There is a view that Kuki is not a Tribe and that the word Kuki has been used in the generic sense. Another view is that Kuki is a Tribe and it belonged to members of Scheduled Tribes in the States of Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. The tribe has got sub-tribes numbering about 37. Three such sub-tribes are also Schedule Tribes for the State of Manipur.
The designation ‘Kuki is unknown to the tribes now so-called by the plains people. What the derivation of the term may be it is bard to say. “Kou” in the language of the people now called “Lushais” and in the dialects of the Kuki Tribes, signifies “a village”.
In the introduction to “Thadou, a Grammatical Sketch” published by Anthropological Survey of India (1980) it has been recorded that though the term ‘Kuki’ has been used for Lushais, Lakher and some other tribes of the North Eastern Region of India, they are divided into two groups, old Kuki and new Kuki.
Statistical Account of Manipur by R. Brown, first published in 1874, wherein at page 47, the learned author recorded as follows:
The only tribes of hill-men of Manipur rule left to be described are those of the Kukis…..and first of the largest Kuki Tribes, the Khongjai.
In view of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order 1950 issued by the President of India under Article 342 of the Constitution and the Constitution (Nagaland) Schedule Tribei Order, 1970 issued under the said Article. In the Schedule in part II relating to Assam in respect of Autonomous Districts item No. 7 runs as follows:
The above item No. 7 has also been introduced under part XI for the state of Meghalaya. For the State of Nagaland Entry No. 2 under the Schedule, only the Tribe ‘Kuki’ has been mentioned although for the State of Manipur ‘Kuki’ as a Tribe has not been mentioned, but three sub-tribes appearing in Assam List under Kuki Tribe have been mentioned, These are Gangte, Thado and Vaiphel.
In view or the above Presidential Orders it can be said that Kuki is a Tribe and there are as many as 37 sub-tribes within this Tribe.
There are several Kuki Tribes which also include Thadou Tribe as one of such Kuki Tribe. It is said that Thadou having representing all the majority of Kuki population has already been included in the Presidential Order. The ST Commission observed in its report at Chapter-9, Clause VI to the effect that certain tribes resented being included wrongly under different regional or tribal names and was suggested that the Schedule should simply mention any Naga or Kuki or Lushai Tribe, but this as per the opinion of the Commission, would not solve the problem satisfactorily. It is observed by the Commission that there are ‘Hmars’ the ‘Paites’ and others, for instance, who refused to be classified amongst ‘Kukis’ or ‘Nagas’. Though some of the ‘Paites’ are ‘Chins’, an objection was raised to their classification under the general heading of ‘Chins’. In such circumstances, the Commission observed that it would be more convenient to list all the tribes by their own particular names in the hilly areas of Assam and Manipur. Objecting the aforesaid recommendation made by the State Govt. the Petitioner filed various representation before various authorities including highest authorities of the country but no fruitful result has been effected on their representations.
According to Kuki custom, an individual invariably requires formal approval from the Gaoubura of the village for any type of construction.
Connection:
Kuki Christian Church
Kuki Baptist Church
Kuki Baptist Association
Kuki Revolutionary Army
Kuki National Front-extremists organization of Kukies
Maova Chrtltian Church (K.C.C.)-The Maova Baptist Church which was originally affiliated to Kuki Baptist Association subsequently left the fold of the K.B.A. and joined the Kuki Christian Church some time in February 1983.
