© 2018 JETIR August 2018, Volume 5, Issue 8 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) TRACING THE FLINCH OF INSURGENCY (A STUDY OF CORRELATION BETWEEN THE MNF AND ‘’ FAMINE IN ) Dr Sakhawliana Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration Government College, Mizoram

ABSTRACT Insurgency is causes, basically by political unwillingness of the administration. It is the call of the nations that the political track of different party’s should ensure nation building, and fixing the socio-economic menace of the general public. The prototyped imperialist, of premeditated coercive security and control of administration might not be viable to all sorts of establishments. Experience on the vital effects of the morale and psychology of the people can be seen in Mizoram, one of the North eastern states of . This state has been under the profanity of insurgency for barely 20 years (1996-1986). It was said that after the famine cause by flowering, the philanthropic organisation of Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF) rechristened to form new of the Mizo (MNF) and thrive for independence movement from the Indian Union. The hostility was brought by (MNF) alias Mizo National Army (MNA), as its underground army wing, from one side and the on the other. Over the year, the Indian Army and the MNA fought in tactical guerrilla warfare by using most sophisticated weapons of the 21st century. Therefore, it is impetus to unveil the insight of insurgency, in general, and the birth of the MNF for secession movement, in particular.

IndexTerms: Insurgency; Bamboo flowering and Famine; Birth of the MNF; Famine Front.

Insurgency is not a system of government, rather the result of public outcry. It came into the limelight due to the defaulters of politics under various kind of political system, whether democracy or non-democracy. The term is not to be melded with terrorism, where haphazard communal tension and suffering as its aims. Insurgency is more upsurges when the people became civilising and the motive of welfare state throng the voters. History reveals that insurgency has occurred since time immemorial. A political revolution in ancient Rome in 509 BC resulted in the overthrow of the throne of the Roman monarch, and the establishment of the first Roman Republic was one of the most important insurgent activities. The American war of Independence 1775-1783, French Revolution of 1789-1799, and October Revolution 1917 in Russia are all meshes with the surge activity.

Insurgency

The word insurgency means rebellion to the authority. Etymologically, the term insurgency came from the Latin ‘insurgent’, meaning surge to get up or ascend. It implies “an occasion when a group of people attempt to take control of their country by force” said Cambridge Dictionary.1 Moreover, it is an organised attempt to control legitimate administration by hook or by crook. One man’s terrorist is another man’s holy warrior or one man’s insurgent is another man’s freedom fighter. This paper deals with neither communal base terrorism nor activities of secret army for power struggle.

There was question of conceptualising the crucial supply of social needs under receptive bourgeoisie. Where higher the expected, lower the transfer of satisficing needs by the people. And the availability of minimal transmission of the general needs resulting in public unrest upon the administration. On the other hand, the primary causes of insurgency were diverse and dissimilar in nature and aims, but there is a well-defined pre-condition for the causes of insurgency in the world, that is ‘Frustration’. The general public, whatever they are, were already plunging into the mercy of thwarting before they came out for insurrection. There is no distinction for the upcoming insurgency, neither democracy nor non-democratic form of government. The masses, by nature, thrive over insufficiency of welfare state in democracy; conversely, people of non-democratic government visualize democracy with welfare state, hence falls to frustration. If adequate measure is taken to solve problems of the stakeholders, it ends in demonstration and revolt upon the administration. All the political experiences clearly reveal that the general public easily resorted to dissident if they lost confidence to the authority.

Bamboo flowering (Mautam) and Famine

1 Dictionary, Cambridge. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/insurgency

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Mizoram bamboo forest covers 7,091.66 sq.km of the total state geographical area of 21,087 sq.km.2 It is a big questions how the natural life cycle of wild grass, name, ‘ baccifera’ or Mautak (local name) affects the life of the state, in general, and the rural farmers, in particular. As shown in the following Table-1, the gross bamboo area is 33.63% of the total area, while Mautak out-number the rest of bamboo varieties by lodging 90.89% of bamboo forest.

TABLE – 1 BAMBOO STOCK IN MIZORAM

Bamboo % of Bamboo area % of Bamboo area to District Area Area to the district area total District 3,576.3 927.69 25.94 13.08 1 3,185.8 345.68 10.85 4.87 3 1,382.5 661.80 47.87 9.33 1 2,557.1 730.79 28.58 10.30 0 4,538.0 1,956. 43.12 27.59 0 59 3,025.7 1,598. 52.81 22.53 5 00 1,399.9 Saiha 432.04 30.86 6.09 0 1,421.6 439.08 30.89 6.19 0 21,087. 7,091. TOTAL 33.63 100.00 00 66 # Source: Mizoram Remote Sensing & Application Centre-2008

According to Table-I, has the largest bamboo forest in terms of area, while bamboo stockpile is more in percentage to the overall district. The above table portrays that has the lowest bamboo stocks of 10.85, followed by Aizawl 25.94, Lawngtlai 28.58, and Saiha 30.86 respectively. However, the gross bamboo forest was, indeed, much more, in Lunglei district i.e., 1,956.59 sq.km,, and 1,598.00 sq.km respectively. Bamboo grows naturally in river bank, ridges and, almost in all the hills of the state. The Survey on bamboo, conducted by Environment and Forests Department, in the early 21st century, reveals that the total bamboo growing stock in the state is 5,916.715 million nos., which is equivalent to 25.25 million metric tons. And annual availability from the growing stock is 1,365.16 million nos., equivalent to 5.828 million metric tons.3

Referring to the Govt. of Mizoram, Environment & Forest Department Survey Report 2005, there are 26 bamboo species in the state, the following Table shows, along the local name and status:-

TABLE-2 BAMBOO SPECIES IN MIZORAM

Sl. Scientific Name Local Name Status No. 1. Bambusa khasiana Rawte Common 2. Bambusa longispiculata Rawthing Less common 3. Bambusa oliveriana Talan Less common As recorded in of 4. Bambusa pallida - India 5. Bambusa tulda Rawthing Common 6. Bambusa vulgaris Vairua Introduced 7. Chimonobambusa collosa Phar Common

2 MIRSAC 2008, Mizoram. 3 Mizoram, Government. Bamboo Development in Mizoram (an overview). p.8

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8. Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Phulrua Very common 9. Dendrocalamus hookeri Rawlak/Rawkhauh Less common 10 Dendrocalamus longispathus Rawnal Very common . 11 Dendrocalamus sikkimensis Rawmi Common . 12 Dendrocalamus trictus Tursing Introduced . 13 Rawpui/Rawchhia Dendrocalamus spp. Common-need authentication . (changdum) 14 Rawpui/Rawchhia Dendrocalamus spp. -do- . (Changdam) 15 Dendrocalamus spp. Ram rawpui Less common . 16 Dinochloa compactiflora (melocalamus Sairil Very common . compactiflorus) 17 Gigantochloa albociliata Rawthing tial Common . 18 Mautak Very common . 19 Pseudostachyum polymorphum Chal Need authentication . 20 Racemobamboos mannii (Neomicrocalamus Saiman Rare . mannii) 21 Schizostachyumcapitatum Rawngal Common . 22 Schizostachyumdulloa Rawthla Common . 23 Rare-as recorded in Bamboos Sinarundinariagriffithiana Lik . of India 24 Sinarundinaria intermedia Lik Common . 25 Rare-as recorded in Bamboos Sinarundinaria longispiculata Lik . of India 26 Dendocalamus/ Bambusa spp.? Ankua Need authentication . #Source: Bamboo Survey of Mizoram, by Bamboo Development Cell, Govt. of Mizoram.

According to the above Table-2, there are 26 bamboo species in Mizoram, while Vairua and Tursing are newly introduced as a substitute for Mautak. The Survey result has stated that, Saiman (bamboo) and Lik are very rare, and Chal, Ankua and Rawpui species needs immediate authentication, where the authority has to take the responsibilities. But the most common varieties are Melocanna baccifera, Dinochloa compactiflora, Dendrocalamus longispathus, Dendrocalamus longispathus, and Dendrocalamus longispathus, they bloom phenomenally, but comparing to ‘Mautak’, they don’t distract the rural farmers due to lesser forest stockpile.

Typical ‘Mautak’ dominates over other species, in population, and constitutes 95% of the total bamboo growing stock in Mizoram4, thus sporadic and gregarious flowering ultimately leads famine who depend on shifting cultivation. Gregarious flowering of bamboo or Mautam (in Mizo) is a well-known natural phenomenon in Mizoram. It occurs at a periodical interval of 48 years..., the seasonal flowering of Mautak has taken place in the year 1862, 1911, 1958 and 2007 respectively.

During Mautam, Mautak bamboo blooms and dies for regeneration, the process between the dying and the growing of new saplings last for 1 year. The flowering starts instantaneously to all the areas of bamboo forest. The blooming occurred earlier in the western forest of Mamit district, but comparatively late in the northern district. The most panic is the aftermath of the blossoms and the attack of crops by rodent, cinnamon bugs, grasshoppers, wasp and foxes.

On the other hand, the rodents feed on the food crops causing heavy loss to the grain dependent farmers.5 The writer of this paper has witnesses in 2007 ‘Mautam’, that, hordes of rodent eat the juice of growing grains, and cut the leaf and root of the crops, which include rice. While cinnamon bugs sting kharif crops, viz., rice, maize, pigeon pea, lady finger etc. A group of rodent

4 Ibid., pp.10, para 3 5 Ibid., pp.10

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© 2018 JETIR August 2018, Volume 5, Issue 8 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) composes 100 to 5000 (uncountable to know the exact number), they are so energetic, bounding and hopping, running and climbing over the crops. On finishing one area, they have to migrate to one after another, and had to suffer the farmers. Hordes of grasshopper also enter the villages and towns. At the down of one night in October 2007, the throng surrounded the street lights, and also trying to enter into nearby household, but all die-out by the next morning. Government sweepers, and nearby the locality clean the body of grasshopper, and it was 3 bags (used cement bags), the same problems reported in many part of the state.

Birth of the MNF party

The MNF party is one of the biggest regional political parties, led by Pu Laldenga (L) in Mizoram, who fought independence from the Indian union for 20 years. Most of all political writers and scholars assume that the Mizo National Front (MNF) party was formed after the famine of 1958, which was caused by Mautam. Supporter of this notion includes scholars, writers, politicians and many others. It was believes that the MNF was shaped by rechristening the Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF). According to them, when harvest (paddy) session was over in 1960, after famine, the MNFF has no reason for existence, and this philanthropic organisation had to dropped the word ‘Famine’, then MNF was born as a political party on 22nd October 1961, while sovereign independence as its ultimate objective,6. In the meantime, some writer says that the party was constituted on 21st October 1961, while other said it was on 28th October 1961 respectively. Therefore, researchers and scholars has written diverges date for the formation of the MNF party.

It was in October 1961 that merely 8 (eight) ambitious men came together in the residence of Pu Laldenga (L), to form new political party, but invitation was subscribed to more persons. The proposal has already been initiated one week before, by Pu Laldenga (L) and Pu C.Hermana. Their most obligation was, the thinking that, what will be most suitable to resolve the current Mizo problems, and prospect of the community. The also held friendly discussions, to the fact that whether to constitute new political party or otherwise. But they lost no time to arrange tentative meeting by inviting some aspiring persons. So they fixed date 28th October 1961 (Saturday night), after Church programme, for the meeting to be held at Pu Laldenga (L) residence, Tuikhuahtlang, Aizawl. When the schedule time came, the following 8(eight) aspiring persons were gathered in the house, they are;-

(1) Pu Laldenga (House owner), and his wife-who prepare tea for the meeting;

(2) Pu C. Hermana (Grand-son of Mizo chief);

(3) Pu Kailianchhunga (expert-Blacksmithy and wood works);

(4) Pu Dotama (Most trusted senior personality of the local residents);

(5) Pu Vanlalliana (he came with a laltin/lamp on his hand);

(6) Pu R. Vanlawma (renowned local leader and most ambitious personality)

(7) Pu Laikunga (friend of Pu R. Vanlawma);

(8) Pu A. Rohnuna (Compounder-arrived late, who came after giving treatment to his patient)

The members anonymously had to assign Pu Kailianchhunga, the senior-most member, as the Meeting Chairman, and Pu A. Rohnuna for the Meeting Secretary, then, discussion for the name of the new party follows. Considering the American Democratic Party system, led by Mr John F. Kennedy, Pu Laldenga (L) proposed Mizo National Democratic Party (MNDP), as for their new party, and to be known themselves as ‘Democrats’, as in America. On the other hand, Pu R. Vanlawma, by giving the details of strong in oriental party system, suggested Mizo Nationalist Party (MNP), and wishes to have the symbol of ‘Nationalist’ for future reference. The meeting decided to settle the name of the new party by accepting half of Pu Laldenga’s suggestion i.e., ‘Mizo National…’ and Pu R.Vanlawma’s proposal i.e., ‘Mizo Nationalist…’. In the meantime, Pu C. Hermana suggested the word ‘Front’, instead of ‘Party’, this was made in order that the new party would be more convincing to the public, comparatively, to other parties of the region, viz., Mizo Union(MU), Mizo District (MDC), and United Mizo Freedom Organisation(UMFO). The meeting anonymously decided that the name of the new party shall be Mizo National Front (MNF), and their main objective is Independence from India. The Meeting Secretary Pu A. Rohnuna has written the meeting resolution,

6 Zakhuma, K.M., Political Development in Mizoram from 1946 to 1989 - A study with special reference to Political Parties in Mizoram, 2001, Published by Sangkungi, Printed at J.R. Bros Offset Printers & Paper Works, Aizawl. Pp.93

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© 2018 JETIR August 2018, Volume 5, Issue 8 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) thus, the date of formation of the MNF party was 28th October 1961 (Saturday night).7 The new party assigned the following persons as Ad-hoc leaders, they are- (1) Pu Laldenga-as President; (2) Pu R. Vanlawma-as Secretary; (3) Pu C. Hermana- as Joint Secretary. This new party, in their first Assembly, has elected Office Bearers of the party, as follows:- (1) Pu Laldenga - President ; (2) Pu J. Manliana - Vice President; (3) Pu R. Vanlawma - Gen. Secretary; (4) Pu Isaac Zoliana -Asst. Secretary; (5) Pu Rochhinga -Treasurer; (6) Pu Jessia D.H. Thanga - Fin. Secretary .8

On the other hand, the new party was keen to contest the forthcoming election of Mizo District Council in 1962, but it was indeed, a taught job for the new party leaders to promote their election manifesto, because other party’s had already came out with their clear agenda. The strongest and most powerful party, the Mizo Union (MU) has election manifesto of ‘Mizo State’ which might wins voters like a hot cake. Moreover, newly constituted Mizo District Congress Committee (Congress) has ‘Scottish Pattern’, in their election memoranda. In the meantime, United Mizo Freedom Organisation (UMFO) has ‘Nehru Pattern’ for their election policy, and the youngest party MNF devises ‘Independence’ for the upcoming election manifesto, which, they thought, more superior agenda of all.9

‘Tam Ngaihtuahtu Pawl’ (Famine Front) and the Govt. responses

In the political-administrative , there is no Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF), as they said. The name has been neither composes nor the organisation was form in Mizoram, the erstwhile Mizo District. However, some researchers and many scholars use to conclude that the birth of MNF has a connection with MNFF. The supporters said that the name of the MNF party came by altering the MNFF, of which, by removing the word ‘Famine’ from the abbreviated term MNFF.

During the famine (1958), (1) Pu R. Dengthuama-(Politician), (2) Pu Laldenga (former Govt. Servant & Politician), and Pu C. Rokhuma (Teacher/Local Scientist and main motivator) form a philanthropic organisation, named, ‘Tam Ngaihtuahtu Pawl’, also called ‘Famine Front’ and the organisation is famine activist. This new activist called ‘Tam Khawmpui’ or ‘Famine Assembly’ in Aizawl Cinema Hall on 10th March 1960.10 The organisation appeals the people, by circulating notification, to attend the assembly and also requests the people to come without considering the interest of Political Party where they belong, but to attend only for the causes of famine affected . On the same day, BP Chaliha was in Aizawl, on his tour programme, meanwhile, the Mizo District Council session was going-on in the Session hall. On finishing their programme in the Cinema Hall, the entire activist went to Circuit House, to meet the Chief Minister of Assam and request rice supply. It may be recalled that, during those days, Mizo District / District Council was under Assam state. The activist request the Chief Minister of Assam, to give adequate rice for famine effected people of the Mizo District. The Chief Minister accepted their appeal and sanctioned rice, on the spot, as requested by the activist.11

Sooner or later, “Shortage of food supply, in the hill district was improving after the second quarter of 1959 and there was no death due to famine” said (respected) Pu Bawlliana. Henceforth, Pu C. Rokhuma (L), (respected) member of ‘Tam Ngaihtuahtu Pawl’ also remarks that ‘No death due to famine’. On the other hand, respected Pu Bawlliana, AO, Assam, was the key representative of the for Air dropping of rice by using ‘Dokota flight’, afterward the hill people give him the titled ‘Tam do Officer’ (Anti-famine Officer) due to his accountable services during the famine. Initially, air dropping was done by the Pilot, alone, and bundle of rice scattered in the forest, where people could not have access due to terrain complications. Knowing the problems, (respected) Pu Bawlliana (L) volunteered himself, to sit in the cockpit of Dakota, since then, the problem was fixed. As food supply problem was solved, the Famine Front was not active anymore in the hill district, and more rice harvested in the ensuing year of 1960.

After 20 years guerrilla warfare between the , and the Mizo National Army (Arms wing of the MNF) peaceful settlement was successful by signing a historic Memorandum of Settlement or Mizo Accord on 30th June 1986. Subsequent to the peaceful settlement, the over-ground MNF was recognised as registered political party, participate in the State Interim-Government by availing the Chief Minister post and 3 posts for Cabinet rank Minister (in toto., 5 Cabinet post for Congress and 4 Cabinet post for MNF),12 without election. Ultimately, the declared Mizoram as the 23rd State of Indian Union through the 53rd Constitution Amendment Act, 1986, and envisages 371G in the for giving Special Status to the new state.

7 Hermana, C., Interview on 10th July 2017 (Adhoc Jt. Secretary of the party, & who attend the meeting during the formation of MNF.) 8 Khuma, V.H., Political History of Mizoram, (1999), Published by 3J Publication, Printed at the OMNIPRINT Offset, Aizawl. Pp. 96-97. 9 Ibid., Hermana, C., 10 Rokhuma, C., Interview on 19th April 2016 (Member and main motivator of Famine Front) 11 Ibid., Khuma, V.H., pp 93 12 Ibid., Zakhuma, K.M., pp.236

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Conclusion

It shows that ‘Mautam’ was dreadful for the rural people in Mizoram, predominantly where shifting cultivation is the main stay of livelihood. It occurred after every 48 years for the botanical regeneration of ‘Mautak’ (Melocanna baccifera), and it is the natural life cycle of the said variety. Fortunately, no life lost was reported or recorded by the administration during the 1958’s Mautam and a provoking Famine in the subsequent year. On the other hand, the believes that, the MNF party was born by altering the name from MNFF, or by removing the term ‘Famine’ from the abbreviated word, was disproved, rather the said party was initially composed to have political sovereignty. Historically, Mizo National Famine Front didn’t exist in Mizoram; however, the charitable organisation of ‘Famine Front’ or ‘Tam Ngaihtuahtu Pawl’ was the lone organisation which has coincident with the famine. The name MNF came out with the meeting resolution held in Pu Laldenga’s (L) residence in Aizawl, among the 8 meeting members, Pu Laldenga, Pu R. Vanlawma, and Pu C. Hermana, has the credit. Moreover, the date of MNF formation was on the night of 28th October 1961, and 20 years guerrilla warfare concluded with the most successful peaceful settlement of ‘Mizo Accord’ in 1986.

References

I. Primary Sources (Personal Interview)-

[1] Rokhuma, C., Teacher, Local Scientist, and main Motivator for the formation of ‘Famine Front’, date of interview 19th April 2016 at his residence.

[2] Hermana, C., One of the members in the meeting at Pu Laldenga’s residence on 28th Oct. 1961, for the birth of the MNF party, dated of interview 8th & 10th July 2017 (two days).

[3] Bawlliana, (retired AO), Assam Administrative Officer, i/c., Mizo district famine, and food supply, date of interview 8th July 2017.

[4] Vanlawma, R., Social scientist, Politician, Freelance Writers etc., Telephone interview in May 1999.

II. Secondary Sources-

[1] Khuma, V.H., Political History of Mizoram (1999), Published by 3J Publication, Printed at the OMNIPRINT Offset, Aizawl-796012.

[2] Zakhuma, K.M., Political Development in Mizoram from 1946 to 1989: A study with special reference to Political Parties in Mizoram (2001), Published by Sangkungi, Printed at J.R. Bros’ Offset Printers & Paper Works, Aizawl.

[3] Mizoram, Government, Bamboo Development in Mizoram (An Overview), Published by Bamboo Dev. Cell, Environment & Forests Dept., Aizawl. Printed at LV Art, Aizawl.

[4] Zamawia, R., Zofate Zinkawngah Zalenna Mei a Mit Tur a Ni Lo (2007), Printed at Lengchhawn Press, Aizawl.

III. Webference-

1. Dictionary, Cambridge. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/insurgency

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