as our communities cannot be safe while those responsible remain free. We need real justice, a credible, transparent, and impartial investigation - we just don’t know who the next target could be. Truth and justice are not luxuries in moments like this; they are the foundation on which any lasting peace must be built. Without truth and justice, grief curdles into suspicion and suspicion hardens into hatred that gets passed down to children who never even knew the original wound.
A People’s Right to Name Themselves
How come we distort our indigenous heritage ? For instance, the right of communities like the Thadou to define their own identity, language, and institutions without that identity being absorbed, erased, or reassigned by others. To be told who you are by someone other than yourself—to have your name, your language, your history folded into a category you did not choose—is its own kind of wound, even when no phy- sical violence is involved.
Respecting each community’s right to self-identify upholds human dignity and is essential to lasting peace; true peace embraces diverse identities rather than requiring anyone’s identity to be erased.
True Peace Demands Courage, Not Silence
True peace is not the same as appeasement. It requires honesty about the past, space for grief and accountability, and a commitment to prevent suffering from fuelling further violence.
For over three years, the forces pulling toward continued conflict have often been louder than the forces pulling toward peace. But history teaches us that no conflict, however bitter, lasts forever. The two World Wars eventually ended. Civil wars that seemed permanent eventually gave way, however imperfectly, to coexistence.
Manipur’s conflict, too, will end one day—the only question is how much more will be lost before that day comes, and what kind of Manipur will be left for the next generation to inherit. Peace requires courage. Across all communities, voices for peace must rise above calls for retaliation. It takes courage to reject revenge, to say ‘enough’ to cycles of violence, and to reach out to those we have been taught to fear.
A People’s Name Is Not for Others to Decide
Thadou is long-standing, not new to the current conflict. In 1997, Thadou organisations opposed being grouped under “Any Kuki Tribe,” arguing that distinct languages, customs, and histories deserve separate recognition. They warned that such grouping could blur identities and create future social and political tensions.
Nearly three decades later, that same question — who gets to define a community’s identity, and on what basis — remains unresolved, and it has only grown more painful in the shadow of the violence Manipur has endured. The Thadou community continues to trace its presence in Manipur’s first census in 1881, and many within it describe themselves as a distinct people, a community with its own language, customs, and history that deserves to be known by its own name.
Thadou Convention Guwahati, 2024 - Thadou is a distinct ethnic group of people.
Thadou is not Kuki, or underneath Kuki, or part of Kuki, but a separate, independent entity from Kuki. Any organisation, individuals or elected representative that incorporates ‘Thadou’ but espouses Kuki and mis-portrays Thadou as Kuki or a part of Kuki is illegitimate and does not represent Thadou people and interest.
Beyond a Tri-Ethnic Frame - Manipur Is More Than Three Groups
It is inspirational to come across many people who have understood and respected that Manipur holds many distinct ethnic communities, not just three broad-based groups. The trio-ethnic framework-‘Kuki, Meitei and Naga’ erases smaller groups and hides parts of the State’s social fabric. And of course, it is hurtful and disrespectful to those who do not belong to these three groups. Manipur needs to change for healing for the sake of our future generations, as it is a multi-ethnic State.
Another food for thought – it concerns me when the two Deputy Chief Ministers of the State are based on ethnicity. Do we need a Chief Minister based on ethnicity ? Is it essential to have Deputy Chief Ministers? If so, based on ethnicity, when there are over thirty distinct ethnic communities in the State ? A stable system prioritises competence, integrity, and service to all citizens, with representation based on merit and trust rather than ethnic rotation, fostering unity instead of division.
Faith as the Foundation - Stopping the Cycle for the Next Generation
For many in Manipur, faith remains the bedrock from which the call to peace springs. ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’ (Matthew 5:9). ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 22:39). These are not soft, sentimental words — they are some of the hardest instructions ever given, because they ask us to extend love precisely to those we may have every human reason to resent.
And yet this is the work that lies ahead: not forgetting what has happened, not pretending the dead don’t matter, not abandoning the search for truth and justice — but refusing to let the cycle continue into the next generation. Reconciliation does not mean the wronged must forget. It means that, even while remembering, communities choose to stop adding new names to the list of the lost.
Reflection - Let This Be the Last Generation of Division!
Every Manipuri family today — has children who are watching. They are watching how the adults around them speak about ‘the other side.’ They are absorbing, even now, whether this conflict will become part of their inheritance or whether it will be the thing their parents’ generation finally laid to rest.
May God touch every heart in Manipur — those who have lost loved ones, those who fear for their families, those who carry anger, and those who carry guilt. May the truth about every act of violence, including the killing of Rev. Dr V Sitlhou and others, come fully to light through honest investigation. May every community’s right to its own identity, language, and faith be honoured. And may the people of Manipur, in all their beautiful diversity, find the courage to walk toward each other rather than away — not because the past does not matter, but because the future matters more.
Can development projects bring lasting progress when basic security and the protection of life remain uncertain ? Let this generation be the one that chooses reconciliation, so that the next generation never has to choose sides at all !
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” – Jeremiah 29: 11 NIV.
Statement : I do not support illicit poppy cultiva- tion. I support sustainable alternatives that strengthen society and help affected farmers in Manipur. I stand firmly behind the Manipur Government ‘War on Drugs’ campaign. As a strong, united community, we must work alongside government agencies that are helping farmers abandon illegal poppy farming. We, the people of Manipur, can eliminate unlawful poppy cultivation through collective effort. I call upon the entire Manipur community to unite as one team in this fight against illegal cultivation of poppy, working together to create sustainable livelihoods and a healthier future for all.
Chongboi Haokip, MCI Hort, is an international development consultant spe- cialising in agriculture, horticulture, trade facilitation and sustainable development. She can be reached at chongboi4community @gmail.com. Join me on X @ChongboiUK.