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{{Orphan|date=August 2023}}
{{Short description|A tribal revolt against the British Raj in Manipur}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Kuki Rebellion of 1917-19 <br /> (Kuki Uprising)
| place = Modern day [[Ukhrul]], [[Manipur]]
| date = 1917-1919
| combatant1 = [[Kuki tribes]]
| combatant2 = [[British Army]]
}}

The '''Kuki Rebellion''', also known as the '''Kuki Revolt''', '''Kuki Uprising'''<ref>{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tiKkyEgmhiAC&q=kuki+uprising&pg=SL3-PA57 |title=General Indian National Movement & Constitutional Development |publisher= |pages=57 |language=en}}</ref> was one of the major [[tribal revolts in India before Indian independence]]. It took place at [[Longpi]] village, from March 1917 to May 1919. It was a [[rebellion]] by the [[Kuki tribes]] against the British colonial rule in the present day [[Ukhrul district]] of [[Manipur]]. The event was referred to as '''Anglo-Kuki War''' or '''Kuki war of independence'''{{efn|name=nomenclature|The term "Anglo Kuki war" is [[#Nomenclature|highly disputed about its authenticity and validity]].}} by the [[Kuki tribes]] themselves,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Haokip |first=TS Letkhosei |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cGpoDwAAQBAJ&dq=kuki+revolt&pg=PA9 |title=Ethnicity and Insurgency in Myanmar /Burma: A Comparative Study of the Kuki - Chin and Karen Insurgencies |date=2018-08-30 |publisher=Educreation Publishing |pages=9 |language=en}}</ref> but the validation and authenticity of the term "war" is still questioned, disputed and challenged by multiple scholars, civil society organizations,<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Four Naga tribes on 'Anglo-Kuki War' issue |url=https://www.morungexpress.com/four-naga-tribes-anglo-kuki-war-issue |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=MorungExpress |quote=... According to the four Naga tribe bodies, there was no "Anglo-Kuki War" in the history of Manipur. "There is Kuki Rebellion (1917-18) in the history. It was started in December 1917 and brought under control in November 1918, a period of about one year," the joint statement also pointed out. ...}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> as well as the [[Government of Manipur]],<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":1" /> and the [[Ministry of Home Affairs]] of the [[Union Government of India]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":0" />

== Validity of the term "War" {{anchor|Authenticity of the term "War"|Nomenclature}} ==
In all the official written documents and records of the Britishers kept in both [[India]] and [[United Kingdom]], the event was recorded as ''"Kuki Rebellion"'' and not ''"war"''.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=KanglaOnline |date=2017-01-04 |title=Reinterpreting the Anglo-Kuki War, 1917-1920 – KanglaOnline |url=http://kanglaonline.com/2017/01/reinterpreting-the-anglo-kuki-war-1917-1920/ |access-date=2023-08-08 |language=en-US |quote=... In all the British documents both in India and London, the colonial authorities recorded the war as ‘Kuki Rebellion” and the Kukis as ‘rebels’. ...}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

In 2023, the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] (MHA) of the [[Government of India]], in response to a [[Right to Information]] (RTI) application, stated that no ''"Anglo-Kuki war"'' occurred in [[Manipur]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=No record of Anglo-Kuki war in Manipur: MHA : 05th aug23 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=27..050823.aug23 |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=No Anglo-Kuki war : Licypriya quoting MHA |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2023/8/5/By-Our-Staff-ReporterIMPHAL-Aug-4-Young-climate-activist-Licypriya-Kangujam-has-claimed-that-there-is-no.html |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=www.thesangaiexpress.com |language=en}}</ref> The RTI was filed by climate change activist [[Licypriya Kangujam]] on 17th June of 2023 on whether the Anglo-Kuki war happened in Manipur or not.<ref name=":0" />

Many [[Naga people]] of [[Manipur]] opposed the term "Anglo Kuki War".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2019-10-16 |title=Manipur: Kuki militants write to PM Modi over 'Anglo-Kuki War' claim tussle |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/manipur/manipur-kuki-militants-write-to-pm-modi-over-anglo-kuki-war-claim-tussle/ |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en |quote=The Naga bodies claimed that the Kukis are trying to twist the history for there has been no ‘Anglo-Kuki War’ but ‘Kuki-Rebellion 1917’.}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> They said that the conflict between the British rulers and the [[Kuki tribes]] was just a "[[rebellion]]" as was mentioned in the written records of the [[Britishers]] and [[Assam Rifles]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Was It An Uprising Or A War? |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-was-it-an-uprising-or-war/362636 |quote=The matter became tricky when many Manipur Naga Groups opposed the tag "Anglo Kuki War" and alleged that the fight against the British by the Kukis was just a rebellion as recorded in the British and Assam Rifles records. With only a few days left for the commemoration and the inauguration of the monoliths thereof, the Manipur state government directed all the monoliths to be destroyed.}}</ref>
Some civil society organizations that opposed and questioned the authenticity of the term "Anglo-Kuki war" are Inpui Naga Union, Manipur (INU-M), Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur (LNC-M), Rongmei Naga Council, Manipur (RNC-M) and Zeme Naga Council, Manipur (ZNC-M). These organizations requested the [[Government of Manipur]] to stop the ''"sinister design"'' of the organisers of the ''"so called Commemoration of Anglo-Kuki War"''.<ref name=":7" />

On October 15, 2019, the ''"Federation of Haomee"'' submitted a memorandum to [[Amit Shah]], the then [[Union Home Minister of India]] about the "Anglo-Kuki war". The Home minister replied to the Federation of Haomee as well as addressed to the Chief Secretary of the [[Government of Manipur]] to destroy all centenary stone pillars of the "Anglo-Kuki war".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=There was no Anglo-Kuki War of 1917-1919: Federation of Haomee |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/there-was-no-anglo-kuki-war-of-1917-1919-federation-of-haomee |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=[[Imphal Free Press]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[Leishemba Sanajaoba]], a [[Member of Parliament]] in [[Rajya Sabha]], also clarified that there was no "Anglo-Kuki War" and requested the [[Government of Manipur]] to investigate the matter and punish those who are distorting the [[history of Manipur]].<ref name=":3" />

The [[Government of Manipur]] had issued an order to remove and destroy all the recently erected [[centenary]] monumental stones mentioning "Anglo-Kuki War" built in every [[Kuki tribes|Kuki]]-populated villages in [[Manipur]] due to the strong opposition from various sections of different communities in Manipur.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

One of the centenary monolith stones at C Aisan Village, used to mention the term ''"Anglo Kuki war"'', due to which it was destroyed and reconstructed with a rectified term ''"Kuki Rising"''. The monolith was later inaugurated on 17th of October 2020 by the [[Chief Minister of Manipur]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Today |first=North East |date=2020-10-22 |title=UPRISING OR WAR? |url=https://www.northeasttoday.in/2020/10/22/uprising-or-war/ |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=Northeast Today |language=en-US |quote=... The monolith at C Aisan Village, which was to be dedicated by the CM in 2019 with the engraving, ‘In defence of our ancestral land and freedom’ was pulled down and the words changed- ‘Anglo Kuki war’ to ‘Kuki Rising’. A commemoration programme with the changed engraving was organised on 17th of October 2020 and the CM of Manipur inaugurated the newly engraved monolith through Video Conference. ...}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Bhumij rebellion]]
* [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
* [[Kol rebellion]]
* [[Santhal rebellion]]
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Rebellions in India]]
[[Category:Political uprisings in India]]
[[Category:Kuki tribes]]
[[Category:History of Manipur]]

Kuki Rebellion of 1917-1919 - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article