Thadou Inpi Manipur Urges Union Home Minister to Acknowledge Tribe’s Distinct Identity Amid Ongoing Manipur Crisis
Thadou Inpi Manipur Urges Union Home Minister to Acknowledge Tribe’s Distinct Identity Amid Ongoing Manipur Crisis
Imphal, March 25, 2025:
Thadou Inpi Manipur, the apex body representing the Thadou tribe, has written an open letter to Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, urging immediate action to address the ongoing violence in Manipur and to formally recognize the distinct identity of the Thadou people.
In the letter dated March 24, 2025, the organization expressed deep concern over the tragic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, which has particularly impacted the Thadou community. While acknowledging the gradual improvement in the situation, the letter emphasized the need for further efforts toward resettlement and lasting peace.
Thadou Inpi Manipur highlighted that Manipur is home to multiple ethnic communities, including Meitei, Meitei-Pangal, and 29 Scheduled Tribes. Among these, the Thadou tribe remains one of the largest, with a recorded population of 215,913 according to the 2011 Census. The letter strongly asserted the tribe’s demand to be referred to solely as “Thadou,” condemning any misrepresentation or forced classification under terms like “Kuki” as inaccurate and offensive.
“We reject any forced classification that disregards our distinct identity,” the letter stated, emphasizing that such mislabeling undermines their historical and cultural roots. The Thadou tribe, recorded under this name since 1881, has been acknowledged through various state initiatives, including the Inner Line Permit (ILP) Rules of 2022 and ethnic representations at the Sangai Ethnic Park.
The organization also clarified that the recent understanding between Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Meitei Alliance on March 7, 2025, in New Delhi, should not be misconstrued as a Meitei-Kuki dialogue, but rather as an independent engagement recognizing Thadou as a distinct entity.
Thadou Inpi Manipur has called upon the Government of India and the Parliament to make a formal statement recognizing their identity and to ensure that all references to the tribe reflect their rightful name.
The letter concluded with a fervent appeal: “We urge individuals, organizations, media, and the government to refer to us correctly as Thadou and to acknowledge each Zo/Mizo tribe by its rightful name.”