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Written By KL Pradhan

The Gorkhas who settled down permanently in the state before 1950 and their descendents did not face any problems either from the natives or the government. Before 1980, there was no restriction at all for the them with regard to trade, employment, higher education, allotment of Post-Matric Scholarship, land settlements etc.

It was in early 1980 that the permanent Gorkha settlers began to face the problem of their identity. The main reason behind it seems to be the migration of the Nepalis from and elsewhere, who are engaged as labourers, cowherders, lumberjacks etc.

Since there are no specific differences between the permanent Gorkha settlers and the recent Nepali migrants, It is natural for the native people and the government to treat them as one. The native people refer to this community as Gorkha or Gorkhali rather than Nepali.

The history of Gorkhas settlement in the present state of Mizoram began in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Hey initially migrated from Nepal and later from different parts of the British India. The reasons behind their coming to Mizoram are many.

It is said that the migratory waves from Nepal were caused by the increasing fragmentation of land holding, indebtedness, rising population and declining land availability and unemployment of skilled labours

There is another important aspect, which is universally accepted about their movement particularly in this region and what was the allurement of military adventures

After the Anglo-Gorkha War 1814-16, the British had enrolled the Gorkhas in the British army and posted them to different parts of their dominion. Series of columns, expeditions from 1844 to 1889 were dispatched against the Lushais or what the Mizos were called till 1952. And it was in 1891 that peaceful relation between the British and Lushais was permanently established and the Political Officer was appointed to look after the administration

Once peace prevailed in the hills, the government required man power for developmental works. This was the beginning of the settlement of the Gorkhas in the state. Nirmal Kumar Pun, in his article on the community, has concluded that the Gorkhas began to settle in Mizoram in 1891 while others opine that it was either 1865 or 18715.

The conclusion of Nirmal Kumar Pun regarding the year of Gorkha settlement in Mizoram rings true and I substantiate it. In1896, when the Chin Hills Regulation Act was enforced, the government prohibited the influx of foreigners within the Lushai Hills district except in every special circumstances.

The amalgamation of the North and South Lushai Hills districts as one administrative unit called the Lushai Hills district in 18987 and the early part of the twentieth century farther open opportunities for the Gokhas to migrate and settle here. These Gorkhas who were skilled in various trades were immediately engaged according to the needs of the district administration. Some of them were even employed by the Mizo chiefs in their villages.

The Gokhas, right from the beginning of their settlement, found the geographical location and climate similar to that of Nepal and felt at home. The natives belong to the Mongoloid race as most of the Gorkhas do, and their hospitable, carefree, fun-loving, friendly, straightforward nature helped in developing a close and harmonious relationship between them and the Gorkhas, which later cemented the bond of friendship and brotherhood between the two communities. The Gorkhas, in course of time forgot their place of origin while the Mizos embraced them wholeheartedly. The bon-homie continued till the 1980s.

According to the available records, the first Gorkha families who settled down permanently were found in Maubawk, Khagdiya (Rangvamual) and Kolasib. With the beginning of twentieth century, there was rapid growth in the number of non-Mizo settlers. In case of Gokhas, they were the direct descendents of the discharged military personnel of long services with good conduct, originally recruited in the Lushai Hills.

Apart from above villagers, the Gorkhas settled at Aijal (Aizawl), Sairang, North Vanlaiphai, Lunglei, Dhemagiri around 45 miles of Dwarband Road (now Thingdawl). Gradually, they shifted to other villages, viz, Bairabi, Chhimluang (Aizawl-Silchar Road) North Chaltlang, Kawnpy, Sialsuk, Thenzawl, Tlangnuam, Tuikhaw venghar, Bualpui, Neihbawi, Vairengte, Champhai etc.

They were also found in the southern part of Mizoram, i.e. Saiha and Lawngtlai and Dhemagiri. Those Gorkhas who settled in other villages in smaller numbers are not known. It is presumed that many of them subsequently became Mizos8.

Within Aizawl town areas, the settlements of the Gorkhas are found in Survey Tilla (now Dinthar II), Sriman Tilla (now Zotlang) Khashibanjiang (now Vaivakawn) Patharkhani (Huntar) Zemabawk, Bawngkawn, Durtlang, Sihphir, Bungkawn, Venghuli, Khatla land and Gairgaon (Tuikual).

Before the Independence of India, the Gorkha population in and around Aizawl, the capital of the district was in majority. It is recorded that in Aizawl sub-division, 25 percent of the taxed houses belonged to the Gorkha permanent settlers9.

With the passage of time, the Gorkhas of Mizoram no longer live a life within the ambit of their tradition. Their socio-religious life has undergone a sea change. As this community forms a small minority group in Mizoram and lives in scattered areas, they can hardly be of any threat to the majority tribe. As stated above, they have coped with the living style of the Mizos and have certain obligations towards the same community.

(To be continued…)

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This entry was posted on Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 at 6:30 am and is filed under Mizo Society & Culture, Mizoram. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.