103-495: The Kuki people , or Kuki-Zo people , are an ethnic group in the Northeastern Indian states of Manipur , Nagaland , Assam , Meghalaya , Tripura and Mizoram , as well as the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Myanmar . The Kukis form one of the largest hill tribe communities in this region. In Northeast India, they are present in all states except Arunachal Pradesh . The Chin people of Myanmar and
206-604: A subtropical climate that is influenced by its relief and influences from the southwest and northeast monsoons . The Himalayas to the north, the Meghalaya plateau to the south and the hills of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur to the east influences the climate. Since monsoon winds originating from the Bay of Bengal move northeast, these mountains force the moist winds upwards, causing them to cool adiabatically and condense into clouds, releasing heavy precipitation on these slopes. It
309-537: A Kuki Muslim community has also developed. They are said to be descendants of Kuki men who had married Bengali Muslim women, a relationship requiring the husband to be a Muslim. They are mostly centred around the village of North Chandrapur in the Tripuri city of Udaipur . Notable Kuki Muslims include Khirod Ali Sardar of Chandrapur and Ali Mia of Sonamura . The community has been subject to scorn by other Kukis. Northeastern India Northeast India , officially
412-399: A center of rice germplasm. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), India, has highlighted the region as being rich in wild relatives of crop plants. It is the center of origin of citrus fruits. Two primitive variety of maize, Sikkim Primitive 1 and 2, have been reported from Sikkim (Dhawan, 1964). Although jhum cultivation , a traditional system of agriculture, is often cited as
515-452: A choice mithun ), Ka’ng Ka’p , Ka’ngchoi Ka’p (top game), Suhtumkhawh (javelin throw using the heavy wooden implement for pounding-de-husking-paddy) and So’ngse (shot put). The Lawm was also a centre where young Kuki people learned discipline and social etiquette. After harvest season, the Lawm meet is celebrated with a Lawm-se’l and, as a commemoration, a pillar is erected. The event
618-552: A consensus seems to have developed among the Kuki tribes of Manipur to use the compound term " Kuki-Zo " to refer to themselves. Ethnologist C. A. Soppitt argued that the Kuki tribes must have settled in region west of Irrawaddy river from before the 11th century, based on the fact that they had no traces of Buddhism, which was already prevalent in Burma by that time. He grouped the Kuki tribes into two broad classes: Hrangkhol along with
721-620: A decisive defeat for the Japanese. They suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat, marking a turning point in the Burma Campaign. The Allied victory paved the way for subsequent offensives to clear Japanese forces from Burma and ultimately led to the re-conquest of the region. Arunachal Pradesh, a state in the Northeastern tip of India, is claimed by China as South Tibet . Sino-Indian relations degraded, resulting in
824-562: A description of the Kuki ( Ko-ki ) country, including in it almost the entire eastern hill range and beyond. The term also occurs in traditional Meitei hymns where the Kuki king is praised along with the Meitei king. The term came into British usage in 1777, when the chief of Chittagong appealed to the British governor general Warren Hastings for help against Kuki raids from the hills. The same collection of tribes were called " Chins " by
927-517: A flavouring agent), so prized in the old world. Ptolemy 's Geographia (2nd century CE) calls the region Kirrhadia , apparently after the Kirata population. In the early historical period (most of the first millennium CE), Kamarupa straddled most of present-day Northeast India. Xuanzang , a travelling Chinese Buddhist monk, visited Kamarupa in the 7th century CE. He described the people as "short in stature and black-looking", whose speech differed
1030-526: A little from mid-India and who were of simple but violent disposition. He wrote that the people in Kamarupa knew of Sichuan , which lay to the kingdom's east beyond a treacherous mountain. The northeastern states were established during the British Raj of the 19th and early 20th centuries, when they became relatively isolated from traditional trading partners such as Bhutan and Myanmar . Many of
1133-676: A number of features that set them apart from most other areas of the Indian subcontinent (such as alveolar consonants rather than the more typical dental/retroflex distinction). Assamese , an Indo-Aryan language spoken mostly in the Brahmaputra Valley , developed as a lingua franca for many speech communities. Assamese-based pidgin/creoles have developed in Nagaland ( Nagamese ) and Arunachal ( Nefamese ), though Nefamese has been replaced by Hindi in recent times. Bengali language
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#17327975831911236-410: A predominantly humid sub-tropical climate with hot, humid summers, severe monsoons, and mild winters. Along with the west coast of India, this region has some of the Indian subcontinent's last remaining rainforests, which support diverse flora and fauna and several crop species. Reserves of petroleum and natural gas in the region are estimated to constitute a fifth of India's total potential. The region
1339-642: A progression in time. The British testimony regarding Kukis in Manipur was variable. British Commissioner Pemberton wrote in 1835 that the Khongjais stretched along the hills from the south of the Manipur valley to the Arakan Mountains . British Residents, William McCulloch (1844–1863) and Colonel Johnstone (1877–1886), wrote that Khongjais had long been subjects of Manipur, but "new immigrants" of them came through between 1830 and 1840. They "poured into
1442-754: A radio talk show. He later compiled a book on the interdependence and commonness of the Seven Sister States. It has been primarily because of this publication that the nickname has caught on. The Northeast region can be physiographically categorised into the Eastern Himalaya , the Patkai and the Brahmaputra and the Barak valley plains. Northeast India (at the confluence of Indo-Malayan, Indo-Chinese, and Indian biogeographical realms) has
1545-420: A reason for the loss of forest cover of the region, this primary agricultural economic activity practised by local tribes supported the cultivation of 35 varieties of crops. The region is rich in medicinal plants and many other rare and endangered taxa . Its high endemism in both higher plants , vertebrates , and avian diversity has qualified it as a biodiversity hotspot . The following figures highlight
1648-529: A significant increase in musical innovation in the 21st century. Many of the Northeast Indian indigenous communities have an ancient heritage of folktales which tell the tale of their origin, rituals, beliefs and so on. These tales are transmitted from one generation to another in oral form. They are remarkable instances of tribal wisdom and imagination. However, Assam, Tripura and Manipur have some ancient written texts. These states were mentioned in
1751-624: A small group within India's North-Eastern border states of Manipur and Mizoram ; since the late 20th century, they claim descent from one of the Lost Tribes of Israel and have adopted the practice of Judaism. The Bnei Menashe are made up of Mizo , Kuki and Chin peoples , who all speak Tibeto-Burman languages , and whose ancestors migrated into northeast India from Burma mostly in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are called Chin in Burma . In
1854-542: A southward occurrence of this mountain range in comparison to other Himalayan ranges, this region has a distinctly different climate, with warmer mean temperatures and fewer days with frost, and much higher rainfall. This has resulted in the occurrence of a rich array of restricted-range bird species. More than two critically endangered species, three endangered species, and 14 vulnerable species of birds are in this EBA. Stattersfield et al. (1998) identified 22 restricted range species, out of which 19 are confined to this region and
1957-548: A year. Areas in the Brahmputra valley receive 2,000 mm (79 in) of rainfall a year while mountainous areas receive 2,000 to 3,000 mm (79 to 118 in) a year. The southwest monsoon is responsible for bringing 90% of the annual rainfall to the region. April to late October are the months where most of the rainfall in Northeast India occurs with June and July being the rainiest months. In most parts of
2060-553: Is 46 million with 68 per cent of that living in Assam alone. Assam also has a higher population density of 397 persons per km than the national average of 382 persons per km . The literacy rates in the states of the Northeastern region, except those in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, are higher than the national average of 74 per cent. As per 2011 census, Meghalaya recorded the highest population growth of 27.8 per cent among all
2163-399: Is a famous industry in the region. Northeast is a hub of different genres of music. Each community has its own rich heritage of folk music. Talented musicians and singers are plentifully found in this part of the country. The Assamese singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika achieved national and international fame with his remarkable creations. Another famous singer from Assam, Pratima Barua Pandey
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#17327975831912266-419: Is a mega-earthquake prone zone caused by active fault planes beneath formed by the convergence of three tectonic plates viz. India Plate , Eurasian Plate and Burma Plate . Historically the region has suffered from two great earthquakes (M > 8.0) – 1897 Assam earthquake and 1950 Assam-Tibet earthquake – and about 20 large earthquakes (8.0 > M > 7.0) since 1897. The 1950 Assam-Tibet earthquake
2369-657: Is a popular term for the contiguous states of Arunachal Pradesh , Assam , Meghalaya , Manipur , Mizoram , Nagaland and Tripura prior to inclusion of the state of Sikkim into the North Eastern Region of India. The sobriquet 'Land of the Seven Sisters' was coined to coincide with the inauguration of the new states in January 1972 by Jyoti Prasad Saikia, a journalist in Tripura, in the course of
2472-562: Is a well-known folk singer. Zubeen Garg , Papon , Anurag Saikia are some other notable singers, musicians from the state of Assam . Tangkhul Naga folk blue singer like Rewben Mashangva , who comes from Ukhrul, is an acclaimed Folk singer whose music is inspired by the like of Bob Dylan and Bob Marley. Another famous folk singing band from Nagaland popularly known as Tetseo Sisters is one to be noted for their original music genre. However, younger generation has started pursuing western music more and more nowadays. The northeast region has seen
2575-551: Is accompanied by dance and drinking rice-beer, which sometimes continues for days and nights. With regard to governance, Semang (cabinet) is the annual assembly of a Kuki village community held at the Chief's residence represents the Inpi (Assembly). In such an assembly, the Chief and his Semang and Pachong (cabinet members and auxiliary of Inpi) and all the household heads of the village congregate to discuss and resolve matters relating to
2678-704: Is also the name of a particular clan among the Thadou Kukis. Other clans include Haokip, Kipgen, Doungel, Hangshing, Mangvung etc. According to the 2011 census of India, there are 229,340 Thadou language-speakers in the country. The vast majority of them (97.6%) are in the state of Manipur . Within Manipur, they make up the largest single tribe, forming about 19% of all its Scheduled Tribes . There are also significant numbers of Thadou-speakers in Meghalaya and Assam . In addition, many Thadou language-speakers are also believed to list their language as "Kuki" in
2781-610: Is an acclaimed Assamese writer whose novels include Moth-Eaten Howda of the Tusker , Pages Stained with Blood , The Shadow of Kamakhya and The Blue-Necked God . Mamang Dai won the Sahitya Akademi Award (2017) for her novel The Black Hill . Thadou people Thadou people , also called Thadou Kukis , are the Thadou language -speaking Kuki people inhabiting Northeast India , Burma , Bangladesh . "Thadou"
2884-1560: Is another Indo-Aryan language spoken in South Assam in the Barak Valley and Tripura , being the majority and official language in both the regions. The Austro-Asiatic family is represented by the Khasi , Jaintia and War languages of Meghalaya. A small number of Tai–Kadai languages ( Ahom , Tai Phake , Khamti , etc.) are also spoken. Sino-Tibetan is represented by a number of languages that differ significantly from each other, some of which are: Boro , Rabha , Karbi , Mising , Tiwa , Deori , Hmar (including Biate, Chorei, Halam, Hrangkhawl, Kaipeng, Molsom, Ranglong, Saihriem, Sakachep, Thangachep, Thiek) , Zeme Naga , Rengma Naga and, Kuki ( Thadou language ) (Assam); Garo , Rabha , Hmar (including Biate, Sakachep) (Meghalaya); Ao , Angami , Sema , Lotha , Konyak , Chakhesang , Chang , Khiamniungan , Phom , Pochury , Rengma , Sangtam , Tikhir , Yimkhiung , Zeliang , Kuki ( Thadou ), and Hmar (including Sakachep/Khelma) etc. (Nagaland); Mizo languages such as Lusei (including Hualngo) , Hmar (including Chorei, Darlawng, Darngawn, Kaipeng, Khawlhring, Molsom, Ngente, Sakachep, Zote) , Lai (including Hakha, Falam, Khualsim, Zanniet, Sim) , Mara languages , Ralte/Galte , Zomi/Paihte , Kuki/Thahdo , etc. (Mizoram); Hrusso , Tanee , Niyshi , Adi , Abor, Nocte , Apatani , Mishmi etc. (Arunachal). Kokborok
2987-614: Is concentrated in that state alone. A bulk of Christian population in India resides in North East, as about 30% of India's Christian population is concentrated in North Eastern region alone. There is a significant presence of Buddhism in Sikkim , Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram . Northeast India has over 220 ethnic groups and an equal number of dialects in which Bodo form the largest indigenous ethnic group. The hills states in
3090-517: Is covered by the mighty Brahmaputra-Barak river systems and their tributaries. Geographically, apart from the Brahmaputra , Barak and Imphal valleys and some flatlands in between the hills of Meghalaya and Tripura , the remaining two-thirds of the area is hilly terrain interspersed with valleys and plains; the altitude varies from almost sea-level to over 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) above MSL . The region's high rainfall, averaging around 10,000 millimetres (390 in) and above creates problems of
3193-530: Is due to temperature inversions during winter nights when cold air descends from the hills into the valleys below and its geographic location which prevents winds that bring hot temperatures and humidity from coming into the Manipur plain. For example, in Imphal, winter daytime temperatures hover around 21 °C (70 °F) but nighttime temperatures drop to 3 °C (37 °F). No part of Northeast India receives less than 1,000 mm (39 in) of rainfall
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3296-634: Is one-horned rhinoceros. The forests of the region are also the habitats of elephant, royal Bengal tiger, leopard, golden cat, fishing cat, marbled cat, Bengal fox etc. the Gangetic dolphin in the Brahmaputra is also an endangered species. The other endangered species are otter, mugger crocodile, tortoise and some fishes. WWF has identified the following priority ecoregions in North-East India: The total population of Northeast India
3399-536: Is referred to as the "Gateway to the Northeast" and is the largest metropolis in Northeast India. The earliest settlers may have been Austroasiatic speakers from Southeast Asia , followed by Tibeto-Burman speakers from China, and by 500 BCE Indo-Aryan speakers from the Gangetic Plains as well as Kra–Dai speakers from southern Yunnan and Shan State . Due to the biodiversity and crop diversity of
3502-494: Is still the largest earthquake in India . WWF has identified the entire Eastern Himalayas as a priority Global 200 ecoregion . Conservation International has upscaled the Eastern Himalaya hotspot to include all the eight states of Northeast India, along with the neighbouring countries of Bhutan , southern China and Myanmar . The region has been identified by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research as
3605-412: Is the dominant among the tribal people of Tripura and one of the official languages of the state, while Garo , Hmar (including Bong, Bongcher, Chorei, Dab, Darlawng, Hmarchaphang, Hrangkhawl, Langkai, Kaipeng, Koloi, Korbong, Molsom, Ranglong, Rupini, Saihmar, Sakachep, Thangachep)) , Lusei (including Rokhum) , etc are also spoken. Meitei is the official language in Manipur, the dominant language of
3708-555: Is the first writer from Northeast India to be awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award (2013) in the Indian English Literature category for her collection of short stories, Laburnum for My Head , and Padma Shri (2007). Easterine Kire is the first English novelist hailed from Nagaland. She received The Hindu Literary Prize (2015) for her novel When the River Sleeps . Indira Goswami, alias Mamoni Roisom Goswami,
3811-526: Is the majority religion in the North Eastern states of Assam , Tripura , Manipur , Sikkim and plurality in Arunachal Pradesh , while Christianity is the majority religion in Meghalaya , Nagaland , Mizoram and plurality in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. A significant plurality of the state of Arunachal Pradesh follows the indigenous religion Donyi-Polo . Islam has a significant presence in Assam and about 93% of all North East Muslim population
3914-464: Is the rainiest region in the country, with many places receiving an average annual precipitation of 2,000 mm (79 in), which is mostly concentrated in summer during the monsoon season . Cherrapunji , located on the Meghalaya plateau is one of the rainiest place in the world with an annual precipitation of 11,777 mm (463.7 in). Temperatures are moderate in the Brahmaputra and Barak valley river plains which decreases with altitude in
4017-588: The Kaka Kalelkar Commission visited Manipur, there was a concerted attempt by the Kuki and Naga tribes to delineate each tribe separately in the Schedule Tribe Order's list. Consequently, in 1956, the umbrella terms such as 'any Kuki' and 'any Naga' were deleted, and 29 tribes of Manipur were listed individually. This revision completely left out other unlisted tribes from the scheduled tribes list. In other states of India, however,
4120-610: The Kuki Rebellion of 1917–1919 , the Kukis in Manipur were estimated to number 40,000. Cheitharol Kumbaba , the court chronicle of the Manipur kings, mentions various Kuki tribes and clans from 1404 onwards. The largest of the Kuki tribes, the Thadous , lived in the southern hills of the present-day Manipur, which was ungoverned territory for most of the historical period. The Manipuris referred to them as "Khongjais". The naming
4223-511: The Mizo people of Mizoram are kindred tribes of the Kukis. Collectively, they are termed the Zo people . Some fifty tribes of Kuki peoples in India are recognised as scheduled tribes in India, based on the dialect spoken by that particular Kuki community as well as their region of origin. The term "Kuki" is an exonym : it was used by Bengalis to refer to the tribes inhabiting Patkai–Arakan Yomas ,
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4326-532: The North Cachar Hills , Manipur and Tripura . Further, the Changsan–Thadou combine was believed to have been in turn forced out by newer tribes in the 19th century, and then followed the same routes as the earlier tribes. The first two groups were referred to as Old Kukis and New Kukis by the British administrators, which did not receive endorsement from Soppitt. Modern scholars also disapprove
4429-650: The North Eastern Region ( NER ), is the easternmost region of India representing both a geographic and political administrative division of the country. It comprises eight states — Arunachal Pradesh , Assam , Manipur , Meghalaya , Mizoram , Nagaland and Tripura (commonly known as the "Seven Sisters" ), and the "brother" state of Sikkim . The region shares an international border of 5,182 kilometres (3,220 mi) (about 99 per cent of its total geographical boundary) with several neighbouring countries – 1,395 kilometres (867 mi) with China in
4532-616: The Sahitya Akademi . Some of the notable writers of Northeast Literature are--(from Assam) Lakshminath Bezbaroa , Homen Borgohain , Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya , Harekrishna Deka , Rongbong Terang , Nilmani Phukan , Indira Goswami , Hiren Bhattacharyya , Mitra Phukan , Jahnavi Barua , Dhruba Hazarika , Rita Chowdhury ; (from Arunachal Pradesh) Mamang Dai ; (from Manipur) Robin S Ngangom , Ratan Thiyam ; (from Meghalaya) Paul Lyngdoh ; (from Nagaland) Temsula Ao , Easterine Kire ; (from Sikkim) Rajendra Bhandari . Temsula Ao
4635-689: The Sino-Indian War of 1962. The cause of the escalation into war is still disputed by both Chinese and Indian sources. During the war in 1962, the PRC (China) captured much of the NEFA ( North-East Frontier Agency ) created by India in 1954. But on 21 November 1962, China declared a unilateral ceasefire, and withdrew its troops 20 kilometres (12 mi) behind the McMahon Line . China returned Indian prisoners of war in 1963. The Seven Sister States
4738-485: The "Lushais". The Manipuris used the term " Khongjai " to refer to the tribes to the south and southwest of the Imphal Valley , a usage witnessed from 1508. This appears to have been a geographical term. The "Old Kuki" tribes in Manipur were referred to by their individual names, which were also partly of geographical origin. Some Kuki and Chin tribes reject both of these terms as being of colonial origin, and use
4841-562: The Brahmaputra and Barak valley river plains, mean winter temperatures vary between 16 and 17 °C (61 and 63 °F) while mean summer temperatures are around 28 °C (82 °F). The highest summer temperatures occur in the West Tripura plain with Agartala , the capital of Tripura having mean maximum summer temperatures ranging between 33 and 35 °C (91 and 95 °F) in April. The highest temperatures in summer occur before
4944-650: The British formed the South East Asia Command (SEAC) under Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten in November 1943. This command brought new energy to the war effort in the region and emphasised the importance of standing firm and fighting on despite logistical challenges, such as during the monsoon season. The Japanese launched an offensive in March 1944 aimed at capturing Imphal and Kohima, key locations in northeast India. Capturing these areas would have allowed
5047-845: The Burmese (spelt "Khyangs" in the original Burmese spelling). The British also used the term "Lushais" to refer to the tribes inhabiting the Lushai Hills region to the south of the Manipur valley , eventually dividing it into separate "Lushai Hills" in India and "Chin Hills" in Burma. Over time, the British came to distinguish the tribes currently called "Kukis" from the remaining "Lushais". An Intelligence Branch report from 1907 listed Ralte , Paite , Thadou , Lakher , Hmar and Poi tribes among Kukis. It stated that each of these tribes had its own language, and these languages were unintelligible to
5150-572: The Cachar plains south of 25 o N and are classified as tropical wet and dry ( Aw ). Much of Assam, Nagaland, northern parts of Meghalaya and Manipur and parts of Arunachal Pradesh fall within the warm temperature mesothermal climates (type C) where the mean temperatures in coldest months range from −3 to 18 °C (27 to 64 °F). The entire Brahmaputra valley has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa/Cwa ) with hot summers. At altitudes between 500 and 1,500 m (1,600 and 4,900 ft) located in
5253-465: The Himalayan ranges in the northern border with India and China experience the lowest temperatures with heavy snow during winter and temperatures that drop below freezing. Areas with altitudes exceeding 2,000 metres (6,562 ft) receive snowfall during winters and have cool summers. Below 2,000 metres (6,562 ft) above sea level, winter temperatures reach up to 15 °C (59 °F) during
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#17327975831915356-477: The Imphal Valley; while "Naga" languages such as Poumai , Mao , Maram , Rongmei (Kabui), Tangkhul , Zeme , Liangmei , Inpui , Thangal Naga and Mizo languages such as Kuki/Thado , Lusei , Zomi languages (including Paite , Simte , Vaiphei , Zou , Mate , Thangkhal , Tedim-Chin ) , Gangte and Hmar languages (including Biete, Hrangkhawl, Thiek, Zote) predominate in individual hill areas of
5459-526: The Japanese to disrupt Allied supply lines to China and launch air attacks against India. However, the Allied forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal William Slim, held firm. They adopted aggressive tactics, including the creation of defensive "boxes" and the use of jungle warfare techniques. Despite being surrounded, the defenders at Kohima held out against intense Japanese attacks until reinforcements arrived. The battles of Imphal and Kohima resulted in
5562-743: The Kuki fought with the Imperial Japanese Army and the Indian National Army led by Subhas Chandra Bose but the success of the Allied forces over the Axis group dashed their hopes. On 31 January 1860, Kuki Riang led the Kukis of Hill Tippera in raiding the Chhagalnaiya plains (then under the administration of the Twipra Kingdom ) which was inhabited by ethnic Bengalis and British officers. The Kukis looted
5665-639: The Kuki people was the Kuki Rebellion of 1917–19 , also known as the Anglo-Kuki War, after which their territory was subjugated by the British. Until their defeat in 1919, the Kukis had been an independent people ruled by their chieftains. The Dobashi, Lengjang Kuki was credited as responsible for preventing the Kukis of the Naga Hills from joining the Kuki Rebellion of Manipur. During World War II, seeing an opportunity to regain independence,
5768-414: The Kuki population of Manipur as 69,855, that in Assam as 18,200, and that in Tripura as 3,428. The 21 Kuki tribes of Manipur (as per the nomenclature used in the British colonial times) gathered together in 1948 to form an organisation called Kuki Company . They also contributed to the construction of Kuki Inn in Imphal, to serve as the office for the organisation. Soon afterwards, frictions developed over
5871-424: The Kukis had already fled to the jungles of the princely state and they never returned to Chhagalnaiya ever again. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) (Part C States) Order, 1951 included "any Kuki tribe", "any Lushai tribe" and "any Naga tribe" (as umbrella terms among the scheduled tribes in Assam, Manipur, and Tripura. Among the "any Kuki" classification, it listed 39 subtribes/clans. The 1951 census recorded
5974-605: The Kukis to the Christian God of the British, who was thought of as the victor. This led them to rapidly convert to Christianity. Conversion to Christianity has transformed their ideas, mentality and social practices at the cost of their traditions and customs. The majority of Kukis are now Christians , with most belonging to Protestant denominations, especially Baptist . Since the late 20th century, some of these peoples have begun following Messianic Judaism . The Bnei Menashe ( Hebrew : בני מנשה , "Sons of Menasseh ") are
6077-423: The Kukis' "migration from south", because they had inadequate knowledge of the Kukis already present in the hills of Manipur. In addition, some of the larger tribes such as Thadous are said to have been native to the southern hills (Churachandpur and Chandel districts) that were later added to Manipur territory in the 1890s. An important landmark in the history of the Kuki people was the arrival of missionaries and
6180-540: The area of Bakhshganj and murdered Kamal Poddar of Basantpur. They then proceeded to molest Poddar's women until Guna Ghazi and Jakimal waged war against them in the village of Kulapara. Whilst the Kukis abducted 700 women, Munshi Abdul Ali informed the British authorities of the atrocities. 185 Britons were assassinated, 100 of them were kidnapped and the Kukis remained in the plains for one or two days. British troops and policemen were finally despatched from Noakhali , Tipperah (Comilla) and Chittagong to suppress them but
6283-553: The arrival of monsoons and thus eastern areas have the highest temperatures in June and July where the monsoon arrives later than western areas. In the Cachar Plain, located south of the Brahmaputra plain, temperatures are higher than the Brahmaputra plain although the temperature range is smaller owing to higher cloud cover and the monsoons that moderate night temperatures year round. In the mountainous areas of Arunachal Pradesh,
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#17327975831916386-440: The biodiversity significance of the region: The International Council for Bird Preservation , UK identified the Assam plains and the Eastern Himalaya as an Endemic Bird Area (EBA). The EBA has an area of 220,000 km following the Himalayan range in the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal, Myanmar and the Indian states of Sikkim , North Bengal , Assam, Nagaland , Manipur , Meghalaya and Mizoram . Because of
6489-419: The border of the Manipur state to include the southern hills. The term "Kuki" to refer to these tribes was introduced by the British in the 1820s. By 1850s, they imported the terminology of "New Kuki" for the Khongjai tribes and "Old Kuki" for the other Kuki tribes such as Kom and Aimol . The scholars of Kuki Research Forum consider the terminology misleading because the historical record does not justify such
6592-417: The capital of Meghalaya. Initially, the Japanese had invaded British territories in Southeast Asia, including Burma (now Myanmar), with the intention of creating a fortified perimeter around Japan. The British had neglected the defence of Burma, and by early 1942, the Japanese had captured Rangoon and pushed Allied forces back towards India through a gruelling retreat. In response to the Japanese advance,
6695-432: The co-tribe Biate in one class, and Changsan along with the co-tribe Thadou in the other class. Each of them was grouped with several subtribes. Soppitt suggested that, by the 16th century, the Hrangkhols and Biate inhabited the Lushai Hills region (currently divided between Mizoram and Chin State ). He believed that they were pushed out by Changsan, who moved in from the east along with Thadou, forcing them to move to
6798-525: The community. It was also another learning institution. Every Lawm has a Lawm-upa (a senior member), a To’llai-pao (an overseer or superintendent) and a Lawm-tangvo (assistant superintendent). Besides being a source of traditional learning, the institution of the Lawm also facilitated the transmission of both technical as well as practical knowledge to its members, especially with regard to particular methods of farming , hunting , fishing and sporting activities such as Kung–Kal (high jump, especially over
6901-407: The day with nights dropping to zero while summers are cool, with a mean maximum of 25 °C (77 °F) and a mean minimum of 15 °C (59 °F). In the hilly areas of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, winters are cold while summers are cool. The plains in Manipur has colder winter minimums than what is warranted by its elevation owing to being surrounded by hills on all sides. This
7004-404: The eastern extension of the Himalayas running north–south between India and Myanmar. The term is witnessed in the chronicles of Tripura from the reign of Dhanya Manikya ( r. 1490–1515 ) and fairly regularly afterwards. From even earlier, a couplet in Sanskrit is found mentioning a 12th century land grant in Kukisthana (Kuki-land). The Tibetan Buddhist writer Taranatha (1575–1634) wrote
7107-483: The eastern hills of Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, a ( Cfb/CWb ) climate prevails with warm summers. Locations above 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in Meghalaya, parts of Nagaland, and northern Arunachal Pradesh have a ( Cfc/Cwc ) climate with short and cool summers. Finally, the extreme northern parts of Arunachal Pradesh are classified as humid continental climates with mean winter temperatures below −3 °C (27 °F). Temperatures vary by altitude with
7210-433: The ecosystem, high seismic activity, and floods. The states of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have a montane climate with cold, snowy winters and mild summers. Kangchenjunga , the third highest mountain peak in the world rising to an altitude of 8,586 m (28,169 ft), lies in-between the state Sikkim and adjacent country Nepal . Tributaries of the Brahmaputra River in Northeast India: Northeast India has
7313-731: The entire region coming under British control. In the colonial period (1826–1947), North East India was made a part of Bengal Province from 1839 to 1873, after which Colonial Assam became its own province , but which included Sylhet . After Indian Independence from British Rule in 1947, the Northeastern region of British India consisted of Assam and the princely states of Tripura Kingdom and Manipur Kingdom . Subsequently, Manipur and Tripura were made Union Territories of India in 1956 and in 1972 attained fully-fledged statehood. Later, Nagaland attained statehood in 1963, Meghalaya in 1972. Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram became full-fledged states on 20 February 1987, being carved out of
7416-454: The garments and making the beds. The best students were recommended to the King's or the Chief's service, and eventually would achieve the office of Semang and Pachong (ministers) in their courts, or gal –lamkai (leaders, warriors) in the army. Lawm (a traditional type of youth club) was an institution in which boys and girls engaged in social activities for the benefit of the individual and
7519-529: The great Hindu epic Mahabharata . The Saptakanda Ramayana in Assamese by Madhava Kandali is considered the first translation of the Sanskrit Ramayana into a modern Indo-Aryan Language . Karbi Ramayana bears witness to the old heritage of written literature in Assam. Two writers from the Northeast, viz., Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya and Mamoni Raisom Goswami , have been awarded Jnanpith ,
7622-560: The highest literary award in India. Hence, Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya was the first Assamese writer and from the Northeast India to receive Jnanpith Award for his Assamese novel Mrityunjay (1979). Mamoni Raisom Goswami was awarded the Jnanpith Award in the year 2000. Nagen Saikia is the first writer from Assam and the Northeast India, to have been conferred the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship by
7725-577: The hill tracts" in large numbers, according to the Residents, driving away the older inhabitants. The Residents believed that these Khongjais were driven north by stronger tribes from the south, and hence settled all around the Imphal Valley. Scholar Pum Khan Pau notes that, around 1830, when the British established a political agency in Manipur, the area to the south of present-day Manipur ( Tonzang and Tedim townships of present-day Chin State ) witnessed
7828-647: The hilly areas. At the highest altitudes, there is permanent snow cover. In general, the region has 3 seasons: Winter, Summer, and rainy season in which the rainy season coincides with the summer months much like the rest of India. Winter is from early November until mid March while summer is from mid-April to mid-October. Under the Köppen climate classification , the region is divided into 3 broad types: A (tropical climates), C (warm temperate mesothermal climates), and D (snow microthermal climates). The tropical climates are located in parts of Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, and
7931-405: The large territory of Assam. Sikkim was integrated as the eighth North Eastern Council state in 2002. The city of Shillong served as the capital of the Assam province created during British Rule. It remained the capital of undivided Assam until the formation of the state of Meghalaya in 1972. The capital of Assam was shifted to Dispur , a part of Guwahati , and Shillong was designated as
8034-473: The late 20th century, an Israeli rabbi investigating their claims named them Bnei Menashe, based on their account of descent from Menasseh . Of the 3.7 million people living in these two northeast states only about 9,000 belong to the Bnei Menashe, several thousands have emigrated to Israel. Some have supported other movements to separate from India. Due to the close proximity to Muslim-majority Bengal ,
8137-582: The name "Kamhau-Sukte" and became "one of the most dreaded powers in Manipur, Lushai Hills and the Kale-Kabaw Valley". The domain of the Kamhau-Sukte tribes extended all the way to the south of the Manipur valley, encompassing major portions of the present-day Churachandpur and Chandel districts, driving the tribes in these districts further north. Their movement threatened the Naga tribes to
8240-405: The north, 1,640 kilometres (1,020 mi) with Myanmar in the east, 1,596 kilometres (992 mi) with Bangladesh in the south-west, 97 kilometres (60 mi) with Nepal in the west, and 455 kilometres (283 mi) with Bhutan in the north-west. It comprises an area of 262,184 square kilometres (101,230 sq mi), almost 8 per cent of that of India. The Siliguri Corridor connects
8343-480: The north, in particular the Kabuis to the west of the Manipur valley. McCulloch arranged for a line of Kuki settlements to the south of their area to serve as a buffer and armed the settlers. These villages came to be known as "sepoy villages". According to McCulloch, sepoy villages were also set up along the southern frontier of the Manipur valley. According to modern scholars, the British administrators overemphasized
8446-457: The old classification of "any Kuki tribe" remained. In 2003, the term "any Kuki tribes" was re-added to the list in Manipur as well. The land of the Kukis has a number of customs and traditions . Sawm, a community centre for boys – was the centre of learning in which the Sawm-upa (an elder) did the teaching, while Sawm-nu took care of chores, such as combing of the boy's hair, washing of
8549-533: The peoples in present-day Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland converted to Christianity under the influence of British (Welsh) missionaries. Since the Moamoria disturbances , the Ahom dynasty was on the decline. The British appeared on the scene in the guise of saviours. In the early 19th century, both the Ahom and the Manipur kingdoms fell to a Burmese invasion . The ensuing First Anglo-Burmese War resulted in
8652-483: The plains of Cachar had 6,000 people. The Gazetteer of Manipur (1886), based on the same census, noted that the Kukis of Manipur wee composed of approximately 8,000 "Old Kukis" and 17,000 "New Kukis". Borders of Manipur were expanded after this date to include the Kuki-inhabited southern parts of the present Churachandpur and Chandel districts, adding further Kuki populations to the state of Manipur. During
8755-442: The region is rich with the practice of hunting, land cultivation and indigenous crafts. The rich culture is vibrant and visible with the traditional attires of each community. All states in Northeast India share the handicrafts of bamboo and cane , wood carving , making traditional weapons and musical instruments, pottery and handloom weaving. Traditional tribal attires are made of thick fabrics primarily with cotton. Assam silk
8858-530: The region like Arunachal Pradesh , Meghalaya , Mizoram , and Nagaland are predominantly inhabited by tribal people with a degree of diversity even within the tribal groups. The region's population results from ancient and continuous flows of migrations from Tibet, Indo-Gangetic India, the Himalayas, present Bangladesh, and Myanmar. These ethnic groups form significant majorities in the states/regions of Northeast India: These ethnic groups form minorities in
8961-541: The region to the rest of mainland India . The states of North Eastern Region are officially recognised under the North Eastern Council (NEC), constituted in 1971 as the acting agency for the development of the north eastern states. Long after induction of NEC, Sikkim formed part of the North Eastern Region as the eighth state in 2002. India's Look-East connectivity projects connect Northeast India to East Asia and ASEAN . The city of Guwahati in Assam
9064-490: The region, archaeological researchers believe that early settlers of Northeast India had domesticated several important plants. Historians believe that the 100 BCE writings of Chinese explorer Zhang Qian indicate an early trade route via Northeast India. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions a people called Sêsatai in the region, who produced malabathron (cinnamon-like aromatic leaves, dried and used as
9167-410: The region, the average date of onset of the monsoons is 1 June. Southern areas are the first to receive the monsoon (May or June) with the Brahmaputra valley and the mountainous north receiving later (later May or June). In the hilly parts of Mizoram, the closer proximity to the Bay of Bengal causes it to experience early monsoons with June being the wettest season. The North Eastern Region of India
9270-536: The remaining three are present in other endemic and secondary areas. Eleven of the 22 restricted-range species found in this region are considered as threatened ( Birdlife International 2001), a number greater than in any other EBA of India. Northeast India is very rich in faunal diversity . There are as many as 15 species of non-human primates and most important of them are hoolock gibbon , stumptied macaque , pigtailed macaque, golden langur, hanuman langur and rhesus monkey. The most important and endangered species
9373-457: The rise of a powerful Sukte chieftain called Khan Thuam. Along with his son Kam Hau, he embarked upon a territorial expansion, pushing the less powerful tribes towards the border of Manipur. But many tribesmen also submitted to the Suktes, paid tribute, and participated in the expansion process. This period witnessed many raids from the south on the border of Manipur, which was roughly in line with
9476-530: The self-designation " Zo ", which is a generic term that has variants in most Kuki-Chin dialects. " Zomi " (meaning "Zo people") is also used. The term "Kuki" is still enthusiastically adopted by the Thadou language -speaking clans. Thus, "Kuki" is sometimes used in this narrow sense to refer to the Thadou-speaking Kukis, with even the Thadou language referred to as the "Kuki language". By 2023,
9579-440: The southern boundary of the Manipur valley. A popular folk song summarised the position of Khan Thuam: What I rule extends to Manipur in the north, and ends at Falam in the south; Manipur to the north and Falam to the south, I am the tiger in the middle. After Khan Thuam's death, his dominion came to be divided between his elder son Kam Hau, based at Mualpi and the younger son Za Pau, based at Tedim . The combined tribe earned
9682-447: The spread of Christianity among them. Missionary activity had considerable social, cultural and political ramifications while the acceptance of Christianity marked a departure from the traditional religion of the Kuki peoples as well as their ancestral customs and traditions. The spread of English education introduced the Kuki people to the "modern era". William Pettigrew , the first foreign missionary, came to Manipur on 6 February 1894 and
9785-553: The state. Main languages of North East India Among other Indo-Aryan languages, Chakma is spoken in Mizoram and Hajong in Assam and Meghalaya. Nepali , an Indo-Aryan language, is dominant in Sikkim , besides the Sino-Tibetan languages Limbu , Bhutia , Lepcha , Rai , Tamang , Sherpa , etc. Bengali was made the official language of Colonial Assam from 1836 to 1873. Religion in Northeast India (2011) Hinduism
9888-617: The states of Northeast India: The Manipuri Raas Leela dance (from Manipur ) and the Sattriya (from Assam ) have been included in the elite category of the " Classical Dances of India ", as officially recognised by both the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Ministry of Culture (India) . Besides these, all tribes in Northeast India have their own folk dances associated with their religion and festivals. The tribal heritage in
9991-529: The states of the region, higher than the national average at 17.64 per cent; while Nagaland recorded the lowest in the entire country with a negative 0.5 per cent. According to 2011 Census of India , the largest cities in Northeast India are UA: Urban Agglomeration Northeast India constitutes a single linguistic region within the Indian national context, with about 220 languages in multiple language families ( Indo-European , Sino-Tibetan , Kra–Dai , Austroasiatic , as well as some creole languages) that share
10094-560: The terminology of "Old Kukis" and "New Kukis", but it does appear that the two groups followed different migration routes and thus developed significant cultural differences. Per the 1881 census, the Kukis are estimated to have numbered 20,000 in the North Cachar Hills (present-day Dima Hasao district ), 15,000 in the Naga Hills (present-day Nagaland ), 30,000–40,000 in Manipur and 6,000 in Tipperah ( Tripura ). In addition,
10197-568: The use of the Thadou language for the business of the organisation. As a result, almost all the tribes other than Thadou Kukis left the Kuki Company, and formed a separate Khulmi National Union . In 1950s, ten Old Kuki tribes changed their affiliation to 'Naga', induced to do so by the Tangkhuls . Seven New Kuki tribes eventually adopted the Zomi identity in the 1990s. In the 1950s, when
10300-475: The village and the community. Prior to conversion in the early 20th century to Christianity by Welsh Baptist missionaries, the Chin, Kuki, and Mizo peoples were animists ; among their practices were ritual headhunting . Christian missionaries entered Manipur in the late 19th century but did not yet make inroads into the tribal areas. The victory of the British in Anglo-Kuki War of 1917–1919 opened up their mind of
10403-479: The warmest places being in the Brahmaputra and Barak River plains and the coldest at the highest altitudes. It is also influenced by proximity to the sea with the valleys and western areas being close to the sea, which moderates temperatures. Generally, temperatures in the hilly and mountainous areas are lower than the plains which lie at a lower altitude. Summer temperatures tend to be more uniform than winter temperatures due to high cloud cover and humidity. In
10506-468: Was apparently based on a village called "Khongchai" in the Tuipui river valley, with the surrounding hills also referred to as Khongjai Hills. The Manipur ruler Ching-Thang Khomba (also known as Bhagyachandra and Jai Singh) made war on this region in 1786, and subjugated the Kuki chieftain in the central village. Other regions in southern hills remained relatively untouched until 1894 when the British defined
10609-714: Was sponsored by the American Baptist Mission Union . He, along with Dr. Crozier, worked in the North and the Northeast of Manipur. In the south, Watkins Robert of the Welsh Presbytery mission organised the Indo-Burma Thadou-Kuki Pioneer Mission in 1913. To have a broader scope, the mission's name was changed to North East India General Mission (NEIGM) in 1924. The first resistance to British hegemony by
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