Independent, fearless and never-compromising in spirit, the Kukis dared to challenge the then mightiest colonial power of the time, British empire. It took for the British military forces three years to suppress the Kuki Rebellion, as it is officially known, through their Kuki Punitive Measures, 1917-1919. Much has been written in the form of research papers, monographs and doctoral thesis on the subject, basing on the archival documents and oral sources which are locally available in India. Everybody cannot afford to visit the India Office, Blackfier Street, London and the British Museum and Library, London, which house a lot of unpublished documents on Kuki Rebellion and for that matter the history of modern Manipur. It is really so thoughtful on the part of Rev. Dr. Pu Jangkholam Haokip, who, during his stay at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, had managed to collect rare and unpublished documents on Kuki Rebellion hitherto unexplored and has now made them available in this precious book to the academic community. The present book, though small, is a mine of information and will definitely help scholars and research students to reassess the Kuki Rebellion in a truer historical perspective.

The book gives an in-depth qualitative study on indigenous Kuki Thempu who depended considerably on spirits for the physical and spiritual welfare of the village people. The innumerable cultic rituals he performed showed great respect centred around natural elements like trees, animals, rivers, streams, mountains, and most of all on Indoi. Seeking the goodwill of God and spirits was the primary aim of the Thempu to bring about health and social tranquil atmosphere. A retrograde journey to cultural roots can draw an immense wealth of heritage that could be valuable in effective pastoral ministry in Catholic religious tradition.