Inpui Naga Union Condemns Claim on Tribe’s History, Calls It a "Distortion of Facts"

Inpui Naga Union Condemns Claim on Tribe’s History, Calls It a “Distortion of Facts”

The Inpui Naga Union (INU) has strongly condemned the remarks made by Prof. Meijinlung during the centenary celebration of the Zeliangrong Union at Sangairou village, calling them an “insult” and a “deliberate attempt to distort history and erase our existence.”  

In a statement issued on Monday, the INU criticized Prof. Meijinlung’s claim that the Inpui tribe has no independent history and was formed by converting from the Rongmei tribe during King Gambhir Singh’s reign. According to the professor, the Inpui were originally referred to as “Kabui Anouba” and emerged only about 200 years ago.

Rejecting this claim, the INU stated, “We, the Inpui, have no history of living closely with the Chiru, Nambatsi, and Kom tribes in a way that would have influenced the formation of our language.” The organization expressed disappointment with the Zeliangrong Union for urging their participation in the event, only to subject them to “public humiliation.”

The INU emphasized that the Inpui tribe has a well-documented history. Tracing their lineage to the progenitor Nguiba, the statement detailed the tribe’s ancestral roots, which include the Thangal, Maram, Zeme, Liangmei, Rongmei, and Kabui (Inpui) as distinct and independent entities.

The statement also refuted Prof. Meijinlung’s assertion that Kabui and Rongmei are the same, clarifying that even the Rongmei of Tamenglong do not consider themselves Kabui. “Neither Rongmei legends nor Meitei historical records mention any Meitei involvement in their past,” the INU stated.

The confusion between the terms “Kabui” and “Rongmei” arose due to historical misinterpretations, particularly in Meitei records. The statement warned that “if the Rongmei let go of the Kabui name, they will lose their historical presence in Manipur’s records.”

Citing historical references, the INU pointed out that legendary figures like Kabui Salang Maiba of the 12th century belonged to the Inpui tribe. Historians Gangmumei Kamei and Marulung Remmei have also documented the Inpui’s contributions to Manipur’s history.

The Inpui Naga Union strongly opposed what they described as a “misrepresentation of our identity” and demanded recognition and respect. “The Inpui tribe has its own legacy, traditions, and contributions to the cultural fabric of Manipur. Any attempt to undermine our identity will be met with firm resistance,” the statement asserted.

The statement was signed by several Inpui leaders, including INU President Merachao Inka, Chairman Gaigaklung Khumba, and representatives from the Inpui Naga Women Union, the All Inpui Students Union, and the Inpui Naga Youth Organisation.