Mizo–Kuki–Chin Hills · Northeast Hill Massif
Two things distinguish resistance here. First, it was organised by chiefs binding themselves to one another rather than by any standing authority above them, which is why the sworn alliance — sealed by the killing of a mithun — is the characteristic political act of the region and why the British answer was always to remove chiefs rather than to defeat an army. Second, the largest of these actions is also the least written about. The Kuki Rising of 1917 to 1919 drew some 6,200 troops, ran for eighteen months across the Manipur hills and into the Somra and Chin tracts, and ended with chiefs deported to Sadiya and Taungyi under a 1818 regulation, a lakh of rupees in collective fines and 740 miles of bridle road built under compulsion — and it appears in almost no general account of the period. Its causes were the recruitment of labour for the war in Europe, the house tax and the pothang portage obligation.
Risings and revolts
Two British columns entered the hills in the winter of 1871–72 after the Alexandrapur raid, burning villages and taking submissions from chiefs. Resistance was village by village; there was no combined command, and 649 captives were released.
Outcome: Submissions were taken and the columns withdrew without occupying the hills, which is why the whole question reopened seventeen years later.
Resistance to the permanent occupation that followed the Chin-Lushai Expedition, including the fighting around Changsil in September 1890 in which Khuangchera was killed, and the refusal by chiefs including Ropuiliani to pay tax, supply labour or attend the durbars.
Outcome: The hills were occupied and administered from Fort Aijal from 1890; resisting chiefs were removed, and Ropuiliani died in confinement at Rangamati in January 1895.
A war fought across the Kuki-inhabited hills of Manipur and into the Somra and Chin tracts against the recruitment of labour corps for the war in Europe, the house tax and the pothang portage obligation. Four principal chiefs — Chengjapao of Aishan, Khutinthang of Jampi, Pache of Chassad and Ngullen of Khongjang — bound themselves by the killing of a mithun. The main engagements were at Gotengkot on 27 January 1918 and Hiangtam on 19 March 1918. Fighting was with flintlocks, muzzle-loaders and locally made cannon against regular troops.
Outcome: Some 6,200 troops were deployed; at least 126 villages were destroyed and many more surrendered or were deserted. The chiefs were detained under Bengal Regulation III of 1818 — nine at Sadiya in Assam, thirteen at Taungyi in Burma — with most released after three years. Collective fines of about a lakh of rupees were imposed and 740 miles of bridle road built under compulsion in 1919 and 1920.
People
| Name | Years | Movement | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| RopuilianiDenlung, near Lunglei | 1828–1895 | Resistance to the occupation of the Lushai Hills | Chieftainess of Denlung and eight other villages who refused tax, labour and tribute, boycotted the chiefs' durbars of 1890 and worked with neighbouring chiefs against the new administration.Arrested with her son and held at Rangamati, where she died in confinement on 3 January 1895. |
| KhuangcheraParvatui and Changsil | c. 1850 – September 1890 | The Lushai Rising, 1889–1891 | Fought in the resistance to the occupation and at Changsil Fort.Killed at Changsil in September 1890 while carrying a wounded companion from the fighting; buried at Ailawng. |
| LalburhaCentral Lushai Hills | active 1871–1872 | Resistance to the Lushai Expedition | Sailo chief and the principal object of the Cachar column of 1871–72. |
| Chengjapao DoungelAishan, Manipur hills | active 1917–1919 | The Kuki Rising, 1917–1919 | One of the four chiefs who bound themselves by oath at the outset of the rising and a leading organiser of it.Detained under Bengal Regulation III of 1818 and held for four years, longer than the other chiefs. |
| KhutinthangJampi, Manipur hills | active 1917–1919 | The Kuki Rising, 1917–1919 | One of the four chiefs bound by the mithun oath; directed resistance in the western sector.Detained under Bengal Regulation III of 1818 after the rising. |
| PacheChassad, Manipur hills | active 1917–1919 | The Kuki Rising, 1917–1919 | Directed the fighting in the eastern sector and held out longest against the columns.Surrendered in April 1919, the last of the principal chiefs to do so, and was detained. |
| NgullenKhongjang, Manipur hills | active 1917–1919 | The Kuki Rising, 1917–1919 | The fourth of the chiefs bound by the mithun oath at the outset of the rising. |
| NgulkhupMombi, Manipur hills | active 1917–1919 | The Kuki Rising, 1917–1919 | Chief of Mombi, the village burned on 17 October 1917 in the incident conventionally taken as the opening of the rising, after he refused to supply men for the labour corps.Surrendered at Tamu in January 1919. |
People from Mizo–Kuki–Chin Hills who resisted colonial rule, and the regional risings and revolts that shaped that resistance. (11)