The Kuki people of Northeast India are set to mark the 107th anniversary of the Anglo-Kuki War on the 17th October 2024 in different places across Kuki Hills in Manipur state and cities across the country.
As per the Government of Manipur Gazette notification, October 17th has been declared as Kuki Rising Day, and had was state holiday since 2019. This is in recognition of the sacrifices made by Kukis in defence of their freedom and sovereignty during the colonial period.
Commemoration will be held in Lamka, Kangpokpi, Chandel and Moreh. Similarly, schools have declared holiday to mark the occasion in all Kuki inhabited areas of Manipur.
In Lamka, the commemoration will go along with an academic discussion where Col Vijay Chenji, the author of the book ‘Anglo-Kuki War: Victory in Defeat’ will share and interact on his findings and observations. Other experts include Prof Sonthang and Dr Letkhokhang who is will speak on the event.
In fact, several colonial writers have noted the event to be the most expensive and challenging one in the whole of eastern India. It took about three years to quell and bring Kukis to subjection.
For the Kukis, the fight was purely in defense of their freedom against imperial Britain. It also solidifies their position on the ancestral land which they inherited from their forefathers.
