By Elf Hmar
My father often narrated to me that the first Council office and the entire budget of Mizo District Council, at the outset, was run with funds borrowed from Mr. Pasung (or Pachhunga), known to be the richest man in the area in those days. Mr. Pasung was a Hmar.
Lusei speaking group in Mizo District, later declared Union Territory and now a State, with arriere pensee, gradually iconised Lusei dialect as Mizo, deftly utilizing the council machinery as tool for Lusei propagation – and, today, Lusei is synonymous to Mizo. As you dawdle along the streets and bazaar in Aizawl, you would often stumble upon an ordinary Hmar young generation who is ready to pounce on you the moment you speak to him in Hmar language. “Why can’t you speak in Mizo, idiot?” Chhangte clans in Mizoram are Hmars, originally known to be ‘Sangte’ (Little brother) in Hmar language. The deleting process of Hmar identity seems to work fast on account of Lusei speaking idiosyncrasy.
And now, burning topic of our time and a stark example of political shortsightedness in Mizoram: the government of Mizoram dallying in solving the Hmar issue and the protracted Sinlung Hills Autonomous District Council demand, constitutional right of the Hmars in Mizoram. Who expect the government of Mizoram to be a good Samaritan? The Hmars ask for their constitutional right and the government of Mizoram should recommend the demand to Central Government for their approval. Simple as that.
Insular government and self-styled haute monde, that’s how Mizoram state legislative assembly looks like. Passing a bill for change of Mizo (Lusei) to ‘any Mizo’ will not safeguard the haute monde culture. The fulcrum of Mizoram, the Hmars, supported by their fellow Hmars from neighbouring states – quis separabit, we the Hmars – can be foreboding in the fullness of time.
Consider the Hmars at strategic points in Assam can easily create economic road blockade for Mizoram state. Imagine the prices of essential commodities in Aizawl and surrounding areas spiraling upward. Food, oil and vote banks are important, isn’t it? So, act fast!
For a state government, resorting to force and suppression is costly and not advisable for a long term policy and purposes. The government of Mizoram should act fast and arrange positive, result-oriented negotiation with political insurgents in their state – HPC(D) and their delegation members nominated as permitted under SoO terms and conditions – and use funds reserved for security towards development programme of its people for self-rule and autonomy within the state.
Similar Posts:
- What if we had a PM like Lalthanhawla?
- United by YouTube
- LADC new CEM Sworn-in
- 90,568 rodent tails burnt
- Cabinet’s approval brings municipal body closer
April 6th, 2011 at 2:05 am
299 na a………mizo inkhawm a lawi ho hi chu Assam,Manipur etc. hmar an ni ..tih hi……mizo inkhawm a lawi LO ho hi chu Assam,Manipur etc. hmar an ni…….tih tur ni awm tak a ni.
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 2:08 am
Ka hnê ta
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 3:31 am
g0y mai laaaa @nagmah
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 3:46 am
Nice words there Mr Elf. Now is ‘elf’ your real name or does it denote a demoted sense of self-esteem that seems to emanate from the carefully styled yet inevitably obvious and revealing choice of words and arrangement, which betrays a mind that is schooled, yet inexorably socialised from what I can only imagine is a very conservative group of people that you have grown to maturity with? You speak of ideals very out of place not because of ideological or power-structured exploitative workings, no, but rather because of empirical and historical inevitability. In other words my friend, you are hopelessly caught in a post-colonial world with thoughts, ideals and I’d imagine ambitions that are very much colonial and reeking of the concepts of ‘divide and rule’ which time has shown over and again to be inexplicably flawed and invalid to the sentiments of a modern globalised, humanitarian world. I agree – the world as it is, is not free from its share of power struggles and instutionalised oppression – but nevetheless your discourse paints too dismal a picture against the collective stride people of genuine holistic intellect are undertaking today, for me to just sit by and watch you revel in the glory of your perceived eloquence with the English language, which I am sure – you chose because you felt it best represented the ‘separatist’ mindset within which you dwell – the melting pot of the ideals and what can be only described as ‘threats’ you speak of and so vigorously express.
Now you see, Mr Elf – I am also ‘Hmar’ by descent. I proudly display the ‘Varte’ part of my name in my social interactions. I come from one of those ‘Hmar’ sub-clans that have merged gracefully into the modern Mizo culture. It is unfortunate that the Hmar dialect has not survived in our family – but believe me – it is a very important aspect of my culture and my sense of identity, and would be very excited indeed if I were to be able to learn my ancestral tongue in the future. I can see quite evidently that you have unfortunately confused the ideals of ‘cultural preservation and autonomy’, with pursuits that are essentially ‘political’. As a student majoring in Political Science I assure you the two are not the same. If they are, then it would mean that the many hours I have spent labouring on the theories and academic discourse of scholars in the field, have come to nought. A fate I most certainly could not bear, for it is quite unlikely that the collective philosophical progression of the human phsyche over the decades has been utterly flawed.
Upon my arrival at the institution where I am currently studying – I had the honour of being acquainted with quite a few of my fellow Hmar people, who unlike me – came from the section of Hmar clans that were driven out up north of modern-day Mizoram by the then largely hegemonic Sailo rulers. I am sure you are aware I belong to the few clans that decided to stay behind. If you haven’t, I would strongly recommend that you brush-up on your Mizo history and pick up the first credible book you can find on the said issue. I am glad to say that I got along with them very well (one of them even broke my heart, but that is another story!), and although I did not understand their conversations with each other in the Hmar dialect, I was keen to learn. They however, graciously understood my predicament and always talked to me in the Lusei dialect which as you so rightly pointed out, has been now recognised as Mizo Tawng. I cannot comprehend as to why you interpret the acknowledgement of Lusei as Mizo Tawng with such disdain and spite. It was only obvious that Lusei be picked as the common language because most of the Mizo sub-tribes today speak it! I agree it has come to pass only because of the political hegemony of the Lusei clan and their rulers, but there was nothing you nor I could do about it then (i.e., if we were to somehow be alive at the time), and there is nothing we can do about it now. In the words of Marx, it is nothing but ‘historical inevitability’. Get used to it my friend. And as far as I am aware, neither my Hmar friends nor the various Lusei friends seem to have a problem with it – the former don’t drivel and whine about it, and the latter don’t brag about it. As a matter of fact, I envied my Hmar friends for having the luxury of knowing Mizo, English as well as a separate, ancestral language/dialect! They could speak fluently in more languages than I could!
If you do belong to the section of my Hmar brethren as the friends I have mentioned – do speak Hmar as you like. Don’t let go of it, and don’t let go of other aspects of Hmar culture. It is precious – not merely from the anthropological perspective, but from the perspective of the basic human rights of having your own identity and being who you are. However, speak Mizo when it is appropriate, just as you speak English when it is appropriate. No one is demanding that you abandon one for the other. Hold your head up high in the knowledge that you were born into a family and received the social upbringing that allows you to speak in a variety of languages, one being your ancestral tongue. In other words, build bridges my friend, instead of burning them – because the latter won’t do any good in preserving Hmar culture or dialect. Political autonomy will not give you cultural autonomy, because the two are simply not the same concepts – if my argument does not convince you, look at the plainly evident examples of the Tamils, Telugus, Mallus in South India who have their own political domain but are not free from cultural assimilation from mainstream North Indian cultural sources. Even the educated Telugu scholars I study with speak English, Hindi as well as their Telugu mother tongue. They have no problems with it. In fact, in a philophical sense, it is LOGICALLY IMPOSSIBLE to have complete cultural autonomy in any society much less so with globalisation as it is today. You may call yourself Hmar, Zomi, Eimi, Kuki or some such word I have yet to come across – but that is only what you call yourself. It is not what we – your Mizo brethren, call you. In fact, such terminology is only what the British started calling you in their confusion and academic bias stemming from their policy of ‘divide and rule’. You have always been and pray you always remain, a Mizo. You can be both Mizo and Hmar at the same time – in fact you should be; if only one cultural nomenclature – ‘Mizo’ would be to exist, then it would be a blasphemy against our cultural diversity! The simple fact is that the term ‘Mizo’ is the larger sphere which binds Hmars, Lusei, Ralte, Pawi, Mara etc., together. I hope I have managed to convey at least some of the thoughts that struck me when I read your post. I admit it was very colourful with your references to terms such as ‘haute monde’ – of French origin, so elegantly incorporated into your English discourse; see now – you are already guilty of cultural homogeneity and exchange that you so vehemently oppose in your article! In ending my discourse, I would like to make known you to that I am no bearded, antiquainted scholar or professor sitting in a stool somewhere, drowning in my lamentations of times gone by, no – I am merely a university student of Political Science barely into his twenties, with a penchant for rhymes and Mizo history, who at the moment is craving for his bed at home in Aizawl and some ‘vawksa rep’ and ‘khanghu’
A chunga ka thuziah hi Mizo Tawng pangngaia han ziah zet ka tum a, amaherawhchu Sap Tawng hmang deuh kherin min rawn ‘kheuh’ tlat si a, i ti teh ang, chuvang chuan a chhannan Sap Tawng bawk ka thiam ang tawkin ka rawn hmang a ni e. A sei hle tih pawh ka hria. A tul ber lo tih pawh ka hria. Chuvang tak chuan ka chunga thuziah khi chhiarchhuaka a tawp i rawn thleng a nih chuan, ka lawm takzet!
Topic thar ang tawpin ka post dawn emaw te ka lo ti bawk a….
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 3:57 am
‘psyche’ tih zawk tur a ni e ‘phsyche’ ni lovin
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 3:58 am
Vawi khat mah chhangte hi hmar rawn ti tawh suh ang che, Hmar ka sawichhiatna lam a ni lo, thil atthlak lutuk hi rawn phuh chhuak vak vak lo la ka duh ani!
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 7:49 am
Comment ava sei ve mawle..hnam chungchang vawrchhuah a nih hian kan lo “react” pherh zek zel a, a chang chuan, lo “react” vak ai chuan, “change” hi a tul ve fo asin. Hetianga intawng vak vak hian rahchhuah tha em em a neih pawh ka ring lo. Tin, hnam thenkhat ten Mizo nih harsa an ti a, an hnam chibing hming hman an duh anih chuan, hmang mai rawh se. Duh lo na na, Mizo nih tir tum a ngai lo…an mahni duhdan hian awm mai rawh se. Mainstream Mizo te hi chuan, rilru pui deuh i pu ang u khai.
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 8:02 am
^ Good comment #304
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 8:05 am
@deAnGeLiZeD
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 8:16 am
Ralteho hian,” kan luah chin ram zawng hi distric council atan kan demand e” ti ta se ; “Bengaliho hi mizo an ni. Chhim lama mizote’n “kawiam” an tih hi GOYAM an lo tih ve avangin” te ti ta ila…. eng tin tak min chhang ang che maw…?
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 8:45 am
@304 deAnGeLiZeD
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 8:50 am
Thil thar a va awmlo ve…..
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 8:51 am
@306 Chhangteval: hmar in ni a tih khaaa…pawm ve mai roh, tichuan ADC in neih hunah i in candidate ve zeih mai don alom…mahse i ti dawn tak2 anih chuan i hnam hming kha “sangte” i ti daih don niia
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 9:25 am
Hmar leh hmarlo hriat dan awlsamber chu… An hming zawt ula.. Hmar ho chuan sap hming an nei deuh vek! 98% vel chuan sap hming an nei. Ka hmar hriat ho zawng2 in anla nei vek ti ila ka sawisual deuh maithei.
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 11:29 am
Kan 300 thei ta hram…
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Chhangte poh Sangte an tia Mr. Sangte poh hi Mr. Chhangte tih na ni ve mai ang a….
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Hmar tlangval chu James han ti tawp ula, a sual tampui hranlo ang.
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Act fasstttttttttt vat vat ….
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
ka rin aiin in peih rei daih, kawmen ah hian dahthat tlak tak tak ka hmuh rual in chhiar tlakloh a katnuk tih erawh a langreng mai. Nick a pun hluai danah hian rin dan tawk ka thiam mai. tiang ni khua hi chuan ngaihtuah thui hlek ila mahni mawng kan hlim lo a ni mai. Amaherawhchu, a paws tupa tum ang he hu in thil a kal ta lo ka lawm angreng!!!
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Mr. Act fast vawiin thleng hei kan la che siloa a la tlai chhe em lo maw?
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
thil in comment reng rengin pui tling takin comment hlak ro,in hmusit zawnga comment in pek sung chu in puitling naw zi an lang zing ani. ka tawng hmang hi HMAR TAWNG indik tak chu ana kei khawm hmar ka nih. lusai kan nawh. dik tak chun lusai hai cho hi mizo inti in zohnathlak dang hai in hmusit hlak leiin inthe darna asuok ani. tum mizo????
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
hmar pasal , chava rei tua?……. napa da sa padalaaaa…..tla ty ma??
Report this comment
April 6th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
Report this comment
April 7th, 2011 at 11:24 am
Chavw rei tua?…. napa da sa padalaaaa….tla ty ma? Engtak chu zawt ve che ni mO 323 chuan? (kan nuih chur2 chu le)
Report this comment
April 7th, 2011 at 11:36 am
commenters ho hi puitling nawh, an putling naw zi lang zing ani….
Report this comment
April 7th, 2011 at 11:38 am
#321 Comment 1700 chuang awmna post te pawh a awm alom..
Report this comment
April 7th, 2011 at 11:44 am
nia a chung a mi sawi ang deuh khian…
Report this comment
April 7th, 2011 at 11:50 am
Puitling naw/no,Puitling yes. nopang naw/no,nopang yes.tleirawl naw/no,tleirawl yes. chutiang zelin tar,thalai,pavalai etc…..
Report this comment
April 12th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Ekhai…ACT FAST chu va ngaihawm ve..admins ho hian rawn sawn hma thin se..or ka lo bookmark dawn maw ni…an che chhuak tawh em, kan sorkar chu….hahah…chhuaklo maw…van che fast lo ve…
Zawhtein sakeibaknei ka ngiau khum e an ti elo maw???
Report this comment
April 13th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
In lo dam maw?
Report this comment
April 24th, 2011 at 11:03 pm
act fast comment hi kann khar ang e :
-)
Report this comment
April 25th, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Inlo la Act na nge?
Report this comment
April 27th, 2011 at 2:02 am
Mizoramah hian Mizo te hi kan inlungrual chho viau, Mizo han nih mai hi kan lungawi. A thendarh lo zawng zel hi ka duhdan, chi bil thu hla hi ka chhiar ta zeuh zeuh, tha lo tak a ni.
Report this comment
May 9th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Inlo la ACT na nge? ACT FASTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Report this comment
May 24th, 2011 at 11:06 am
ACT FASTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Report this comment
May 24th, 2011 at 11:43 am
sangte act fast ho an baang tawh XD
Report this comment