The Resurgent Thadou Politics
(An analysis on its causes and concerns)

Misao Hejang Hangmi *

Thadou Dance performed at Aimol Khullen Village on December 16 2014 :: Pix - Daniel Chabungbam

"Respecting one another sentiment by genuine understanding of each other concern and working together for mutually agreeable solution is the main answer to our problem."

Kuki society witnessed the resurgence of Thadou politics just recently with the reasons best known to the diehard progenitor of it. Thadou politics is in fact not a new phenomenon; its inception can be traced back to the Indian government recognition of Thadou as one tribe in Manipur.

Kuki society since then is plague with conflict of interest between two rival parties – Kuki fanatic on one side and Thadou fanatic on the other. Interestingly the two parties shared one dialect and one culture, their only difference is in the name of the nomenclature or alphabet. Both have their own reasonable stand points even worth dying for.

After a short hiatus – understanding reached between both the parties few years back – Thadou politics comes to the surface again which is a cause of big concern to all and sundry and the fabric of Kuki society is once again under constant question.

Out of the many probable reasons for its revival, the recognition of Kuki as one tribe under any Kuki tribe is believe to be the main that also serve as a spark according to them. The Thadou hardcore opined that Kuki as a nation is now being reduce to the status of tribe for which other smaller tribes find it difficult to align themselves with the name Kuki. Mention may be made here that all non Naga tribes are known as Kuki.

They strongly advocated that reviving Thadou politics is reviving Kuki which from the logical perspective sound very true and convincing. However looking deeper into the possibility of the student body' as an instrument for achieving a sinister design by some vested interest cannot be rule out. Thadou politics strive on ideal concept but unfortunate centre around miscalculated strategies and approaches that hurt the sentiment of many.

Analysing our past experiences that is division among people speaking same dialect and following one culture especially from the time they are recognise under the name Thadou, one can easily conclude that there is no cure to this malady unless both parties come to a table of compromise.

I am afraid the efforts of the Thadou politics will end up only in treating the symptom without addressing the real or root cause of the problem. Symptom treatment brings only respite not an end to the problem. The maxim 'means always justifies the end' holds true at all time.

On the other hand looking from the lens of larger political picture Any Kuki Tribe is essential again like Any Naga Tribe and Any Mizo Tribe. To corroborate it I would speak from two angles:

1. Community Angle: Kuki as a community comprised of different sub-tribes is often regarded as a nation. Therefore Kuki as a nation cannot be reduce to merely a tribe. Doing so would be big social aberration and blunder from our part.

2. National & International Angle: Speaking from the perspective of India as a nation and country, Kuki with its present movement needs to be known by the government officially which means it has to be a recognised tribe. For there cannot be two nations in one country.

For instance Naga, Mizo etc. are all known as tribe by the Indian government under Any Naga Tribe and Any Mizo Tribe, similarly Kuki has to be officially known as one tribe without which government cannot have political talk. Before the recognition of Kuki as a tribe nowhere in the government records one will find Kuki except in some recorded history books.

Let's take one example: your noble cause has been taken up in the UN and the world body put pressure on the Indian government to address that cause – in case Kuki is not officially known by the Indian government as one tribe how would the government initiate dialogue with a community/tribe not known to them.

STRIVING FOR DURABLE SOLUTION

There is no question of one wrong and another right. Our problem is the friction of two conflicting interests. Therefore For this each party has to compromise on their standing ground – agreeing to disagree and disagree to agree. Kuki has no problem with anything but with name only. I would challenge each party by throwing them this question "if you really are concern for the future of our community (Kuki) why can't you come to a negotiating table for a durable solution by burying your hatchet ".

Keeping aside the name Thadou and Kuki and looking for a commonly acceptable tribe's name could be one glaring example of the so called compromise on your stance and work for mutually agreeable solution. Unless each party back down from their own stand point and chisel out common solution, this imbroglio - disease that makes us weaker day by day - will perpetuate and still haunt our next generation.

We blame the previous generation for today's confusion and shame. But sadly this generation doesn't want to strike chord of peace where the gen next could grow in the fullest extent with pride and without any room for prejudice and confusion unlike this generation. Interestingly while we are still warring others took advantage of it and outdoes us in all spheres. We are at the receiving end unfortunately which is nobody's doing but ours only.

I am afraid when we are woken it will be too late. But I would say better late than never. Therefore let's make a wise decision by choosing the right path. Either we choose to live or perish, the ball lies in our court.