Manipur: Education minister promises to remove “The Kukis” chapter from history book

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• Nov 16, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Responding to concerns raised by social activist Maheshwar Thounaojam regarding alleged historical inaccuracies in the class 11 syllabus, Education Minister Basanta Kumar Thounaojam has... 

Digital Desk: Responding to concerns raised by social activist Maheshwar Thounaojam regarding alleged historical inaccuracies in the class 11 syllabus, Education Minister Basanta Kumar Thounaojam has pledged to remove the chapter titled "The Kukis" from the book 'History of Manipur' authored by M Kaoba Singh and B Sm Sharma.

Speaking at a press conference held at his residence in Keishampat, Imphal West district, the social activist accused the mentioned chapter of misinterpreting information related to the migration of Kukis in Manipur. Maheshwar argued that the book erroneously claims, "some Kuki tribals migrated to Manipur during the pre-historic period," which contradicts Manipur's documented history dating back to 33 AD. He cited James Johnstone's 'Manipur and Naga Hills (1896),' which places the term "Kuki" between 1830 and 1840.

Highlighting the potential misinformation, Maheshwar expressed concerns that such inaccuracies could mislead future generations. He informed the media that he had engaged with the education minister to address the issue, and Minister Basanta Kumar Thounaojam assured a thorough investigation and correction.

Maheshwar further contested the inclusion of the Anglo-Kuki War in Manipur's history, asserting that it had never occurred. He referenced an RTI reply from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, which corroborated this claim. Despite this, Maheshwar lamented that the Anglo-Kuki War remains a part of Delhi University's curriculum, calling it "unfortunate and condemnable." The activist urged educational institutions to rectify historical inaccuracies to provide students with an accurate understanding of Manipur's rich history.