About Us

Brief Description of ‘Thingkho Le Malcha’

Thingkho Le Malcha is owned and published by the Kuki Students' Organization, to disseminate verified information on the history and trajectory of events taking place in the deeply divided state of Manipur. It is an indispensable locus for truth and sanctum of resistance towards the antithesis of justice and peace.

Thingkho Le Malcha (TLM) was a traditional method of communication used to transmit messages across the Kuki Hills during the Anglo-Kuki War,1917-1919. It was a symbolic form of communication wherein each article had a parabolic purpose. The one which was intercepted by J.H. Hutton, I.C.S, in 1919, consisted of an ear-bead, burnt wood, chilli, panjis (foot spikes), bullet & gun powder (in rag). But as the name suggests, the core elements comprised of a smouldering/charred wood, chilli and few pieces of pine torch fastened together. Burnt wood symbolised the diffusion of the movement and the chilli/bullet/gunpowder/pine was a symbolism for torment envisaged upon the enemy.

After the Chassad Conclave which transpired at the end of November and beginning of December 1917, a war council comprising of about 150 Kuki Chiefs declared war against the empire. It was then, that the Chiefs used TLM to relay between Kuki Villages and diffuse the information – the declaration of war against the British colonials and to alert the people of all necessary actions. The Kuki clan network made it possible to circulate the message across the Kuki Hills that span over 6000 square miles within three days. Had the Anglo-Kuki War been denuded of TLM, the Kukis would have been unacquainted about the exact time to prepare for the war within such a short span of time. Hundred years later, the valour, wisdom and creativity of our forefathers still resonates as much as it did earlier, in context of cultural and resource appropriation, and violent subjugation induced by the odium of majoritarianism endemic in the state of Manipur.

At a time when state-controlled media lost its moral and ethical principles to shield the gruesome misdeeds of the state machinery, and the silence on the atrocities faced by the Kukis under a violent and hegemonic government looms large, the Kuki Students’ Organization, General Headquarter, resurrected the ethos of Thingkho leh Malcha to shed light on the events of systemic violence and our resilient pursuit for justice. For the past one year, a dedicated team of Kuki youths have relentlessly provided factual accounts of injustices as the misgoverned state of Manipur persists to maintain selective amnesia over the history and traumatic experiences of the Kukis. At present, TLM has become the only reliable source of news widely cited by national and international media which pivots around the subject of truth.

We are Indians, the Tiranga is our Flag. We are Tahchapa-Tahchanus, Kuki Chapa-Kuki Chanus!! Our fight for justice prevails.

Kathang’e!