"Census of India 1951 for Manipur: Demographic of Kuki Population in Manipur 1951" ~ Dr TS Haokip, KReF

The 23 July 2022
(For Educational purpose & various Social Organisations in the state)
________________

By: DR TS HAOKIP
Chairman,
Kuki Reformation Forum (KReF)
________________

Manipur, once known as the 'Land of Jewels'  by Pandit Jawarlal Nehru (https//factly.in...) and locally termed as 'Sanaleibak' or Kangleipak surrounded by 9 (nine) hills with oval shaped valley, has been the abode of it's indigeneous people such as the Meiteis(Kathe) including Meitei- Pangals in the valley, the Kukis in the inner layer and the Manipuri Nagas at the outer portion of the so termed Outer Manipur.

According to Triveni Wakhom (epao.net), the population of Manipur in 1951 stands at 5,77,635. Out of this figure, Meitei/ Kathe population as per 1951 Census of Manipur stands at 3,77,191 with 1, 85,803 males and 1,91,388 female population respectively.

Coming to ethnic Kukis in Manipur, who are always termed as Foreigners/Migrants in the state by some ignorant groups, the underlying data of Kuki population in Manipur in the year 1951 as per Census of India 1951, Part XII, Assam, Manipur & Tripura (page 86 & 87) stands as under.

Data and list of Kuki tribes and clans and their respective populations as per 1951 is here below.

1. Sl. No. 7:  Khongzai - 6,199,
2. No. 7(a): Kom - 2,490,
3. No. 7(b): Tarao (Old Kuki) - 160,
4. No. 13: Zo/ Zou -3,062,
5. No. 14: Simte - 5,084,
6. No. 15: Rangkhol - 5,38,
7. No. 16: Anal (Old Kuki) - 3,239,
8. No.18:  Kuki - 29,405,
9. No. 19: Koilhreng (old Kuki) - 496,
10. No. 20: Paite - 10,672,
11. No.21: Purum- 43,
12. No.22: Lamhao@ Touthang- 374,
13. No.23: Chothe@ Chohte - 695,
14. No.24: Aimol- 335,
15. No.25: Kharam- 90,
16. No.26: Maring (old Kuki) - 4,987,
17. No.27: Ralte - 39,
18. No.28: Hmar - 9,793,
20. No.30: Lamkang (old Kuki) - 1,688,
21. No.31: Vaiphei- 4,252,
22. No.32: Chiru - 1,074,
23. No.33: Thadou- 8,284,
24. No.34: Hangseen@ Hangshing (Thado) - 08,
25. No.35: Haokip (Thado) - 2,628,
26. No.36: Keepgen@ Kipgen (Thado) - 224,
27. No.37: Lushei - 1,743,
28. No.38: Gangte- 2,496,
29. No.40: Mizo- 140,
30. No.44: Muyon (old Kuki) - 521,
_________________'
*Total = 1,00,748*,
(One lakh, seven hundred & forty eight).

The above data and tabulation as per Census of India for Manipur state clearly shows the indigeneity of Kukis in the state. Mention may be made that in the year 1956 Scheduled Tribes & Scheduled Castes Modification Act 1956 Compressed all these 30 Kuki Clans, sub-clans & Tribes under 22/23 recognised tribes.

To put up in nutshell, the Meitei@ Kathe population in 1951 was 3,77,191 (Census of India 1951 for Manipur). As per 2011 General census of Manipur, the total population of Manipur is 28,55,749 and that of Meitei comes to 14/15 lakhs as of now. At this growth rate of Meitei population for 60 years, Kuki population in Manipur as of now ought be 6-7 lakhs, but it is lower than the ought to be growth rate, may be due to migration of some Kuki tribes into neighbouring states of Nagaland, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Myanmar.

As for instance, Rangkhol Kuki tribe whose population in 1951 in Manipur was 538  is no more in Manipur, they have migrated into Tripura and Ralte Kuki whose population was 39 in Manipur in 1951 have migrated into Mizoram, and is now, Raltes are  no more in Manipur tribe list and General Census records in the state.

Therefore, all tribes and communities in the state of Manipur must know the actual demographic of Manipur, in the past and present, thereby ushering peace & peaceful co-existence. Or else if the present hatred for Kukis continue to exist, the world will surely come to know that we cannot live together side by side, which will bring forth disintegration of the state.
_________________ 

~ WAP

Share: