The Shongthu Chate

As a young boy who grew up mostly in Imphal, I have high regards for the Meiteis for various reasons particularly when it comes to respect for elders. Compared to the tribals whom they often considered as “unclean” and were not even allowed to enter their house in olden days, they are far ahead in civility. In fact the Meiteis had the name “ Hao ” to mean the hill people. Oftentimes, the word “ Thu ” was added to make it “ Haothu ” which is extremely derogatory [ Hao -Hill People; Thu -Women Private Part]. In a slightly less vulgar term, “ Haomacha ” [ Hao -Hill People; Macha -Children] is also often used but carries the same derogatory tone. Similarly, the Meiteis in the heart of the Valley call the Meiteis who are living in the outskirts (rural areas) as “ Lawai ”/“ Louwai ”, literally meaning those who rented lands (fields) from landowners for cultivation [ Lou -field, Wai -rent]. Even within the rural areas, there is a division based on the distance from Imphal. Those who are neare...

Anthony Shongthu Since the beginning of the current ethnic turmoil, I have been closely following the development from both sides. So, with a fair amount of confidence, I can say that I have gathered enough knowledge to give a preliminary judgment on the role of the silent majority within the Meitei community. In other words, I can confidently say that not all the Meiteis are evil! As a person who has been brought up in Imphal, mostly among the Meiteis for the last 20 years, I have encountered many sane Meiteis, and many of my friends are also from the same community. Moreover, being from a humble background, I am what I am today largely from the many kind-hearted persons I met during these two decades. There were many individuals who helped me when I was in need of financial as well as moral support. Out of these, a reasonably good number were Meiteis. If I had not met these generous people, my career could have ended prematurely.  To come straight to the point, when the M...

If the 3rd of May marks the first anniversary of the beginning of the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kuki-Zo, the 8th of May completes one year of the evacuation of 13,000 Kuki-Zo to Kangpokpi from the "Valley of Death". In fact, out of the more than 20,000 Kuki-Zo stranded in Imphal, about 18,000 were evacuated to Kangpokpi, and the rest to Churachandpur, Chandel, and Tengnoupal districts. Some others also had their escape route through flights. From day one in the relief centres in Imphal, the long for our hills was incomparable. The fear of possible mob attack and lack of food and medical facilities for thousands of inmates in the absence of the state, or rather the communal Meitei government turning its back, was too painful to bear. The Indian Army and Paramilitary Forces, who were flown in since 4th May 2023 to assist the state in maintaining law and order did not provide much relief. The unverified news about the imposition of Article 355 and...

Anthony Shongthu On 3rd May 2023, when an ethnic riot broke out,   and when the whole state machinery turned their back on the Kuki-Zo community, it was the Indian Army, including the Assam Rifle and Paramilitary Forces, who took the lead in saving the lives of thousands of innocent people in the "Valley of Death." Apart from the Military, the Nagas and Muslims (Pangals) along with a few others have also contributed a lot in saving the lives of hundreds of people particularly on the first few days of the communal riots. The plan to completely annihilate the Kukis from Imphal was well-orchestrated in such a way that a few pieces of propaganda and fake news could indoctrinate thousands of innocent Meitei minds within a few hours and could soon culminate into large-scale destruction, mob lynching, rape and murder of many innocent lives. As for me, and many others, we reached the 1st Manipur Rifles (MR) in the early morning of 4th May thanks to the Assam Rifles, Indian Army...

The 3 rd of May 2023 marks the beginning of the on-going state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kuki-Zo. On that day, a riot that apparently broke out at the Torbung-Kangvai area of Churachandpur bordering the Bishnupur district in the valley engulfed the whole state within a few hours. While a violent confrontation went on in the Torbung-Kangvai area, similar mobs began to storm other Kuki villages located in the periphery areas between the valley and the hills. In these coordinated attacks, the Kukis faced heavy casualties including deaths, bullet injuries, and destruction of houses and livestock in many of the villages and colonies in Imphal. For the Kuki-Zo people in Manipur University (MU), it was a night to forget as we were hunted like criminals within the Campus itself. Until the unruly mobs stormed the University campus searching for the “Kukis” on that fateful night, MU was our second home where we built our hopes and dreams. Perhaps, it was only because...

On the 3rd of May 2024, there were observations in all the Kuki inhabited areas including churches, cities, and towns in different states of India, and even abroad, to pay tribute to the departed souls as the ongoing state-sponsored ethnic cleansing campaign carried out by the dominant community since the 3rd of May 2023 completed a year. In a similar case, the Meiteis also observed the day under different themes in various parts of Manipur and the National Capital. One such program was organised at Manipur University (MU) supposedly to mourn the deaths and destruction during the last one year. As video footage and images of the candlelight vigil in MU began circulating, it reminded us of how the Kuki-Zo students and staff and their families escaped from the jaws of death on that fateful evening. Though 366 days have passed, it still feels like yesterday as the trauma continues to haunt us. To go back a little bit in time, 3rd May 2023 will remain as a black day in the history of...

Imphal-based Since the beginning of the current ethnic cleansing campaign, which has been spearheaded largely by the Arambai Tenggols, the Imphal based Meitei media houses have become minting places of fake news, propaganda, and one-sided news alone. Any violent incidents involving armed men have been blamed on the “Kuki militants.” Dissemination of such lies and fabricated information has been widely assisted by social media accounts handled by Meiteis and those sympathetic towards the dominant community. One simple example was how the Kuki militants were accused of committing the unfortunate incident at Lilong on New Year's Day where at least five Pangals (Manipur Muslims) were killed. And most of the national and international media houses who have been covering Manipur violence since May 3 are aware of this fact. The manufacturing of fabricated news has been openly backed by state machineries including the DIPR, Manipur Police and the state government including the Meitei c...