Anglo-kuki war
# Anglo-kuki war

The Anglo-Kuki War was a significant conflict fought between the British Indian government and various Kuki tribes in present-day Northeast India from 1917 to 1919. The Kukis were a group of indigenous people who inhabited the hills and valleys of the region. The war arose out of a combination of factors, including British colonialism, economic exploitation, and political oppression of the Kukis, as well as resistance to the British attempts to impose their authority in the region.

## Background

The background of the Anglo-Kuki War lies in the complex history of the northeastern region of India. The Kukis were a group of indigenous people who inhabited the hills and valleys of the region. They were divided into numerous clans and had a decentralized political structure. The British colonial authorities began exerting their influence in the region in the early 19th century, which gradually led to a clash of interests between the Kukis and the British.

The Kukis had a long history of resistance against British colonialism. In the 1850s, they rose up against the British in what is known as the Kuki Rebellion. Although the rebellion was eventually crushed, it left a lasting impression on the Kuki people and their relationship with the British.

In the late 19th century, the British Raj began expanding its control over the region, which included the annexation of the princely state of Manipur in 1891. The annexation was met with fierce resistance from the Manipuri people, and the British were forced to send in troops to quell the uprising. The Kukis, who had long-standing grievances against the Manipuris, saw an opportunity to ally with the British against their common enemy.

However, the alliance between the Kukis and the British was short-lived. The British began imposing their authority on the Kukis, often through force, and this led to a growing resentment among the Kukis. Additionally, the British administration introduced policies that affected the traditional way of life of the Kukis, including restrictions on hunting and the introduction of a system of land revenue.

The tensions between the Kukis and the British eventually boiled over into armed conflict. In 1917, the Kuki chiefs formed an alliance called the Kuki Defence Force (KDF), which began carrying out raids against British and Indian government targets. The British responded with a military campaign, and the conflict escalated into a full-scale war.

## Cause of Conflict

The causes of the Anglo-Kuki War were complex and multi-faceted. The conflict was rooted in a combination of political, economic, and social factors, including colonialism, land disputes, taxation, and cultural differences.

One of the primary causes of the conflict was the British colonial policy of annexation and consolidation of the Northeastern region of India. As the British expanded their colonial rule, they began to assert their authority over the Kuki tribes who had traditionally inhabited the hills and valleys of the region. The British imposed a system of taxation on the Kukis, which they saw as a violation of their traditional rights and customs. The Kukis also felt that the British were encroaching on their land and limiting their freedom of movement.

The Kuki tribes, on the other hand, saw themselves as independent and autonomous communities, with their own customs, traditions, and ways of life. They resisted British attempts to control their affairs and saw the imposition of colonial rule as a threat to their way of life. They were also deeply suspicious of British intentions and feared that the British were attempting to displace them from their land and resources.

Another major cause of the conflict was the competition for resources, particularly land. The Kukis were traditionally a pastoral and agricultural people, and they depended on the land for their livelihoods. As the British expanded their rule and introduced new economic policies, the Kukis found themselves increasingly marginalized and their access to land restricted.

Finally, cultural differences also played a role in the conflict. The Kukis had a different social and cultural system than the British, which made it difficult for them to understand and accept British colonial policies. The Kukis also saw the British as foreigners who had little understanding of their way of life and culture.

Overall, the Anglo-Kuki War was a complex conflict with multiple causes. It was rooted in the British colonial policy of annexation and consolidation, land disputes, taxation, and cultural differences. These issues created a climate of tension and mistrust between the British and the Kuki tribes, which ultimately led to armed conflict.

## Preparation

The preparation for the Anglo-Kuki War was a significant factor in the conflict. The British Indian government had been preparing to expand their influence in the Northeast region of India for a long time. They had been slowly but steadily annexing territories of various indigenous groups and tribes, often through diplomatic means or by using force.

The British Indian government had already established control over the surrounding areas of the Kuki inhabited hills by the early 20th century. However, the Kukis remained fiercely independent and resisted British attempts to control their land and resources. The Kukis had been engaged in smaller skirmishes with the British for years, but in 1917, the conflict escalated into a full-blown war.

The Kukis, sensing the impending danger, started to prepare themselves for the inevitable war. They began to gather weapons and formed alliances with other Kuki tribes to strengthen their position. Many of the Kuki warriors had traditional weapons like spears and bows and arrows, but they also acquired modern weapons like rifles and machine guns from neighboring countries like China and Burma.

The British, on the other hand, had a more organized approach to their preparation. They had a large standing army that they could deploy at a moment's notice. The British Indian government also mobilized troops from other parts of India to fight against the Kukis. They trained their troops in modern warfare tactics and equipped them with the latest weapons and technology.

The British also took steps to disrupt the Kukis' supply lines, by destroying their villages and crops. They also tried to isolate the Kuki tribes by cutting off communication and transportation links.

Overall, the preparation for the Anglo-Kuki War was a long and protracted process for both sides. The Kukis, although lacking in modern military equipment, made up for it with their fierce determination and fighting spirit. The British, with their superior technology and organization, were able to gain the upper hand in the conflict.

## Course of war

The Anglo-Kuki War was a complex and protracted conflict that spanned over two years and involved numerous battles and engagements between the Kuki tribes and the British Indian government. The war was marked by several phases of escalation and de-escalation, as well as shifts in tactics and strategies employed by both sides.

The initial phase of the war began in 1917, when the Kukis launched a series of guerrilla attacks against the British authorities in Manipur and other areas of Northeast India. The Kukis were emboldened by their recent success in repelling a British expeditionary force that had been sent to punish the Lushai tribes in 1871. The Kukis were confident in their ability to defend their land and resist the British attempts to assert control over their territories.

The British Indian government responded to the Kuki insurgency by launching a counter-offensive, which consisted of a series of punitive expeditions and military campaigns against the Kuki tribes. The British forces relied heavily on their superior firepower and technology, including machine guns and artillery, to overwhelm the Kuki fighters. The British also employed tactics such as scorched earth policy and forced relocation of Kuki villagers to disrupt the Kuki resistance and undermine their support base.

As the conflict continued, both sides suffered significant losses, with the Kukis bearing the brunt of the casualties. The Kukis faced numerous challenges in terms of logistics, coordination, and leadership, which hampered their ability to mount a sustained and effective resistance against the British. The British, on the other hand, faced difficulties in dealing with the complex terrain and geography of the region, as well as the guerilla tactics employed by the Kukis.

Despite these challenges, the conflict continued to escalate, with both sides committing atrocities and human rights abuses. The British authorities imposed martial law in many parts of the region, and conducted widespread arrests, torture, and executions of suspected Kuki fighters and sympathizers. The Kukis, in turn, resorted to acts of sabotage, assassination, and terror against the British and their collaborators.

In 1919, the conflict finally came to an end, with the signing of the Mizo Peace Accord between the British authorities and the leaders of the Mizo tribe. The Accord granted limited autonomy to the Mizos, and recognized their traditional rights over their land and resources. However, the Kukis were not included in the Accord, and the conflict continued to simmer for several more years, until a final settlement was reached in 1923.

Overall, the Anglo-Kuki War was a highly complex and multifaceted conflict that had profound impacts on the social, political, and economic landscape of Northeast India. The conflict highlighted the tensions and contradictions inherent in the colonial project of the British Indian government, and the resistance and resilience of the indigenous peoples who sought to defend their land and way of life.

## End of the war

After years of fighting, the Anglo-Kuki War finally came to an end with the defeat of the Kuki tribes. By 1919, most of the Kuki strongholds had been captured by the British, and the Kukis had suffered significant casualties. The Kukis eventually sued for peace, and in June 1919, a formal treaty was signed between the British and the Kukis.

Under the terms of the treaty, the Kukis agreed to lay down their arms and accept British rule. The Kuki chiefs were forced to pay a heavy tribute to the British, and the Kuki territories were placed under the direct control of the colonial government. The Kukis were also required to provide troops to the British Indian Army, and their territories were opened up to Christian missionaries.

The end of the Anglo-Kuki War marked the end of a significant chapter in the history of Northeast India. The Kukis had fought bravely against the British, but they were ultimately unable to resist the might of the colonial power. The war had a profound impact on the Kukis, who lost many of their best warriors and much of their territory. It also had a lasting impact on the region, with the British consolidating their control over the area and bringing it firmly under their rule.

## Aftermath

After the Anglo-Kuki War, the British government implemented several policies to prevent further uprisings and maintain control over the region. One of the most significant changes was the introduction of the Inner Line Permit system, which restricted the movement of people in the region and required non-indigenous people to obtain permission before entering. This policy was implemented in 1873 but was strictly enforced after the war to prevent the Kuki from obtaining arms and ammunition.

The war also resulted in the further marginalization of the Kuki people, who were stripped of their weapons and land. Many Kuki villages were destroyed, and their inhabitants were forced to flee to other areas or assimilate into other tribes. The Kuki population also experienced a decline due to the war and its aftermath.

The Kuki people's loss of land and livelihoods after the war led to their further economic exploitation, and many were forced into indentured labor in tea plantations or as porters for the British army. The war also led to the introduction of Christianity to the region, as many Kuki people converted to escape persecution and gain protection from missionaries.

## Reference section

* ↑ Zou, David Vumlallian (2018-09-19), "Patriots and utilitarians in the Anglo-Kuki War", The Anglo-Kuki War, 1917–1919, Routledge India, pp. 157–167, retrieved 2023-02-22

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