Kuki Inpi

The Kuki Inpi is the apex body of the Kuki people in various states of Northeast India, Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, and Northwest Myanmar. It is a not-for-profit, socio-political body that represents all the tribes of the Kukis.

Kuki Government

The key of the Kuki government is the Chiefship, which became known to the British colonial rule in India. The King of Tripura is the National Chief, and all the Kuki Clan Chiefs (Phung Upas) and Village Chiefs (Kho Haosas) are linked up with and subordinate to him. The King is named “Kumpi,” equivalent to English word “emperor”.[1]

Structure of Kuki Inpi

The following is the basic structure of the Kuki Inpi. Basically, Kuki Inpi is of two houses, namely (1) Upa Inpi and (2) Haosa Inpi. It is comparable to the present United Kingdom government which has two houses, (1) the House of Lords and (2) the House of Commons. The Upa Inpi is to be understood in a simple way as heredity based linked up with the national level government. The Haosa Inpi has the following tier of administration.


Kho Administration

A village administration is headed by Kho Haosa as the Chief, in whose name land and other properties, both movable and immovable, are registered and the Chief owns the land for the whole village. Village Chief (i) guides and advises the village administration in accordance with customs and traditions.

Kho Semang of the village is an elected cabinet member who administrate the entire village on behalf of the Chief. Kho Pachong of the village is another elected cabinet member, who is responsible for village defence and security, and village labour force. Kho Lhangsam is also an elected cabinet member, who is responsible for public relations, publicity, external affairs and communications.

Lhang Administration

A number of villages in a compact geographical area will be grouped into Lhang which is similar to a district Administration. Lhang is administered by: (a) Lhang Haosa (Lhang Chief), (b) Lhang Semang, and (c) Lhang Pachong, whose responsibilities are that same as that of a village (Kho Haosa) Chief, Kho Semang and Kho Pachong.

Gamkai Administration

Kuki Inpi will group certain number of Lhangs in a certain geographical areas, whose income will be able to meet the expenses of the administration and the Lhangs within that zone will come under the Gamkai (State), and that Gamkai will be administered in the same administrative pattern of the village and the Lhang.


The Lhang leaders namely (a) Haosas, (b) Semangs, (c) Pachongs and (d) Lhangsams of the number of Lhangs, will democratically elect Gamkai (i) Haosa, (ii) Semang, (iii) Pachong and (iv) Lhangsam for a period of one term indirectly.


Like in Kho and Lhang administration, Gamkai administration has (a) Gamkai Haosa, (b) Gamkai Semang, (c) Gamkai Pachong and (d) Gamkai Lhangsam, whose responsibilities are that same as that of a village (Kho Haosa) Chief, Kho Semang and Kho Pachong.

Kuki Inpi

Kuki Inpi (Kuki Government) is the national government with geographical boundaries with neighbouring countries. The policies of Kuki Inpi (Kuki government) are:

  • Non-Communal;
  • Peaceful coexistence with all peace loving peoples/nations; and
  • Justice in governance in the country irrespective of caste and creed.

Kuki Inpi has been the government of the Kuki nation from time immemorial. The whole set up of Kuki Inpi administration is the same principle beginning from village going up to the national government. All matters will be framed by the Kuki Inpi and will be executed through the Gamkai, Lhang, and Kho in the whole country.

Kuki Inpis

Kumpipu is the overall head of all the Kuki Inpis. The followings are Gamkai Inpis in India and the United States of America:

See also

References

  1. ↑ T. Lunkim, "Traditional System of Kuki Administration", in Thongkholal Haokip (ed.). The Kukis of Northeast India: Politics and Culture. New Delhi: Bookwell, 2012, Chapter 1.
  2. ↑ http://www.kukiinpidelhi.org
  3. ↑ http://www.kukiinpiusa.org
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