April 9, 2025 –President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Vienna, Austria, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, marking the second leg of her four-day state visit to Portugal and Slovakia. The visit, aimed at strengthening India’s ties with Europe, took on a profound cultural significance for the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur after reports surfaced that the President wore a Saipikhup shawl—a traditional Kuki-Zo garment—during her time in the Austrian capital.

The news, shared widely on social media, has ignited a wave of pride among the Kuki-Zo, offering a rare moment of recognition amid their ongoing struggles in Manipur.

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President Murmu’s arrival in Vienna followed her engagements in Portugal, where she met with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro on April 7 and 8. Her visit to Austria, part of a historic tour—the first by an Indian President to the country in nearly three decades—focused on deepening bilateral ties. Upon landing at Vienna International Airport, she was received by Indian Ambassador to Austria, Puneet R. Kundal, and Austrian officials, as reported by The Hindu. Her schedule included meetings with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico on April 9 and 10, as well as a visit to the Tata Motors Jaguar Land Rover facility in Nitra, Slovakia, highlighting industrial cooperation.

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However, for the Kuki-Zo community, the diplomatic agenda took a backseat to a symbolic gesture. Social media posts on X claimed that President Murmu wore the Saipikhup shawl during her Vienna visit, with @DynastyDoungel noting, “A proud moment for the Kuki-Zo community! Her Excellency Smt. Droupadi Murmu… wore the SAIPIKHUP… during her four-day trip to Vienna.”

Another user, @Inside_Manipur , described it as “a gesture that resonates deeply, celebrating #Manipur’s rich culture.” While these posts did not specify whether she wore the shawl upon landing or during a specific event, the news spread rapidly, resonating with a community yearning for visibility.

The Saipikhup Shawl: A Cultural Emblem</st

While the Meitei falsely brand the Kuki as ‘illegal immigrants’, the President of India herself honors our heritage by donning the traditional Kuki Saipikhup shawl on an official visit to Austria a powerful affirmation of our rightful place within the Indian Union.… pic.twitter.com/Bji3ajtvfd

— Aboriginal_Kuki (@AboriginalKuki) April 9, 2025

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The Saipikhup shawl holds deep significance for the Kuki-Zo people, who primarily inhabit the hill districts of Manipur, such as Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. Woven by Kuki-Zo women on traditional looms, the shawl features intricate red, black, and white geometric patterns that symbolize unity, resilience, and the community’s connection to their ancestral lands. For the Kuki-Zo, who number around 300,000 in Manipur, the shawl is a marker of identity, often worn during ceremonies and passed down through generations as a cherished heirloom.

The Kuki-Zo have faced historical marginalization, and their cultural symbols have taken on added weight amid the ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023. The conflict, primarily between the Meitei community in the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo in the hills, has claimed over 250 lives and displaced 60,000 people, according to local reports. Buffer zones, established to separate the two groups, have become flashpoints, as evidenced by a Kuki-Zo press statement on April 9 warning Meiteis against crossing into Chinga Kaba in Thangting Hills.

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A Moment of Pride Amid Struggle

The reported sighting of the Saipikhup shawl on President Murmu came at a pivotal moment for the Kuki-Zo. On the same day, leaders from Kuki-Zo civil society groups, including Seikhohun Kipgen of the Kuki Chiefs’ Association, issued a statement urging the government to maintain the status quo in buffer zones to prevent further escalation. The community has also been grappling with the fallout of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s unmet March 8 deadline to restore free movement on Manipur’s highways, a failure that has left Kukis unable to access Imphal’s airport and hospitals, while Meiteis face shortages in the valley.

Against this backdrop, the news of President Murmu wearing the Saipikhup shawl struck a chord. In Churachandpur, Kuki-Zo women gathered at a community center to celebrate, sharing images of the President on their phones. “The Saipikhup is our pride, our story,” said Kim Haokip, spokesperson on Kuki Inpi in Delhi. “Seeing it on our President in Vienna feels like the world is finally seeing us, even if just for a moment.”

Thank you your excellency President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn 🙏🙏
for wearing our traditional #Saipikhup shawl of #Kuki_Zo community.
God bless you ..🙏🙏
Along with this i sincerely request government of India to see our pain and suffering in Manipur.… pic.twitter.com/q1QTwf5WEV

— Astor (KUKI KA PARIVAR) (@Khulkonns_3382) April 9, 2025

Murmu’s Tribal Connection

President Murmu, India’s first tribal President, has a personal connection to such gestures. Born into a Santhali family in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on June 20, 1958, she has often highlighted her roots during her tenure. Sworn in as the 15th President of India on July 25, 2022, Murmu has made it a point to celebrate India’s tribal diversity, from wearing a Santali saree at her inauguration to engaging with indigenous communities during her travels. Her presidency has been marked by a focus on empowering marginalized groups, as noted in her Republic Day eve address on January 25, 2025, where she emphasized the Constitution’s role in uplifting the downtrodden.

The Kuki-Zo community has repeatedly sought Murmu’s intervention in Manipur’s crisis. In March 2024, the Kuki-Zo Women’s Forum in Delhi appealed to her for justice for tribal women affected by the violence. While her office has not publicly addressed these specific pleas, her reported choice to wear the Saipikhup shawl is seen by many as a symbolic nod to their struggles. “She understands what it means to be tribal, to fight for your identity,” said Kim Haokip. “This gesture gives us hope, even if the situation at home remains grim.”