Kuki Rebellion

The Kukis constitute one of several hill tribes within the Republic of India and Burma. In the Chin State of Myanmar and as Mizo in the State of Mizoram in India are a number of related Tibeto-Burman tribal peoples spread throughout the northeastern states of India, northwestern Burma, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. In Northeast India, they are present in all states except Arunachal Pradesh. This dispersal across international borders is a culmination of punitive actions made by the British during their occupation of India.

Some fifty tribes of Kuki peoples in India are recognised as scheduled tribes based on the dialect spoken by that particular Kuki community as well as their region of origin.

The name "Kuki" is used in India, "Chin" in Burma.

The name "Chin" is disputed. During the British occupation of India, the British used the compound term 'Chin-Kuki-Mizo' to group the Kukish language speaking people, and the Government of India "inherited" this. Missionaries chose to employ the term Chin to christen those on the Burmese side and the term Kuki on the Indian side of the border. Chin nationalist leaders in Burma's Chin State popularised the term "Chin" following Burma's independence from Britain.

More recently Chin and Kuki have been rejected by some for Zomi, a name common to several peoples speaking small Northern Kukish languages, including the Zou. which other groups like Hmars, Zou/Zo Hmal and Koms may not co-opt for themselves. The term Mizo also can cause confusion, particularly following the emergence of the Zomi National Congress.

The early history of the Kukis is obscure. The origin of the word "Kuki" is uncertain, but like the word "Naga", it is an exonym: it was not originally as a self-designation by the tribes that are now called Kukis. According to the colonial British writer Adam Scott Reid, the earliest reference to the word Kuki can be dated to 1777 CE, when it first appeared in British records. However, PS Haokip of Kuki National Organisation claims that a 33 CE record refers to two Kuki chiefs named Kuki Ahongba and Kuki Achouba. Ancient Sanskrit legendary literature mentions the Kirata people, which have been identified with tribes such as the Kuki.

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