Two decades of turmoil and peace in Mizoram

Mizoram is the new name given to the hilly areas earlier known as Lushai Hills. After annexation by the British in 1890, priority was given for formal education and preaching of Christianity. The missionaries formulated the Lushai alphabet and as the time slipped on it created a class of educated people in Mizoram. They were successful to convert the entire populace to Christianity within five decades of their occupation. After India got independence, this region remained isolated, neglected and underdeveloped. It is a general perception that the Mizos had a separatist feeling even before occurrence of famine or mautam in 1960s. In 1961, the Mizo National Front (MNF) was formed under the leadership of Laldenga, and in the subsequent years MNF waged a war against the Govt. of India resulting in loss of many innocent lives and sufferings of the common people. The Govt. of India, on the other hand used an iron hand to crush such uprisings, it declared ‘Disturb Area’, imposed Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), used air force and put villages in a cluster or grouping. In 1986, the Govt. of India and MNF signed a peace deal; it was termed as one of the most successful peace agreements in the history of India. The role played by the church leaders to bring peace in the state is commendable and appreciated by one and all. Mizoram enjoys peace but pursuit for development is not without hindrance. In this backdrop, both the centre and state government need a proper planning for development of the state and to maintain a lasting peace in Mizoram.