‘When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18, Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the first born; put your right hand on his head.” 19, But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.”’ 

2 Chronicle 7:14, ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land’. 

1 Chronicle 5:1, ‘The sons of Reuben the first born of Israel (he was the first born, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his right as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright.’  

Colossian 2:14, ‘Having
cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross.’ 

Saved by Grace: 

I, PS Haokip, accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour under Rev. Chungthang Ṭhiek in a crusade at Kohima Baptist Church on the 30th of June 1979.  After being born again, my single greatest happiness was the knowledge/the realisation that God had bestowed upon me His priceless salvation. Having accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour, I wanted to re-orient and life and was determined to lead a life, which is pleasing as an offering to God.  Hence, trusting in God alone, I laid aside /buried my old self. Knowing that I have been renewed in the spirit of the mind, and that my body is the true temple of God created in the image of God, I bade adieu to things, which were dear to me like smoking, chewing of betel leaves, love-songs, cinema and all other vices which, I couldn’t let go of earlier. As all these habits and addictions were now pale in comparison to the salvation which Jesus Christ freely offers to all those who believed. I began to accompany Pastors and Preachers on their preaching tours. A few of the preachers that I used to go along with were Rev. Doujapao Haokip, Evangelist Laltingen, and Rev. Chungthang Ṭhiek. On these occasions, I started to share my personal testimony and the wondrous way in which God saved me. 

My testimonial Bible verse is Colossians 2:14 ‘Having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross.’ This Bible verse is central to my life after I found the Lord, and trusted in the assurance of the verse as it is. I trusted fully in the works of the Lord, and the Holy Spirit made three revelations clear: a) You are also my son; b) The big heavy burden of Sin which I had been carrying all along fell from my body and was rolled away at the foot of the Cross. The moment the heavy burden of sin rolled off from my body, I could instantaneously feel my body becoming lighter, what a joyous and beautiful experience it was to realize that I, who, was once laden with a heavy load of sin have been set free from eternal condemnation, the joy and the peace which I felt could was incomparable; c) I saw my name written in the book of life. 

 Knowing that I have been justified by grace alone and had been made heir by God, I began accompanying the servants of the Lord as they went preaching in various places wherein I never missed an opportunity to share my personal testimony. After awhile, the Lord gradually started to use me in His work according at His calling, which was evident from the fact that Brother Haolam Taithul, an Accounts Officer at the Accountant General Office was born again and came to the Lord from the sermon I delivered at KBA Church, which really encouraged me. I began a counselling centre for children at my house.  Pu. Limjangam, Pu Seikholun and I began to organise Children Gospel Camp and Children Crusade. After which I began to organise Crusade and camps along with Evangelist Thanghen of KBA. By the divine grace of God a good number of souls, which were bound to perish were saved. In my thirst for the word and knowledge of God’s word, I kept reading booklets and tracts on Christianity that I could lay my hands on. One of my readings was of Rev. John Knox the famous Evangelist and Theologian of Scotland, his burden for Scotland and how he fasted and prayed in a cave for Scotland to be revived and to be saved – ‘Lord! Give me Scotland or take my life’. The Lord answered his prayers and the spirit of the Lord descended upon the length and breadth of Scotland and every one of them were born again; the revival was not confined to Scotland alone it spread like wildfire and enveloped the whole of England. From then on, the percentage of sale of intoxicants like alcohol were badly affected, and the Police department were left practically jobless for three consecutive years as crime recorded an all time low.  This was because everyone had been born again, and everyone wanted to be good, competed in being good and in right moral conduct. This is what I have desired most for the Kukis. Hence, I began to fast in the morning for Kukis of India and Burma. After having fasted for over a year, I prayed to God: We the Kukis are not in a position to have a country of our own under the sun, so it is my desire that for the Kukis living in India and Burma God will send the Holy Spirit like He did in answer to John Knox’s prayer and every Kuki will be born again. Because it is unattainable to have a country of our own on this earth, I implored with God to allot the highest quota of seats in Heaven to the Kukis. 

As I was fasting and praying, the NSCN-IM began their massacre, the pogrom against Kukis from 1992-1997. I visited the villages that had been burnt to ashes, tended to the dead and offered whatever little help I could. Whenever young Kuki boys and girls asked for rice and other provisions, I did the best I could and to the
rest I offered financial assistance. Most of the times I visited places where my brothers and sisters were mercilessly murdered, and in the madness that besieged the Kukis, I could not continue my morning fasting and prayer. 

After sometime, I tried to broker peace between the various groups of Kuki National Organisation, which was plagued with groupism and internal strife. Dissension amongst the members, which often led to internecine killings did not augur well for the Kukis. The gulf of misunderstanding and disparity, the trust deficiency among the various groups had become so wide to be bridged. Hence, as a solution to all the misunderstanding, the loss of confidence, the chronic distrust of one another gave birth to a unique situation wherein I was asked to join as the President of KNO for lasting peace within the organisation and Kuki society in general. Today, there is KNO (Burma) dealing with the political issues pertaining to the Kukis in Burma. 

  At this juncture, I cried out in frustration to God, Oh Lord! I fasted and prayed for a period of time for the spiritual revival and awakening of my people. Why have you answered me with something else which I had never prayed for in the first place, this non-spiritual political issue of fighting for land for the Kukis in Burma and in India, what is this Lord? The Lord heard my cry and answered: If you are concerned about the spiritual well-being of your people in India and Burma, then you must also be concerned about their physical welfare too. From that day onwards, without whining I have served our Kuki Nation knowing that it is from God alone, God chooses our race, and our community…God does not make mistakes. There is a thought that goes on in the inner recess of my mind at times - I asked God for No.1, the Lord gave me No.2/second grade instead; this is how I see it. 

Nu Parchi: (Mother Parchi) 

Nu Parchi came, and on the 7th July 2011, as the Lord God had instructed ‘Nampi Maicham’ (Nation’s Altar) - a day consecrated to the Lord, was solemnly observed.  As per the command of God, a Monolith of Unity was erected. A Crucifix was also installed; a flag with the picture of a white lamb emblazoned was also unfurled.

After two years, we followed the directive of God together as stated below: 

God’s revelation came upon Nu Parci concerning construction of a Maicham that accommodates three thousand people, and that PS Haokip is to take up the task. Nu Parci asked if I was willing to accept the responsibility, and I responded in the affirmative stating, if it is God’s will, who am I to refuse! Indeed, I am overjoyed because king David, who so much desired to build the Lord’s temple was not given the privilege because there was too much blood on his hands. Instead, his son Solomon would build the Lord’s temple. God has given me the privilege and honour to build Nampi Maicham temple and I believe He will also provide the means to accomplish His will through the Kuki people.

Following my unequivocal acceptance, Nu Parci passed further instructions to perform as required by God: 

a) Sacrifice and partake of the meat of an unblemished lamb; 

b) Light a seven stand candelabra, representing seven angels who will give you strength; 

c) Near the seven stand candelabra you would be anointed with oil. 

Day of God’s anointment: 

On 24 April 2013, proceedings of anointing were carried out in accordance with God’s will, as stated in the preceding paragraph, and I submitted myself fully trusting in the Lord. Nu Mawi, my colleagues with our respective spouse were present at the ceremony. Nu Parci performed the anointment ceremony by pouring oil over my head near the seven stand candelabra and offered me to God. A feast of the lamb’s meat followed and we praised God for the event. 

After the day of God’s anointment, Mangcha, a renowned Kuki sculptor was engaged to produce a blueprint of the 3000 capacity building, which we see on the wall of the Prayer Hall and shall be constructed at the Nampi Kipum Khatna
Maicham (Altar of Unification of the Nations) 

Another fascinating revelation from God through Rev Chomlhun is that the Kachin people are our brothers, who are also descendants of Manasseh (Menasha). Bewildered, but filled with awe and excitement at this revelation, I enquired from Col
Paulneo, a Kuki National Army officer who trained in Kachin state concerning similarities between Kachin and Kuki. Col Paulneo stated that at least 40% of our dialects are the same. Convinced, I requested Rev Chomlhun to go to Kachin. After a short sojourn in Kachin, the Reverend returned because many of the Kachin leaders were not in station. On the second trip, the Reverend stayed about a month during which he met numerous Kachin leaders and lay people alike and spoke about Kachin and Kuki filial relationship. 

MOREH

The United Nations Day-cum-Zoro Conference was observed on 24 October 2013 at Galngam Lentol, Moreh. Pu.Thangmawia, president ZORO, unfurled the UN flag and I unfurled the ZORO flag, and we each delivered a speech. Cultural troupes from Chin Hills, Kachin state, Mizo, Zou and other Kuki groups performed. Pu Langjaw Kyang Ying, a Kachin research scholar at North Eastern Hill University spoke on the Kachin-Kuki relationship. 

SAIKUL 

The 122nd Chin-Lushai Conference was commemorated at Saikul on 29 January 2014. Representatives, delegates and cultural troupes, from the entire Zo community attended the event, i.e. from Kukis from Chittagong Hill Tract in Bangladesh and Tripura and Barrack Valley, Assam. Two bus loads of young men and women came from Mizoram. Chin Hills, Kachin State and Manipur were also well represented. Pu R Thangmawi, ZoRO President, Pu PS Haokip KNO President, Pu BK Rangkhawl Ex Freedom Fighter & Ex MLA Tripura, Pu Thangkhosei Haokip, Preident KIM, Pu Manbunlal Working President Kuki Inpi Barrack Valley, Nu Parchi Nampi Maicham from Chin State, Pu Langyaw Khying Ying research scholar from Kachin State at NEHU, and Rev Dr T Lunkim spoke on the occasion. Cultural troupes from Saikul and Gangpijang graced the occasion as hosts. I expressed appreciation to all the dignitaries, cultural troupes and artistes that participated. 

BORDUMSA 

The Kachin people celebrated Sapong Yang Manau from 12-14 February 2014 at Changlang District in Arunachal Pradesh. Upon receiving the invitation of the organisers of the festival, a team of ZORO members and KNO, led by TS Haokip Defence Secretary, attended the festival. The occasion, to a significant extent, cemented Kachin-Kuki and other Zo ethnic group relations. 

Following the Bordumsa event, YMCA Northeast India organized a seminar by at Songgel, Churachandpur on 21 March 2013. Dr Ja Gun, Advisor to Kachin Independent Organisation spoke on the cultural similarities of Kachin and Kuki, such as custom of marrying the maternal uncle’s daughter and the levirate system of taking responsibility for the widow of a deceased brother. He also highlighted the period of migration and separation, and the Kachins’ practice of reserving a separate room in the house for their elder Kuki brothers to stay upon their return. The response to my missive sent to Kachin Independent Organisation through courtesy of Dr Ja Gun, stressed Kachin and Kuki are blood brothers. KIO also requested that ZORO report the plight of Kachin, suffered at the hands of the Myanmar Government from 2011, at the 13th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at New York from 12 to 23 May 2014. They also deputed Vice-secretary Sir La Nan to organize a face-to-face meeting between delegates of KIO and ZORO after 15 May 2014. 

In the United States, we also met with our brothers living in Tulsa, Pu Taang Go Khup, President Zomi Innkuan USA and his colleagues, who are mainly from the Chin Hills. Over lunch, Rev Seikam Touthang, Dr Seilen Haokip and I, had a long discussion with them regarding the need for our people’s unity. The focus of our discussion was unity of Kuki, Chin, Mizo and Kachin for which ZORO is pertinent, and how we should work together to achieve the common objectives of our people. A video footage of the meeting was taken. 

The 13th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at New York, 12 to 23 May 2014: 

Pu Thangmawia, president ZORO, PS Haokip and Dr Seilen Haokip attended the 13th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at New York from 12 to 23 May 2014. A Joint statement of Zo Indigenous People inhabiting Indo-Bangladesh-Myanmar bordering Regions, known as Chin-Lushai (Mizo)-Kuki country according to British officials and writers, Agenda Item 4 (a) Human Rights: Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, dated 20 May 2014, was submitted by PS Haokip (Ref: 455436). 

Salient features of the statement include, 

•    Myanmar Government atrocities committed against Kachin people from 2011 

•    Kuki genocide carried out by the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak & Muivah) from 1992-1997, during which over 900 innocent lives were taken, 350 villages uprooted and 50,000-plus souls displaced 

•    Suspension of Operations from 2005 with the Indian Army, followed by a tripartite SoO with the GOI (Government of India) and the state Government of Manipur in 2008, but with Government not initiating political dialogue, which is the sole purpose of the peace pact in order to arrive at a political solution for the Kuki people 

During our trip to the United States, we visited our people in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who very graciously contributed towards our airfare from New York City to Tulsa (return). At a meeting organized by the Tulsan Kukis, Dr Seilen and I offered clarifications concerning ZORO and its relationship with Kukis. I also gave my testimony praying one and a half year for the souls of Kukis in India and Burma and how after becoming president KNO, I realized God wanted me to seek political freedom for our people, instead. God has bestowed the responsibility of restoring Zo country, which will be a Christian state; that it will be Jesus’ kingdom as in Daniel Chapter 2. 

Among Kukis living in Tulsa, besides the family members of Rev Seikam Touthang, Rev Konkhogin Haokip and Hencha, the rest arrived in the United States from Kuki Students Democratic Front New, Delhi and Kuki Students Democratic Front, Malaysia. I had known them for a very long time and it was very good to see them again. I thank god for our meeting after all these many years. We had a very enjoyable ‘reunion’, each night dining at different houses tasting ethnic Kuki gourmet delicacies prepared with American ingredients to enhance. May God bless all of them!  

It was also a pleasure to meet an American retired General and his good wife to whom we were introduced by Rev Konkhogin. The reverend addresses the couple as Nu le Pa. Over tea and homemade cake prepared by the General’s wife, we discussed the aims and objectives of ZORO. The Gen has very good contacts in the Republican Party, including the former US president, George Bush senior. Someday, if need be, the Gen may be able to speak to people in position on our people’s behalf. 

In New York City, we had the privilege of dining with the First Secretary, Pu Ngaighte and his kind and hospitable wife at their residence at the at the Permanent Mission of India, located near the United Nations Headquarters. Our discussions also focused on ways to unite our people. We also gave Pu Ngaihte a copy of ZORO’s statement for the 13th Session of UNPFII. 

Upon our return from Tulsa to New York, after a night’s stay at a hospital on 42nd Street, we met Pu Tongkhotinthang Hangshing, an official at the Permanent Mission of India. He courteously invited us to stay at his home in Flushing for the rest of our time at NYC. His wife from the Hmar community spoke fluent eipao, a Kuki dialect, and was very hospitable. Their son, a medical student, also took us around Flushing Meadows to do a bit of shopping. From Flushing, we were met by Paolen Kipgen and Mamang Baite and went by their car to Maryland, about four hours’ drive from NYC. We stayed two nights at Paolen’s house and with their family and together with a few Kukis in Maryland we sang from Lathahbu and enjoyed a great Lenkhom (the congregation practice of singing spiritual songs together).

On 22 May 2015, Nengbul and her friend drove us to Washington DC to do some sightseeing. On 23 May 2015, a big group of us drove in a massive America Ford van to NYC, and after arriving at Pu T Hangshing’s house, continued the singing and lenkhom. On 24 May 2015, we boarded Swiss Air from John F Kennedy airport in NYC and reached Delhi via Zurich on 25th night, 26th first morning, May.  From Delhi, I proceeded to Thailand to meet with our Kachin brothers to engage in preliminary discussions concerning our Kachin relations in Nagaland, Asssam and Burma. The Kachin acknowledge a) Kuki as their older brother and b) the importance of bringing into our fold the Kachins, who are in Nagaland, such as Konyak, Kimnungan, in Tirap and Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh, as well as in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh that constitute about 60 % of the population. 

Rev. Chomlhun

In 2011, I came in contact with Rev. Chomhlun who shared with me about God’s revelation to him that the Lord, Our God had heard the prayers of his children – the Kuki people who prayed in Mount Koubru under the banner of Kuki Nampi Taona, for the Lord to pardon their trespasses as community and as a nation; that the Lord has answered our prayers and has forgiven our sins, our iniquities and has revealed that we are the descendants of Manasseh. The NSCN-IM unleashed pogrom upon the Kukis began with the gruesome killings of the Kukis in Ukhrul, then Chandel, Churachandpur, Sadar Hills and Tamenglong District. Men of God like Pu Helkhoon, Pu Seithang could discern that this ethnic cleansing campaign was punishment wrought upon by the Lord for the iniquities of the Kuki People. From then onwards, they started calling upon the God almighty under the Kuki Nampi Taona (KNT) pleading for forgiveness of all the iniquities of the Kukis as a people. In this movement of prayer and fasting for the remission of sins as a community, they were joined by many at their respective places crying their hearts out to God to pardon the transgressions of the Kukis. 

The bible verse chosen by the KNT as a central theme for this mass prayer movement was taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14 ‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.’  Based on the assurance given by the Lord through this particular verse, many fasted and prayed under the banner of the Kuki Nampi Taona (KNT) at Koubru Hill, pleading sincerely to God for the forgiveness of all the sins and iniquities committed by them and their forefathers, crying out to God to show them mercy as a community. 

The cries of the children of God did not go in vain; the Living God answered the cries of the Kuki people to Rev. Chomhlun in Burma, telling him in no uncertain terms, ‘I have heard the cries of my children from the Koubru Hill, and I have forgiven all their iniquities, you are the descendants of Manasseh.’ In the words of Rev. Chomhlun, ‘One day, as I was cleaning my house, God came to me in a vision and said ‘You, the Kuki people, are the true descendants of Manasseh’. God showed me how our ancestors were dispersed & exiled from Israel on television-like screen. It was in the year 70 A.D. that the Roman General Titus invaded the city of Jerusalem, and destroyed everything in his path even the temple in Jerusalem. The vanquished people – the Jews were then taken captives and were exiled off to different parts of the Roman Empire and were eventually sold as slaves. 

In His plan to secure the children of Manasseh from the hands of the enemies, God spoke to the heart of the Chinese King. When the Chinese King heard that the Israel people were being sold as slaves, he happily purchased the children of Manasseh, and brought them to China as slaves. Subsequently, they were forced to engage in the construction of the Great Wall of China, which the Chinese have been building since the era of Before Christ, and were not in a position to complete as the Chinese were employing their own people, they could not make much progress. The descendants of Manasseh, though they remained slaves, religiously observed the Sabbath day of the week. Such strict observance of the Sabbath and other religious days, events and rituals annoyed the Chinese King. 

The Chinese were peeved as to why the Children of Manasseh, who were slaves refused to do any kind of work once a week (on the Sabbath day). Therefore, one day the King ordered all the people to go and work. In the meantime, the King commanded his men to steal the religious scroll of the Israelites and hid it away from them. When they returned from their work, there was no trace of the scroll; it was gone. They asked their masters – the Chinese, the Chinese King feigned ignorance and told them that the dogs must have eaten it up. Mindful of the Chinese King’s assertion, they ceased searching for it, knowing that the King had hidden it. Thus, they remained without any book of law; their leather scroll of religious code was no longer with them. In spite of the predicament they found themselves in they could somehow still observe the Sabbath and other important religious days as long as the priests were alive. However, after their death and lapse of over hundreds of years, they could no longer observe their religious law and events of religious significance. 

With the passage of time, after a period of two to three hundred years, they completely forgot about their living God and being Israelites and became a lawless society. They had forgotten who they were, where they came from, and began considering themselves only as slaves of the Chinese and remained in bondage under the Chinese rule. After their captivity for hundreds of years, they forgot not only their living God, their religion, but also lost their true identity and in due course of time their facial outlook and appearance gradually changed to one resembling those of the mongoloid race.  Having lost their identity and their God, the desire to escape from the Chinese became their sole objective. 

One day in A.D. 1050, a hunter spotted a tunnel dug by a porcupine near the Wall, which led to the other side of the Great Wall of China. Presuming it to be their only means of escape, they dug a tunnel and made good their escape from their life of slavery under the Chinese. The Children of Manasseh headed off in different directions and settled across the length and breadth of the continent of Asia. Our forefathers escaped from the Chinese fortress where they were slaves and dispersed throughout the Asian Continent.  Some proceeded to present-day Mongolia, reached the icy cold region of Siberia, and from there they went on to present-day Korea and Japan. Others settled down in modern day Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Bhutan, India and Burma. 

Our forefathers, those who settled in modern day Burma and North East India were separated solely due to the lhanket tree. In the course of their escape and migration from China the first group led by Pu Songthu left a trail (marks cut on the lhanket, a common local trees and slashed the plantain groves) for his younger brother Pu Songja group to follow. The Lhanket is peculiar specie; once cut, the mark would turn darkish in no time, and the plantain would sprout fresh shoots, both trees not serving as trail marks. When Pu Songja and his group reached the tails left behind by Pu Songthu, they appeared to be very old, and this gave them the impression that their brothers had gone far too ahead to keep up with and decided to change directions and move towards the northern part of the present day Sagaing Division of Myanmar, Northern Nagaland, parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The elder brother Pu Songthu group moved towards the Chin Hills, Mizoram, Chittagong Hill Tracts (Bangladesh), Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. Our forefathers were scattered and dispersed. 

The answer to the question, how does the preceding story have any relevance to us? Lies only in the fact that we are the descendants of Manasseh, the son of Joseph. Without the Manasseh factor, there is nothing tangible to connect us to the Biblical account, which is the basis of this narrative. 

The Lord instructed Rev. Chomlhun to go and tell the Kukis that the Lord has heard the prayers and supplications of the Kukis and have forgiven their transgressions. You the Kukis are the Children of Manasseh. Heeding the directive of God, Rev. Chomlhun came to Manipur in 2007 sharing God’s revelation about the true identity of the Kukis as revealed by God to the leaders of the Churches and Denominations and to also to the leaders of the Kuki Inpi (Traditional Government of the Kukis). He went on proclaiming God’s revelation about the Kukis from 2007 to 2010, but no one listened to him. When none of the Kuki Leaders in Manipur took the claims of Rev. Chomlhun seriously, he prayed to God and asked him to depute someone else in his stead to proclaim the revelation of the identity of the Kukis; he pleaded with God to send someone else who has a better bearing and countenance, one who is gifted with the eloquence of speech. He prayed, ‘I have heeded your command, and I have gone to where you have sent me to go, but none will listen to what I have to say, so please send someone instead’. 

 When the year was ending, God asked Rev. Chomlhun, ‘Why haven’t you gone yet?’ to which Rev Chomlhun replied, ‘Didn’t I ask you to send someone else in my place, no one listens to me or give credence to what I have to say.’ Then the Lord said, ‘If you do not heed my word and refuse to comply then I will bring great and immense sorrow upon the Kukis and upon your family too.’  Chomlhun was perturbed on hearing this, he immediately asked his wife to sell her pig, as he was not in a position to refuse God’s command anymore. His wife sold off her pig and came to Manipur. It was on this trip to Manipur that Rev. Chomlhun and I had the opportunity to meet for the first time. Rev. Chomlhun narrated the fact that he failed in his attempt to meet Kuki Leaders on his earlier trips. 

I called leaders of the Kuki Christian Leaders Fellowship and organised a meeting between Rev. Chomlhun and the Kuki Christian Leaders. I told the leaders that the Rev. Chomlhun has been deputed by God, and we must hear him out, we must hear what he has to say, we all must give him the opportunity to share his burden concerning our people and our community. Just as God had said, Rev. Chomlhun went on to speak about our Manasseh Identity at seven places in Churachandpur District, in one place he even spoke for 4 days. He also spoke 7 times each in Chandel and Kangpokpi Sadar Hills District, four times in the State of Nagaland and thrtee times in the State of Assam (in his trip to Assam he was accompanied by Evan. DK Samuel).  They came to meet me after their trip to Assam, and Rev. Chomlhun said to me ‘God had spoken to me saying from now onwards your Leader will assume the responsibility and take up the mantle of disseminating the Manasseh Identity. I will bless him and his words, one day the issue of Manasseh will reverberate at the UNO.’ With this revelation of God, we lifted our hearts and praises to the Lord. 

My first official address about the Manasseh identity of our people was at a ZoRO conference in the month of March at YPA Hall, Churachandpur. However, on the 6th of November 2006, on UPF’s initiative, a joint meeting with KNO was held at Dorcas Hall, New Lamka, whereupon I presented ‘Political Roadmap for the Kuki People’, which focused on unity with a political objective with our ethnic brethren Chin and Mizo, not with Naga. The goal may take one hundred years to achieve, but one day surely we would be united, I remarked. God honoured my commitment, as within ten days, having read the ‘Political Roadmap for The Kukis’ posted on the Internet, Pu R Thangmawia, president Zo Re-Unification Organisation (ZORO), sent members of ZORO (Northren Zone) to express appreciation over convergence of KNO and ZORO’s ideology concerning unity of our people. A meeting was held at T. Nehkhojang’s residence at Thingkangphai to discuss the common ideology of KNO and ZORO and how we ought to proceed in our political venture. Soon after, Pu Thangmawia and his Deputy visited and he remarked, ‘it is true and good that you say Kuki, Chin and Mizo are brothers and should unite. That is why ZORO was formed twenty-five years ago and it is now a member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).’ 

One month later, Pu Khaijang Haokip and Pu Nehkhojang of ZORO (NE) attended ZORO meeting at Aizawl, the Headquarters, and cemented our combined efforts to pursue our common goal for Zo people’s re-unification.  Two months later, Rev. Chomlhun came back to me and informed me that even the Kachins are descendants of Manasseh, as the Lord had commanded me to go and tell the Kachins about the fact that they are Manasseh, kindly arrange for my travel expenses to the Kachins. It was only after I enquired with the Commander of the Sinai Camp Paulneo as to how close we are with the Kachins that I sanctioned travel allowances for Rev. Chomlhun and sent him forth on his trip to the Kachins twice.  After contacts with the Kachins were established, I sent for Professor Ja Gun who came all the way from Burma to deliver a speech at M. Songgel Community Hall, on the 22nd March 2014. On the podium, before he gave his speech he asked me on what topic should address the gathering? I told him that I don’t know, I just wanted you to come and meet your Kuki brothers, as God has revealed to Rev. Chomlhun that Kukis and Kachins are both the descendants of the same forbear, of the same progenitor Manasseh. 

Professor Ja Gun interacted with the crowd, before he launched into his speech; he asked 3 questions: 1) When you look for a prospective bride for your son, where do you look to?  Do you ask for the hand of your maternal uncle’s daughter? The crowd replied in the affirmative.  2) When the husband of a woman dies, does the husband’s younger brother takes it upon himself as his responsibility to take care of his brother widowed wife? To which the gathering replied in the positive, it is a customary practice prevalent among the Kukis. 3) How do you name your new–born?  The practice of naming the new-born baby was also the same. Convinced the Professor Ja Gun declared that the Kukis and the Kachins are indeed the descendants of Israel. 

Before Professor Ja Gun returned to Burma, he purchased a copy of the Kuki–English Dictionary. Being an academic, he conducted a thorough study of two tongues and he came to the conclusion that Kuki and Kachin were 80 % similar etymologically.  The root source of the vocabularies and the manner and the context in which the words are used/ employed are more or less the same. The professor reported about his trip to the North East of India, and also about his findings regarding the closeness between the Kukis and the Kachins. Kachin Independent Organisation, the highest decision making body of the Kachins declared that the Kukis are our elder blood brothers; a copy of the declaration was also sent to me. In the year 2014, the Chavang Kut (post-harvest festival) was observed at Moreh, and to commemorate the auspicious occasion which saw the gathering of 8 tribes including the Kachins – a Mithun was slaughtered and in a true custom and cultural practice of the Kukis, the thigh (the choicest portion of the Meat) was symbolically presented to the Kachins, along with a traditional gong with the words ‘Celebration of Brotherhood’ inscribed on it. This festival witnessed the enthusiastic participation of the Konyaks, the Zelianrong Karbi, Heimi, Kuki, Chin, Mizo, and was a grand success. 

IN 2015, the Chavang Kut was observed at Tuibuong, Churachandpur. The number of the Manasseh descendants, which were recently discovered had increased to 4. A monolith was erected in which the names of all the tribes were duly engraved. A calendar to mark the event was also published along with a Souvenir magazine and a Report highlighting the events and the program of the celebration was duly published. All these were dispatched to various places for those who were not able to attend. 

The year 2016, witnessed a grander celebration of Chavang Kut, Celebration of Brotherhood with the theme ‘Bigger, Better, Stronger’ at Peace Ground, Tuibong, Churachandpur. The 3 days Cultural extravaganza witnessed many memorable events spread over a period of 3 days. A monolith with the names of 73 Manasseh Tribes were inscribed for posterity and erected at the venue. The festival drew large participation of around 200,000 people. As was the practice in the preceding years, a souvenir magazine was published to commemorate this grand occasion. The leaders of the Manasseh tribes who had gathered from far and wide unanimously agreed to form a social platform – the Manasseh Foundation Asia on the evening of the 1st November 2016. The Foundation held its first conclave in the pine city of Shillong on the 3rd of December 2016 in which office bearers for the MFA were duly elected by the delegates and began functioning as a social platform for kindred Manasseh tribes of Asia.  

Accordingly, as the Lord had revealed to his servant Rev. Chomlhun a booklet titled ‘The Voice of God’ was published, after which another booklet ‘Manasseh: The Lost tribe of Israel’ was also printed. These two booklets were translated into several Kuki dialects, Hmar, Mongolian, Burmese, and were duly dispatched. These books were also distributed in the region of North East India (Bodo, Mishing, Mizo, Manipuri) and in South East Asia in the respective languages of the country to which the books were sent by post, i.e. Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, China. 

Questions often raised by the Kukis: 

1) Why is Mr. PS Haokip, a Kuki National worker behaving more like a religious leader? 

2) Why is Mr. PS Haokip, a National Worker whose organization is committed to achieving a respectable political solution for the Kukis harping on one thing after the other, first it was ZoRO and now Manasseh? 

3) Why is it that Mr. PS Haokip believes in the revelation of Holy Spirit of God? 

Why do I believe in the Manasseh Theory of origin of our people?  I did so for the survival of the Kukis. We have pondered, deliberated and initiated many measures for the convergence of various socio-political ideologies, which are prevalent in our society, but it is to of no avail. When we look at our society today in each of the Kuki Tribes a common characteristic is the predominance of Churches of various denominations. There will be around 20 denominations in each of the Kuki Tribes, and around the same number of armed revolutionary groups. We seem to be a people, a nation who have agreed on only one thing, i.e. to disagree. Hence our society, our communities are home to churches of different doctrines, and revolutionary groups with conflicting ideologies.  

Even on the issue of a common nomenclature, we cannot come together. All these bring our tribalism to the fore, of how fragmented and divided we are as a people, as a society. We all cannot deny the inalienable fact that we are one, but at the slightest chance or pretext we are ready to lock horns, our daggers drawn upon our own brothers. This is what we the Kukis people are, so divided, so scattered, squabbling between ourselves, we never could march together in one accord. If we all analyse minutely as to why we are like this, it is because we are the descendants of Manasseh.  

The Lord our God has heard the cries of his children, the Kukis, on the Koubru Hills and has forgiven us our transgressions. God has let it to known that we the Kukis are the children of Manasseh. But we are stubborn people, who still refuse to heed the voice of God. Hence unless and until we believe in the revelation of God that we are His Chosen Nation – Manasseh, we will remain a people divided and fragmented as we are now. By the grace of God, I could discern the revelation of the Living God in regards to our people, and have taken up the responsibility of disseminating the same to those who are still unaware. I have taken up the cause of the Manasseh identity and brotherhood in line with my first calling as a national worker for the Kuki Nation. 

After having carried out the responsibility assigned to him by God in making known to the Kukis living in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland; the servant of God, Rev. Chomlhun came along with DK Samuel to meet me and he said, ‘God had spoken to me saying from now onwards your leader will assume the responsibility, the mantle of disseminating the Manasseh identity and I will bless him and his words, one day the issue of Manasseh will shake the UNO.’ Having been given this great responsibility, though unworthy I may be, I began to do whatever I could in my capacity to further the Manasseh identity amongst those communities revealed to be the descendants of Manasseh in the North East India, Burma, and in the rest of Asia. I took the initiative to organise the Chavang Kut 2014, 2015, 2016, in the hope of fostering and strengthening social ties between the Manasseh communities hailing from northeast India, Burma Bangladesh and China. Souvenirs and books were printed detailing the revelation of God, and the migration pattern of the various Manasseh tribes, and how they came to settle where they are living now in this present age and time. These Souvenirs and books were subsequently sent to all the Manasseh communities translated in their respective languages through post and sometimes through Pastors and Reverends. 

In 1 Chronicle 5: 1, ‘The Sons of Reuben the first born of Israel (he was first born but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his right as first born were given to the sons of Joseph, son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright.’ We, the Manasseh people are now the eldest among the tribes of Israel, divinely ordained by God; we are the Chosen even among the Chosen people of Israel.  Hence, it is our responsibility, our bounden duty to reach out to those children of Manasseh who are still lost and still in the dark about their true identity. When we are done with the duty of reaching out to the Manasseh communities in Asia, there are many Manasseh Communities in the Americas to whom we have the sole responsibility of letting them know that they are a part of God’s intricate plan; that they are the Children of Manasseh – the Chosen among the Chosen. 

It has become clear that we all are brothers, who are inseparable and indivisible. The reason I say God loves Kuki Kachin Chin Mizo, who are the Manasseh people and we have been given divine opportunity to integrate and strengthen the brotherhood. Among the children of Israel, we are descendants of Manasseh (one of the lost tribes of Israel). It is our bounden duty and responsibility to proclaim the Gospel to all the nations of the world. I firmly believe with all my heart that God has assigned us to resurrect the Kingdom of Christ. One of the reasons why I said God loves most the children of Kukis Kachin Chin Mizo (Manasseh) is because God led the Israelites out of Egypt and took them to the Promised Land, protecting them from a series of war under the leadership of Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Saul, David, Solomon, Jeptha, Gideon, and Samson. However, with the rejection of Jesus Christ as their Saviour (Luke Chapter 34: 1-16), the wrath of God fell upon them, resulting in the fall of the Israeli kingdom. And God purposed the Chinese king to take the children of Manasseh as slaves in A.D. 75, and by A.D. 1050, our forefathers journeyed to our present inhabited areas, where we have been relatively safe. 

For instance, the death toll in the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak & Muivah)’s ethnic cleansing against the Kukis is less than one thousand, which I recorded in the book  ‘Zale’n-gam: The Kuki Nation’ (2008) and distributed to various parts of the world. Observing the anti-Semitic campaign launched by Hitler, which resulted in the killing of more than six million Jews, our ordeal and tragedy is not worth comparing. God’s love has been manifested in various ways: (i) Physically, we have been secured and safe, (ii) Spiritually; we have been saved, which I want to give more emphasis on as it is most important. For the salvation of our souls, God has secured us in our present-day inhabited areas by transforming us into Gentiles, to be saved as Christians. The anthropologists and ethnographers have categorized us as a Tibeto-Burman group. Our forefathers worshipped different objects and forms, such as trees and stones as they have been lost. After experiencing such vicissitudes, Christ the Saviour brought us the Living Word of God, and our acceptance of which has assured us eternal life and we have celebrated the Christian Centenary. 

The description of the Lord in Ezekiel: 37 – ‘The Valley of Dry Bones’ is a direct reference to the descendants of Manasseh, who were lost for a period of 2000 years, and who had been living like Gentiles. I lift up my inexpressible praise to the Lord, because He had made known to Rev. Chomlhun that the Lord had heard the cries of repentance and prayers of Kuki Nampi Taona (KNT), who fasted and prayed at mount Koubru (Koubru Hill, Manipur, INDIA) who made supplications on our behalf to the Lord Almighty to forgive us of our wrong-doings. The Lord had spoken to his servant Rev Chomlhun, ‘I have heard the sorrow and the repentance prayers of the Kuki people; I have forgiven them of their misdeeds and transgressions. Go and tell them that they are the descendants of Manasseh.’ For that reason we the descendants of Manasseh are like the valley of dry bones as explicitly described by God to Ezekiel; as the Lord himself revealed in the spirit to the Prophet Ezekiel that these dry bones will be renewed, reinvigorated and resurrected back to life.  In the same vein we organise Chavang Kut, distribute booklets on Manasseh across Asia in the fervent hope those Manasseh brethren who are still unaware, who are still languishing in the dark, will come to know their true identity and will accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. A day will dawn when all the descendants of Manasseh will be made anew, renewed, brought back to life in Christ, and we all worship the Lord Jesus Christ in one spirit and in one accord. 

Therefore, today, knowing God’s purpose in sending of His Son to the world is His delight. Some sections of our community adopted Judaism and went to Israel. We should go back to Israel only to preach the plan of God’s Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rather than going back to Israel, we, who have been saved and should organize crusades and Gospel camps to extend God’s Kingdom. It is the will of Yahweh that we, the children of Manasseh, are a chosen people to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and that we praise and lift up His Holy name. If we respond to God’s will and worship Christ, we will be a blessed people, a blessed nation far beyond our imaginations. 

Following their escape, a section of the population settled in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia, while the rest proceeded towards Siberia and reached near the North Pole. They stayed only a week because it was the time when the sun did not shine in the North Pole. The elders referred to this extraordinary event as Mujin Lhun, darkness for seven days and seven nights. In the folklore of the Gangte people, who had become snake worshippers, they feared the sun God was angry and so reverted to Sun worship. There is a lucid historical account which had been handed down from generation to generations, which has been well preserved among the Gangtes. Kuki People.

Our forefathers when they were in China, used to worship the Python until the time they experienced the unusual phenomenon which they called Thimjin in which there was complete darkness for 7 Days and 7 Nights. 

In the North Pole there is sunshine for six months of the year, and darkness for six months. Similarly, in the South Pole there is darkness for six months and daylight for six months. There is no such occurrence on earth as darkness for one week; our ancestors must have wandered in to the North Pole region during the fag end of six-month period of no sunshine because they experienced darkness for seven days and seven nights. 

Our forefathers deduced that their worshipping of the Python had angered the Sun God to no end and had refused to shine its Light upon us, hence we are in complete darkness. Convinced that the Sun was bigger and more powerful than the Python, they started worshipping the Sun. Then, they held a deliberation amongst themselves; and decided to proceed to the East, in the direction from which the Sun rises. There were large multitudes of them, and it was impossible to move in a single file. Some of them built a ship and sailed across the ocean and reached the land of the rising sun - and inhabited the country which is now known as Japan. 

Some sailed even farther and reached what is known as the American Continent today; they started fanning out inhabiting the South, the Central, including the regions of Canada and Alaska. Those remaining numbers who could not build a Ship of their own decided to pursue the Sun in the opposite direction - “Let us go and worship the Sun where it sets in the West" 

The descendants of the Children of Manasseh who went to the East, are now found inhabiting countries spread across Asia, Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Psalm 2:7 -9 I will declared the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou are my son; this day have I begotten thee. 8, Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9, Thou shall break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.