KABAW VALLEY IS INSIDE KUKI HILLS? - DR. DIGENE MANDALEEY

Kuki Independence Hills and Historical Territories:

The Kuki-Chin people historically inhabited vast regions spanning across multiple modern-day countries, including parts of Northeastern India, Myanmar (Burma), and Bangladesh. These areas include the Kuki Independence Hills, which stretch across parts of Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Kukis' ancestral lands were never confined solely to the Meitei-dominated valley of Manipur but spread across a larger area that included the Kabaw Valley region, which is now in Myanmar.

The Kukis' presence in Kabo Valley, situated between India and Myanmar, further complicates the territorial claims of the Meitei Kingdom. Historically, Kabaw Valley, along with the surrounding areas, was home to both Kuki and Naga communities. The Kukis in particular were known to inhabit not only parts of Manipur but also Kabo Valley, which was once part of British India-Manipur territory. The Kuki people's historical ties to the region suggest that Kabaw Valley and the surrounding lands were not exclusively under Meitei control, but part of a broader, multi-ethnic Kuki-Naga territorial domain.

The Kukis and Meitei Community:

If we accept that the Kukis are an indigenous and separate ethnic group, distinct from the Meitei community, the claim to Kabaw Valley becomes even more complicated. The Meitei community, traditionally the dominant group in the valley of Manipur, has a long history of cultural and political dominance within the region. However, the Kukis are not typically considered part of the Meitei community. While the Kukis have historically lived within the territorial boundaries of what is now the state of Manipur, they were often viewed as distinct from the Meitei, with their own language, culture, and political structures.

In this context, if we treat the Kukis as an "outside" group, separate from the Meitei community, then their historical claim to Kabaw Valley, a region with significant Kuki settlements, becomes much stronger. The Kukis' transnational presence in Kabo Valley and surrounding areas means that the valley cannot be automatically categorized as part of the Meitei Kingdom, particularly if the Kukis are not considered part of the Meitei ethnic group.

3. The Historical Transfer of Kabaw Valley:

The second article touches on the historical dispute over Kabaw Valley, where Sanajaoba claims that the valley was under Manipuri rule since 1450. However, historical accounts and the perspectives of other ethnic communities, including the Kukis, challenge this assertion. The Kukis have historically been integral to the region, particularly in Kabo Valley. If we consider the Kukis as a separate ethnic group or as outsiders to the Meitei community, the territory in question was never exclusively under Meitei control. Instead, it was part of a more complex, multi-ethnic region that included Kuki, Naga, and other communities.

Additionally, the British colonial administration in India had demarcated boundaries that divided the Kuki-Chin territories into three separate countries: India, Burma (Myanmar), and Bangladesh. This further reinforces the idea that the Kukis' historical territories, including Kabaw Valley, were never part of a singular Meitei-dominated region.

Conclusion:

If the Kukis are viewed as outsiders to the Meitei community, then Kabaw Valley, along with the surrounding Kuki Independence Hills, should not be considered part of the Meitei Kingdom. The Kukis' ancestral land stretches across multiple borders, including significant portions of what is now Myanmar, where Kabaw Valley is located. The Kukis' presence in the region, combined with their distinct cultural, ethnic, and historical identity, challenges the claim that Kabaw Valley is solely a part of the Meitei domain.

Thus, acknowledging the Kukis as an independent ethnic group with historical ties to Kabaw Valley undermines any claim that the valley was exclusively under the control of the Meitei Kingdom. If the Kukis are considered outsiders, then Kabaw Valley and its surrounding areas should be seen as part of the broader Kuki territorial domain, rather than as a Meitei possession.

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~ KUKILAND NEWS

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