Haflong, August 29- The Kuki people of Dima Hasao (N.C.Hills) today observed the 83rd Death Anniversary of Freedom Fighter Late Chengjapao Kuki (Doungel) at the premises of the Chief(GB) of Songpijang, Haflong in the district of Dima Hasao (N.C.Hills) District, Assam.
In this connection, the public meeting was held at the same place conducted by Church Elder Lunkholam Doungel CIS, where in, dignitaries recalled the works and contribution of late Chengjapao Doungel. The Chairman of the organizing Committee, Chengjapao Doungel Memorial Trust Committee Thatlien Doungel welcome the gathering and told how the Committee have been established, appeal to Apex Body to co operate, help to achieve the target of the committee.
The Author of the Biography of the late Chengjapao Doungel Elder T.K.Doungel delivered a short speech on the ‘Life Sketch of freedom Fighter Chengjapao Doungel’. Followed by speech from Special Guests N.Hengna Member of Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (MAC), Samuel Changsan (MAC), H.Haolai KIA President and other dignitaries.
Mention may be made here that Late Chengjapao Kuki (Doungel) was Chief of Aisan, the city of Doungel clan. The historical record in many places called him as Chengjapao Kuki. His statue is still in the Historical Museum at Kolkota city. He fought the British Raj, along with his colleagues Late Enkhup Kuki ( Kholhou), Late Tintong Kuki (Haokip), Late Kilkhong Kuki and others, during 1917-1919 ( World War I). These freedom fighters did not surrendered and are till date recorded as ‘Unsurrendered and uncompromised war’, it ca even be called ‘Unconquered War by the British’ as the Kuki people did never surrendered before the Britisher. They did not even accepted the offer of land or state by the Britisher after they won the Word War saying “It is our land, how can you have authority over our native land and allot us land when we are the owner, we have inherited it since time immemorial”.
The Kuki people, under the leadership of the four heroes, organized themselves and fought a historic battle with a mixture of traditional as well as modern welfare to defend the land and oust the foreign rullers. They had applied traditional warfare such as ‘Snar made of stone known as MANKHONG in Kuki’, ‘”Snar of wild animals, made with wire called THANGTE ’, ‘Snar of sharp bamboo pin called SOU’ etc. One interesting is that they had also applied an instrument of sound system by installing Bamboo contain with bamboo water pipe. This instrument is a peculiar designed for UP Down system, called SOH. Water made to flow into Bamboo container TUITHEI,( upper level is container while the lower portion be empty) and goes down the upper side to pour out water and when empty it turn again in the same erect position.In this return the bamboo hit the other hole bamboo, producing a drum like sound. The sound was heard as if some one was cutting bamboo or firewood. The same was installed in a low-lying place or stream. The British army used to rushed there to find the Kuki fighters. Then, the Kuki fighters let loose the Stone snar from upper side and killed or wounded British armies.
These Kuki leaders also joined hands with Indian National Army (INA) under Netaji Subhas Ch.Bose.
What the British afraid most was that those Kuki people produced ammunition for themselves, continued to use their few handmade gun. When the British army leaders learnt that news, they thought the Kuki people were one of the toughest to subdue, changed policy. They started to convince few Kuki employees, who work under their control. It is not to finish the story here and end up without conclusion here.
This observation have been organized every year since some years back, calling in Kuki ‘THINI” meaning ‘Death Anniversary’ by the under the leadership of the ‘Chengjapao Doungel Memorial Trust Committee’. The story of Chengjapao and others have been written by many writers and recorded in many histories as Freedom Fighter but no such wide circulation have still been made, no greater emphasis have been made.
A mass feat was also held at the same place under the leadership of the Secretary of the organizing Committee ‘Chengjapao Doungel Memorial Trust Committee’ after the conclusion of the function.
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