ABSTRACT
Although the forceful demand for labour corps to France was the immediate raison d’être of the Kukis’ angst towards the British, the deep-seated roots of discontent trace back to decades of colonial policies towards the Kukis. The colonials in their early days looked upon the Kukis as an ally who could be used in its design of conquest, subjugation and marshalling border peace in dealing with recalcitrant tribes like the Nagas, whose frequent inroads against British subjects in Assam became a nuisance. However, the gradual misgivings and change in colonial ‘policy’ towards the Kukis became more pronounced with the fall of Burma and Manipur in 1885 and 1891, respectively, which drastically changed the contours of colonial engagement with the Kukis. From being an ally in its geopolitical designs, the Kukis were now looked upon as a threat whose service had outlived its usefulness. Thus new regulations and procedures were adopted to suppress the ally turned foe. Also, new policies targeting the Kuki way of life were looked upon by the Kukis with contempt. It was this changing course of action which soon reached a head, leading to the outbreak of the war. The war serves as a best example of colonial hegemony whose policies are often dictated by necessities and interest rather than by the higher values of civilisation, truth and progress.
