Manipur Police File FIR Against Academics and Retired Colonel for Alleged False History Promotion
In a significant development, the Manipur Police have officially registered a First Information Report (FIR) against three notable individuals, including two assistant professors from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and a retired Colonel from the Indian Army. This action comes in response to allegations made by the Federation of Haomee (FoH) that the accused parties propagated inaccurate and deceptive historical narratives about Manipur through their published works.
The complaint, lodged by Yazing Vicisy, Secretary-General of FoH, Dr. K. Heera Kabui, Vice President of FoH, and Sapam Cha Jadumani, President of FoH, primarily targets Jangkhomang Guite and Thongkholal Haokip, both serving as assistant professors at JNU. The co-edited book in question, titled ‘The Anglo-Kuki War, 1917 – 1919 – A Frontier Uprising Against Imperialism During The First World War,’ has allegedly stirred controversy by proposing the existence of a conflict that the FoH claims is entirely fictional.
Furthermore, the accusation extends to Retired Colonel Dr. Vijay Chenji, who authored the book ‘The Anglo Kuki War.’ Both works have sparked contention due to their portrayal of a historical event named the ‘Anglo-Kuki War,’ which, according to the FoH, never occurred.
The crux of the issue lies in the FoH’s vehement assertion that no verifiable records of an ‘Anglo Kuki War’ exist in either Manipuri or British historical accounts. The organization contends that what some describe as a war was, in fact, an armed revolt primarily driven by the Kuki Tribes’ resistance against the recruitment practices of the Labour Corps.
Citing official documents to support their claim, the complaint references the Administration Report of the Manipur State for 1917-1918. The report explicitly states, “It is clearly stated in the Administration Report of the Manipur State for the year 1917-1918 paged 2 column 5 that it was not a Kuki-Rebellion but massacred of Nagas, Koms of the hills and Meeteis & Mahomedans of the valley.”
The registration of the FIR marks a significant escalation in the controversy. The three accused authors, Jangkhomang Guite, Thongkholal Haokip, and Retd. Col. Dr. Vijay Chenji, now face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
– Section 120: Criminal conspiracy
– Section 121: Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India
– Section 123: Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war
– Section 153-A: Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.
– Section 200: Using as true such declaration knowing it to be false
The FIR and the subsequent legal proceedings are likely to attract significant attention, both academically and within the broader public sphere. The case raises important questions about the responsibility of academics and authors when dealing with historical events, particularly when their work could potentially shape public perceptions and understanding of the past.
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh 13th August 2023
PM Modi Defends Govt in No-Confidence Motion, Assures Manipur of Support
