Mizo District
The Mizo District, formerly called Lushai Hills District, was an autonomous district of the Indian state of Assam from 1947 till 1972 until it was granted the status of a Union Territory. This region was a significant part of Mizo history as it formally abolished the Mizo chieftainship system in 1954. It also encountered the 1959 Mautam famine, which led to the Mizo National Front uprising and the subsequent 20-year insurgency.
Etymology
The original name of the district, Lushai Hills district, descends from a colonial misnomer. The British, upon encountering the Lusei tribes, applied the name to the Mizo people living in the region. Early administrators assumed Lushai to mean head for Lu and cut from sha or shat referring to the clan name to mean decapitation in reference to the headhunting practices of the traditional Mizo society.The Lushai Hills District Act, 1954 changed the name to Mizo district. Mizo connotes highlander. Mi refers to a person while zo refers to hills.
Background
A Lushai Hills district was formed in 1898 under British India, merging the former North Lushai Hills and South Lushai Hills regions into a single district of the Assam province. It was regarded as an Excluded Area, beyond the Inner Line, which meant that the laws and regulations of the province did not apply, and the people from the plains could not access it without a permit.History
Independence
Upon achieving independence the Zo community had been split into three countries. While the Chins and Lushai were split in 1937 with the creation of the Colony of Burma, the creation of Pakistan with the jurisdiction of Chittagong Hill Tracts divided the Mizos once more. Mizos in Tripura were also temporarily divided as Tripura retained its sovereignty until ascending to India in 1949.The Independence of India saw two Mizo political parties, namely the Mizo Union and the United Mizo Freedom Organisation, continue to the new Dominion of India. While the UMFO had lost its support with the Lushai Hills joining India, the Mizo Union continued to work on a premise of opposing the continuation of the institution of Chieftainship. The chiefs opposed this policy and did not wish to give up their rights which had been enshrined for the British as a policy of indirect rule. The newly independent India could not take up this issue so early on which led to the superintendent L.L Peters to continue as superintendent of the Lushai Hills. Peters issued a circular to the chiefs that any subject who misbehaved with them would be reported to him so that they are punished. The order became perceived as an instrument of oppression as chiefs who opposed to Mizo Union would report cases of misbehaviour against supporters and members to arrest them.
On the independence day of India, no Indian flags were hoisted as rival factions of the Mizo Union opposed recognition of ascension to the Indian Union. The procession for the Indian Independence celebration was forcefully stopped after Khawtinkhuma threatened the party to resign after threats of violence had been issued.
L.L. Peters
On 26 September 1947, Superintendent L.L Peters called a meeting for the Mizo Union general assembly. Both the left and right wing of the Mizo Union attended. The meeting was called on request of the Governor of Assam to tell them it was preferable to be a part of India than Burma or Pakistan. Peters also informed the group of future developments, such as the district council of Mizoram. Peters also made the village representatives of the Mizo Union party to cast a vote for one leader to be responsible for the Mizo Union as opposed to two leaders of two factions. As a result, Khawtinkhuma was elected president of the Mizo Union party. From this point onwards, the two factions of the Mizo Union became less distinct. On 15 April 1948, Peters convened an Advisory Council of twenty Mizos already active in Mizo politics to be formed. In this vote, Lalmawia, the president of the United Mizo Freedom Organization, gained more votes than Khawtinkhuma and became the chairman of the advisory council. To Vanlawma this was a sign that Mizo people were interested in independence and that they did not vote for Khawtinkhuma who held a pro-Indian policy. Peters also dissolved the Village Advisory Committees at the meeting by citing that their purpose had not been fulfilled and the policy needed to be rescinded.Hydari Conference
, who was the governor of Assam, held a meeting of the Lushai Hills delegates. The Mizo Union delegates were R. Thanhlira, H.K. Bawichhuaka, R. Dengthuama, Ch. Saprawnga and Vanchuanga. The UMFO sent Lalmawia, Pachhunga, Hmingliana and R. Zuala. Superintendent Peters took three chiefs, Lalsailova, Ngura and Awksarala, to the meeting. The meeting was held on 10 November. The meeting passed a resolution to establish a 37-member Advisory Council for the Lushai Hills. It was designed as an interim arrangement before the finalisation of the Bordoloi sub-committee. As an advisory body, it could not initiate legislation, but Bordoloi assured certain provisions for local self-governance under the body.Elections for the advisory council were held on 23 March for the chiefs and 15 April for the commoners.
| Member | Party |
| Lalsailova | Chief of Kelsih |
| Khawkunga | Chief of Bukpui |
| Ngura | Chief of durtlang |
| Lalbuanga | Chief of Tukkalh |
| Taikhuma | Chief of Pukpui |
| Lalthawvenga | Chief of Sailam |
| Awksarala | Chief of Phullen |
| Lalbuana | Chief of Thingsai |
| Chhunmunga | CHief of Serkawr |
| Lianmana | Chief of Mamte |
| H. Vanthuama | Mizo Union |
| Tuikhurliana | Mizo Union |
| Lalchungnunga | Mizo Union |
| R. Thanhlira | Mizo Union |
| Vanlalbuka | Pawi-Lakher Region |
| Zadailova | Mizo Union |
| Khelhnuna | Mizo Union |
| Vaitlaia | Mizo Union |
| H. Khuma | Mizo Union |
| Pastor Pasena | Mizo Union |
| Chaltuahkhuma | Mizo Union |
| Pastor Saitawna | Mizo Union |
| Hrangaia | Mizo Union |
| R.B. Chawnga | Mizo Union |
| Chawnghnuaia | Mizo Union |
| Chhunbura | Mizo Union |
| Lalbuaia | Mizo Union |
| K.T. Khuma | Mizo Union |
| Ch. Saprawnga | Mizo Union |
| R. Dengthuama | Mizo Union |
| Pastor Khuanga | Mizo Union |
| Hengmanga | United Mizo Freedom Organisation |
| Vakova | United Mizo Freedom Organisation |
| Lalsangpuii | Women Aizawl |
| Remthangi | Women Aizawl |
Advisory Council
The first meeting of the Advisory council led to an argument as to who should chair the meeting. The Assam Government intervened as placed the superintendent as the chair of the advisory council meetings. After this, more argument occurred concerning voting rights. The controversies escalated when Peters forwarded a draft regulation for the future constitution of the Lushai Hills district. The Mizo Union members opposed this and demanded sufficient time to discuss the provisions of the draft. However Peters did not cooperate and wishes to push the act through. The draft was translated into Mizo and distributed to the council members. A committee on the draft was formed consisting of Sparwanga, Vanthuama, Lalbuaia, Thanhlira, Lalchungnunga, Dengthuama with chiefs Ngura and Taikhuma. Peters who was supported by the chiefs continued to push the draft at a second meeting on 23 August. The matter led to the Governor of Assam to handle the matter after the council was prorogued by Peters.Nari Rustomji, advisor to the government of Assam for tribal affairs, was despatched to Aizawl. Rustomji held numerous meetings with the leaders from 30 August to 2 September. The draft regulation was accepted by the Mizo Union but it did not change the distrust of the Mizo Union against the superintendent and the chiefs. Peters as superintendent became empowered to run some departments in the Lushai Hills. Peters supported the chiefs and did not wish to abolish the ramhual and zalen institutions of chieftainship. He limited by order for the appointment of such individuals to ten houses per one hundred families. However this was not satisfactory for the Mizo Union who wished to abolish chieftainship completely. Peters began to weaken the Mizo Union by removing their leaders. He offered Khawtinkhuma a government job which successfully removed him from the party. This was attempted once moreon R. Thanhlira but failed. Thanhlira was sworn in as President of the Mizo Union on 28 November.
Civil disobedience movement
Peters had openly supported the UMFO over the Mizo Union and worked with chiefs. The Mizo Union demanded to have Peters removed as superintendent and began a civil disobedience movement of non-cooperation in 1948. On 1 December, a publicdeclaratyion was made of lengthy accounts of frievances. The speech blamed the chiefs for unjust and influence to lower the power of the party. Peters was declaredthe root cause of the issue due to his support of chieftainship. The speech was printed in the Mizo Union newspaper Thupuan. The Mizo Union threatened to resort to non-violent non-cooperation with the administration if Peters was not removed by 27 December 1948 as the deadline. A memorandum on the issues of Peters office was also submitted to the Assam government on 24 November 1948. Peters retaliated by invoking the Assam Maintenance of Public Order Act to arrest the leaders of the Mizo Union. The Union General secretary M. Vanthuama and treasurer Lalbuaia were arrested along with R. Thanlirah while he returned to Aizawl from Shillong. The Mizo Union's newspaper Thupuan was also closed. On 28 December 1948, the commoners proceeded with the civil disobedience movement. The orders of Peters and his officials were not followed. The commoners refused to pay the customary taxes of fathang, sachhiah and buhcchun to their chiefs or build the houses of the chief. Coolie quotas were also halted. In some cases attacks on chiefs or their properties occurred which saw their gardens destroyed. Furthermore, a strike of a few hundred people was organized in the streets, where the strikers shouted, "Peters go home!". Peters was stuck in his office as the protests continued. He was rescued with the Assam rifle platoons from Agartala. Detention facilities were built along with outposts for the Assam rifles. Instances of violence broke out and thus the government was incentivised to use law and order in the interests of the chiefs.Despite the UMFO opposing the Mizo Union and supporting chieftainship, the government did not look favourably due to their pro-independence stance.A mass crackdown and arrest were issued, and fines were imposed on the participants. Among the arrested were Vanthuama, Lalbuaia, Rosiama, Chawnghnuaia, Kawnga, Vanchuanga, Lalsawia, Chhunga, Sangkunga, Liankunga and H. Khuma who had been returning from Shillong. The leaders were kept in prisons in Gauhati, Tezpur and Silchar. Peters furthermore formed two columns to visit unruly villages and restore order. Peters's disposition was more in line with his predecessors in terms of repressing the Mizo sentiment for progress. Peters refused all offers of mediation between the government and the Mizo Union. His wife by comparison was compassionate and popular among the Mizos. The Assam government once again sent Rustomji to mediate. Rustomji in Enchanted Frontiers describes the tense situation at the moment. Rustomji met with Lalsailova who was chief of Kelsih and president of the Lushai Chief's Council. The chief's council preferred harsh measures and punishment for the Mizo Union's grievances against them despite most being imprisoned. The chiefs argued that the Mizo Union was misleading the public. Violence was occurring as stones were thrown at the chief's houses and threats of murder made. Rustomji soon met with the Mizo Union leader's who were not imprisoned. The meeting was chaotic according to his accounts as the party threatened further devastation unless the demands were met. Rustomji identified Vanthuama and Thanhlira as being the most conspicuous among the leaders. Rustomji met with parties of political prisoners handcuffed while travelling across the district. Among them was Dengthuama. The next morning, meetings were held with villagers and explained that the government was taking all measures to stop exploitation by chiefs. An emphasis was made on cooperation and peace over violence. Rustomji returned to Aizawl where Peters, whom he referred to as a "fire eating superintendent", had finally agreed to release the Mizo Union leaders. A joint farewell from both parties was held for Rustomji as he departed the district in acknowledgement of his intervention.
Rustomji had successfully negotiated with both sides and released the arrested Mizo Union leaders. The agreement had been reached between Dengthuama and Peters on 27 January 1949. Rustomji himself had gone against the advice of the Assam Government and the Hill tribe who were surprised at the peaceful outcome. Since the Mizo Union cooperated with the Indian National Congress in Assam, Peters was eventually recalled to Shillong and replaced with Barkataki on 1 March 1949.