force. The British Indian government had already established control over the surrounding areas of the Kuki inhabited hills by the early 20th century. However, the Kukis remained fiercely independent and resisted British attempts to control their land and resources. The Kukis had been engaged in smaller skirmishes with the British for years, but in 1917, the conflict escalated into a full-blown war. The Kukis, sensing the impending danger, started to prepare themselves for the inevitable war. They began to gather weapons and formed alliances with other Kuki tribes to strengthen their position. Many of the Kuki warriors had traditional weapons like spears and bows and arrows, but they also acquired modern weapons like rifles and machine guns from neighboring countries like China and Burma. The British, on the other hand, had a more organized approach to their preparation. They had a large standing army that they could deploy at a moment's notice. The British Indian government also mobilized troops from other parts of India to fight against the Kukis. They trained their troops in modern warfare tactics and equipped them with the latest weapons and technology. The British also took steps to disrupt the Kukis' supply lines, by destroying their villages and crops. They also tried to isolate the Kuki tribes by cutting off communication and transportation links. Overall, the preparation for the Anglo-Kuki War was a long and protracted process for both sides. The Kukis, although lacking in modern military equipment, made up for it with their fierce determination and fighting spirit. The British, with their superior technology and organization, were able to gain the upper hand in the conflict. Course of war The Anglo-Kuki War was a complex and protracted conflict that spanned over two years and involved numerous battles and engagements between the Kuki tribes and the British Indian government. The war was marked by several phases of escalation and de-escalation, as well as shifts in tactics and strategies employed by both sides. The initial phase of the war began in 1917, when the Kukis launched a series of guerrilla attacks against the British authorities in Manipur and other areas of Northeast India. The Kukis were emboldened by their recent success in repelling a British expeditionary force that had been sent to punish the Lushai tribes in 1871. The Kukis were confident in their ability to defend their land and resist the British attempts to assert control