Imphal, Jan 18: The Thadou Academic Society (TAS) has welcomed the North-East Seminar 2026 titled “Resurgent Manipur: Framework for Stability & Sustained Growth”, organised jointly by the Assam Rifles and Manipur University in Imphal on January 13. The society said the seminar provided valuable discussions on security, governance, reconciliation and development.
In a media release issued on Saturday, TAS—representing Thadou scholars, researchers and citizens—reiterated its commitment to preserving Thadou identity within Manipur’s multi-ethnic framework. While acknowledging that most contributions at the seminar were constructive, the society strongly objected to references made during the first plenary session that portrayed Manipur as a “tri-ethnic state” comprising only Kuki, Naga and Meitei.
TAS described this characterisation as factually incorrect, historically indefensible and politically destabilising, arguing that it erases Manipur’s long-recognised multi-ethnic reality. The society endorsed Banita Naorem, IRS, for affirming Manipur’s multi-ethnic character and calling for accurate identification of indigenous communities.
The statement noted that mislabelling rooted in colonial-era classifications has caused lasting harm and contributed to tensions, including those witnessed during the 2023 Manipur crisis. TAS urged state institutions—particularly defence personnel, academic bodies and government agencies—to abandon what it termed the reductive Kuki–Naga–Meitei framework in administration, recruitment, reservations, data management and official discourse, warning that such artificial grouping breeds mistrust and undermines peace.
According to TAS, indigenous peoples of Manipur are constitutionally recognised as Meitei, Meitei-Pangal and Scheduled Tribes. It said the blanket use of the term “Kuki” for various ST communities—such as Thadou, Paite, Vaiphei, Hmar, Mizo, Simte, Gangte, Zou, Aimol and Kom—despite repeated rejection by these groups, misrepresents distinct identities. The society further asserted that there is no singular indigenous “Kuki” ethnic group in Manipur and criticised the administrative category “Any Kuki tribes,” introduced in 2003, as procedurally flawed and lacking adequate ethnographic consultation.
Emphasising that misidentification is a core driver of conflict rather than a semantic issue, TAS called on policymakers, security forces, academia and the media to recognise Manipur’s true multi-ethnic nature and to support dialogue based on accuracy, mutual respect and renunciation of violence and separatist rhetoric. The society reaffirmed the Thadou community’s commitment to peace, coexistence, education and Manipur’s shared progress.
