Abstract: Different tribes of the Zo ethnic group who traced common origin to mythological cave are known as Chin, Kuki, Mizo and Zomi in different territories which they inhabited. Wars were fought eight times against the British Colonialism by different tribes of the Zo ethnic group for protection of their ancestral land and freedom between the Lushai Expedition of 1871-1872 to Aisan Rebellion of 1910. The Anglo-Kuki War of 1917-1919 was the concluding war fought against British Colonialism by the Zo people and the present paper specifically focuses upon the Anglo-Kuki War.
Key words: Zo, Kuki, British Colonialism, Anglo-Kuki War.
[1]. Lai tribe was earlier called as Pawi by the Lusei, as such, the tribe began to be known and identified with the imposed name as 'Pawi'
[2]. Halkha was corruptedly pronounced as Haka by the colonial rulers and colonial writers.
[3]. The Zo (Chin-Kuki-Mizo) ethnic group of people traced common origin to mythological cave known as Chhinlung, Sinlung, Puk, Khul (Khur), Khurtu-bi-jur, Khurpui, Hurpi and khor. The mythological cave was believed to be located in South China and the Zo people are known as Chin by the Burmese and as Kuki by the Bengalese of Eastern Bengal. Subsequently, the Zo people began to be known as Chin in Burma, Kuki in Manipur and many states of India and Mizo in Mizoram. Other than the mentionednomenclatures, terms, such as, Chikim and Zomi also began to be popularized by certain group within the ethnic group but Zo is regarded as the most inclusive term which is also accepted and affirmed by the Zo Reunification Organisation(ZORO) which is the largest ethnic orgnasitaion of the whole Zo ethnic group.
[4]. Different tribes of the Zo ethnic group fought against British colonialism in different periods before the outbreak of the Anglo-Kuki War of 1917-1919, namely, Lushai Expedition of 1871-1872, war fought by Raja Goukhothang Guite for sovereignty in and his arrest in 1871, Declaration of sovereignty and uprising by the Chahssad in 1877, Chin - Lushai Expedition of 1889-1890, Sukte-Sihzang Rebellion of 1892-1893, Rebellion by Khai Kam, Chief of Khuasak, (1892-1894) and War fought by the Chief of Aisan known as Aisan Rebellion of 1910. For detail see Vumson, Elly (1978), Mackenzie (1976), Reid (1978), Ngaihte & Vungzamawi (2005) & Doungel, (2010).
[5]. Lusei was corrupted pronounced and written as Lushai by colonial writers. See Elly, (1978).
