Imphal, August 6: In a landmark effort to heal ethnic divisions and foster communal harmony in strife-torn Manipur, representatives of the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) and leading Meitei civil society organisations convened a closed-door peace dialogue in Imphal on Wednesday. The event marked the first face-to-face interaction between the two communities in the state since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.
The dialogue, titled “Roadmap to Peace”, brought together over 15 delegates from TIM — the apex body representing the Thadou tribe, the largest sub-group among the Chin-Kuki-Zomi people — and members of key Meitei organisations such as the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Arambai Tenggol, All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), FOCS, Ima groups and student leaders.
Previously, similar interactions between the Thadou and Meitei communities had taken place in New Delhi. However, this was the first such engagement held on Manipur soil, signalling a growing will on both sides to pursue reconciliation and constructive dialogue.
In a powerful statement issued after the session, TIM clarified the distinct identity of the Thadou people, distancing the tribe from the broader Kuki nomenclature. “A major source of confusion between the Thadou tribe and those identifying as Kuki tribes arises from similarities in attire and cultural expressions,” the statement read. “However, it is crucial to understand that the Thadou tribe is a distinct indigenous identity, while the Kuki nomenclature, as used today, has become a politicised and ideological label.”
TIM strongly asserted that “Kuki” is not a genuine ethnic identity but a politically motivated term with foreign origins. It further alleged that the label has been adopted by groups promoting separatist and extremist ideologies, many of whom are suspected illegal immigrants who settled in Manipur in recent decades. The statement also pointed to the role of religious and church politics in misclassifying Thadou individuals as Kukis, which it claimed has led to deep-rooted identity confusion and tensions.
“This has become a threat not only to the Thadou tribe but also to the Meiteis, Meitei-Pangal, other tribal communities, and Manipur’s unity as a whole,” TIM said. “We must not mistake external appearances for identity. Wearing similar attire does not equate to being the same people. The appropriation of Thadou culture by Kuki-identifying groups is misleading and harmful.”
The dialogue was described by TIM as a “defining moment in our shared history,” calling for clarity of identity, rejection of extremism, and a renewed commitment to peaceful coexistence. “In truth, we stand. In unity, we endure. In peace, we rebuild,” the concluding message read.
