https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Prostitution_in_Kuki_societyProstitution in Kuki society - Revision history2026-08-18T18:02:35ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prostitution_in_Kuki_society&diff=429960&oldid=prevAjay Kumar: Creating a new article2023-09-24T19:03:40Z<p>Creating a new article</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Overview of prostitution in Kuki society}}<br />
{{Disputed|date=September 2023}}<br />
{{Contains special characters|Burmese}}<br />
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[[Prostitution]] is practised by some people in the [[Kuki people|Kuki society]]. [[Kuki tribes]] ({{MYname|MY=ချင်းလူမျိုး|MLCTS=hkyang lu. myui:}}, {{IPA-my|tɕɪ́ɰ̃ lù mjó|pron}}) live mainly concentrated in [[Myanmar]]'s [[Chin State]], [[Bangladesh]]'s [[Chittagong Hill Tracts]] and scattered in most states of [[Northeast India]] (majorly in [[Manipur]] and [[Mizoram]]).<br />
[[File:Kuki language.png|thumb|Approximate extent of the area traditionally inhabited by the [[Kuki people]] ({{MYname|MY=ချင်းလူမျိုး|MLCTS=hkyang lu. myui:}})]]<br />
[[File:Prostitution in Asia.PNG|thumb|right|300px|Legal status of prostitution across Asia.<br/><br />
{{legend|#336600|Prostitution legal and regulated}}<br />
{{legend|#336699|Prostitution (the exchange of sex for money) legal, but organized activities such as [[brothels]] and [[pimping]] are illegal; prostitution is ''not'' regulated}}<br />
{{legend|#993333|Prostitution illegal}}<br />
{{legend|#ababab|No data}}<br />
]]<br />
==Causes==<br />
According to writer Tingneichong G. Kipgen, many families of [[Kuki people]] ({{MYname|MY=ချင်းလူမျိုး|MLCTS=hkyang lu. myui:}}) are run mainly by women as the bread earner, starting from educated Kuki women as [[Manipur Government]] job employees, to many others.<ref name=":Tingneichong">{{Cite book |last=Tingneichong G. |first=Kipgen |title=Women's Role in the 20th Century Manipur: A Historical Study |url=https://dspace.cus.ac.in/jspui/bitstream/1/918/1/WOMENS%20ROLE%2020TH%20CENTURY%20MANIPUR.pdf |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |isbn=9788178358031 |year=2010}}</ref><br />
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According to writer Tingneichong G. Kipgen, during the early 1990s, due to the conflict between the Kuki groups and the [[NSCN-IM]], the economy of the former was drastically affected, as many Kuki women lost husbands and many Kuki children lost fathers and many lost homes. As many Kuki families became landless and afterwards ''"a mere wage earner or hire labourers"'', many Kuki women started prostitution as profession. Simultaneously, many Kuki youths got addicted to drugs due to the tension caused by ethnic conflict and the resulting economic instability. Though there are some Kuki families who are in the social [[creamy layer]], most of the Kukis are living in miserable lives.<ref name=":Tingneichong" /><br />
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==As a result of Naga-Kuki ethnic clash==<br />
According to Pu David Haokip, the General Secretary of the United Kuki Liberation Front, there is a growing tradition of prostitution among the Kukis which is a consequence of the Naga-Kuki ethnic clash. Widowed Kuki women usually take up such profession to feed their children and themselves.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-10-08 |title=The Idea of a Sovereign Zalen'gam: Interview of General Secretary of United Kuki Liberation Front Pu David Haokip » Imphal Review of Arts and Politics |url=https://imphalreviews.in/the-idea-of-a-sovereign-zalengam-interview-of-general-secretary-of-united-kuki-liberation-front-pu-david-haokip/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website= |language=en-GB |quote=Increasing trend of sex-worker among the Kukis is seen after the Naga-Kuki clash due to the obvious reasons. Young widows with children left without husbands are likely to take up such business to keep their children and herself safe from hunger and starvation or extreme poverty. This is certain to happen in the society where widow upliftment or welfare measures are almost absent.}}</ref><br />
==As a result of Kuki-Paite ethnic clash==<br />
Many Kuki women especially from [[Churachandpur]] became prostitutes after the occurrence of the Kuki-Paite ethnic clash. One notable example is that of Rosy Haokip.{{efn|a nickname, not her real name}} Rosy Haokip is a victim of the Kuki-Paite ethnic clash of 1997. To earn a bread for herself and her survived daughter, she became a prostitute, in the streets, two years after the death of her husband and her son in the ethnic violence. She came to media coverage when an organization named "All Manipur Students' Union" (AMSU) caught up 10 prostitutes, including her, from a hotel. She and the other women were brought to a health clinic at Khoyathong. She and the other women were requested by counsellors to attend the clinic at a regular basis. Eventually, the owner, manager and three clients associated with the very hotel were arrested by the police.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ETHNIC RIOTS TAKE TOLL ON KUKI GIRLS |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/ethnic-riots-take-toll-on-kuki-girls/cid/910430 |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |language=en}}</ref><br />
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==Rescue from prostitution==<br />
In September 2010, policemen of [[Diphu]] rescued two Kuki girls named Kikim Lenthang and Thimnu Hengna from forced prostitution in [[Siliguri]]. Upon investigation, it was found that the girls were brought to a brothel in Siliguri by a person named Gayatri Pradhan, who deceived them for jobs.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=2010-10-04 |title=2 Kuki girls rescued {{!}} Nagaland Post |url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/2-kuki-girls-rescued/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
Later, the girls were returned to their families. It was also found out that the girls actually came as 4 but they were separated into 2 groups having 2 girls each, and other two girls who were untraceable till that time.<ref name="auto"/><br />
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==Spread of HIV AIDS==<br />
According to Kuki writer Tingneichong G. Kipgen, to curb the spreading of HIV AIDS{{efn|due to prostitution}} as well as to be able to earn money by themselves{{efn|alternative to prostitution}}, many Self-Help Groups and N.G.Os organised social awareness programs for Kuki women, to bring change in their lives.<ref name=":Tingneichong" /><br />
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==Portrayal in cinemas==<br />
Prostitution of Kuki women are notably portrayed in the [[cinema of Manipur]]. In a [[Cinema of Manipur|Manipuri feature film]] titled "Mami" ({{translation|The Image}}), prostitution of Kuki women in ‘Khamtang’ (Kuki women's traditional clothes) was shown. The film shows the real life incidents of many unfortunate Kuki women, who became victims of the ethnic clash between the Kukis and the Nagas (1992-97).<ref>{{Cite web |last=KanglaOnline |date=2012-08-17 |title=The Bad Image – Manipuri Feature Film – Mami – Review – KanglaOnline |url=https://kanglaonline.in/2012/08/the-bad-image-manipuri-feature-film-mami-review/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-16 |title=Kuki Women – Manipur News |url=http://www.manipur.org/news/tag/kuki-women/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{Notelist}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
# {{Cite web |title=Moreh turning into sex workers' paradise : 15th dec09 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=7..151209.dec09 |access-date=2023-09-22}}<br />
# {{Cite web |title=Manipur: Assam Rifles jawans accused of sexually assaulting woman |date=21 November 2019 |url=http://www.eastmojo.com/news/2019/11/21/manipur-assam-rifles-jawans-accused-of-sexually-assaulting-woman/ |language=en-US}}<br />
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[[Category:Prostitution in Bangladesh]]<br />
[[Category:Prostitution in India]]<br />
[[Category:Prostitution in Myanmar]]</div>Ajay Kumar