The Thadou Community International (TCI) has vehemently denounced the depiction of Manipur as a “tri-ethnic state” comprising Kuki, Naga, and Meitei, asserting that this portrayal is a deliberate distortion with serious repercussions. TCI argues that this characterization is factually incorrect and historically unfounded, contributing to public misunderstanding and exacerbating ethnic tensions, instability, and violence in Manipur. The organization emphasizes that Manipur is actually a multi-ethnic state, home to the Meitei, Meitei-Pangal, Scheduled Tribes, and various other communities that have coexisted for generations. Compressing Manipur’s complex ethnic reality into a tri-ethnic framework constitutes ethnic erasure that undermines peace and inhibits progress.
In a press release, TCI recognizes a growing awareness of the importance of accurately identifying indigenous populations and insists that this must lead to tangible actions from institutions and communities. The organization warns that maintaining peace based on false narratives is unfeasible, and stability cannot be achieved through misrepresentation. TCI highlights the misuse of ethnic labels, particularly the coercive application of “Kuki” to various non-Kuki Scheduled Tribe communities such as Thadou, Paite, and others, despite their resistance to this categorization. This misuse, they claim, precipitated the 2023 Manipur crisis and previous ethnic conflicts, amounting to significant injustice and enduring harm.
Moreover, TCI expresses concern over the radicalization of individuals identifying as Kuki, indicating that violent ideologies pose a serious threat across all age groups, including influential community leaders. TCI urges all state institutions—including governments, security agencies, and the media—to discard the politically motivated tri-ethnic framework that fosters divisions and mistrust, instead advocating for a recognition of Manipur’s true multi-ethnic society.
Constitutionally, Manipur’s indigenous peoples are recognized as Meitei, Meitei-Pangal, and Scheduled Tribe groups, with 29 tribes acknowledged under the 1956 Presidential Order. TCI contends that the term “Kuki” lacks legitimate ethnic existence in Manipur and was politically contrived in 2003 merely for electoral gains. The term represents a violent ideology linked to political movements rather than a genuine ethnic identity, which threatens to erase the distinct identities of the region’s indigenous populations.
Furthermore, TCI asserts that the Thadou and other communities are acknowledged as ethnic groups in Myanmar, contrasting with the unrecognized status of the term “Kuki” there. Armed conflicts attributed to Kuki factions against Thadou members enhance the argument against the legitimacy of the Kuki identity. Despite numerous attempts, the Kuki label has failed to gain public or historical acceptance because it lacks an ethnographic foundation. The ethnic conflicts traced back to the 1990s in Manipur—including clashes between Kuki and other communities—are viewed by TCI as resultant from supremacist agendas and goals.
TCI calls for responsible action from policymakers and other relevant institutions, advocating for a rejection of incorrect ethnic classifications and the acknowledgement of Manipur’s multi-ethnic identity to foster harmony and stability. Until these ethnic identities are accurately recognized, TCI warns that efforts at conflict resolution would be superficial, overlooking deeper underlying issues that continue to afflict the people of Manipur.