Mizoram University Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (A National Refereed Bi-Annual Journal) Vol IV Issue 1, June 2018 ISSN: 2395-7352 Political Movements of the Hmars in Mizoram: A Historical Study Vanlalliena Pulamte* Abstract This article studies political movement of the Hmar people and situation leading to the formation of Hmar National Union, Hmar Peoples’ Convention and Hmar Peoples’ Convention (Democratic). An analytical study of political problems of the Hmars in North Mizoram and various issues concerning Hmars’ political empowerment is undertaken. Keywords: Hmar, Mizo, Movement, People, Government Genesis of Hmar Movement Union, in Lushai Hills, the Hmars of The Hmar are scattered over Manipur, Manipur formed a voluntary association Mizoram, Cachar and North Cachar Hill known as ‘The Hmar Association’ by the districts of Assam. They are the original educated Hmars and elite groups to inhabitants of northern portion of preserve their customs, tradition, Mizoram and the present south-western language, culture, practice and identity. parts of Manipur. The Hmars themselves When the Mizo Union party was formed claim that historically and culturally they in the Lushai Hills, the Hmars Association were different from other tribes and they expected a lot of things from it and worked have a distinct language. Such claim is in collaboration with it (Pudaite Rosiem, more pronounced among the Hmars who 2002). live in the border areas or outside The main objective of the Mizo Union Mizoram (Lalsiamhnuna, 2011). The party was to preserve the socio-cultural Hmars are one of the Mizo groups and ethos of the Mizo people and maintain the they are attracted by the Mizo Union and Mizo identity. The Mizo Union party its movement in the former Lushai Hills. extended its influence in Manipur and The Mizo Union was formed on 9th April, Cachar in Assam by opening branches 1946 and thus became the lone political especially among the Hmar tribes. The party ever formed in the Lushai Hills (now Hmar area of Manipur formed a separate Mizoram) (Jangkhongam Doungel, 2010). division of the Mizo Union and had In 1935, prior to the formation of Mizo elected Dr.Thanglung as its first * Dr. Vanlalliena Pulamte is Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, GC College, Silchar: Assam. 22 Political Movements of the Hmars in Mizoram: A Historical Study Divisional President (Pudaite Rosiem, Thanlon sub-divisional headquarters. The 2002). Through this newly formed Mizo boycott movement gained its ground in the Union, people were mobilized for the villages. The people from all walks of movement as the sole objective of the lives joined the Mizo Union movement was to merge the Hmars enthusiastically for the demand of the inhabited areas of south west Manipur Mizo Autonomous District so as to include (present Tipaimukh Assembly all the Hmar inhabited areas of Tipaimukh Constituency) with the contiguous hill constituency and some parts of Cachar, areas of Assam to form a Mizo Hill Assam (Pudaite Rosiem, 2002). District. The Mizo Union movement gained a momentum when India got In the early part of 1949, sensing the independence. The Hmar people were danger of movement, the then Chief aware that as long as they remain divided, Minister of Manipur, Maharaja Kumar they would remain weak and would be Priyo Brata Singh accompanied by Major exploited (Pudaite Rosiem, 2002). R.Kathing, Minister for Hills Affairs and the Commandant of the 4th Assam Rifles Thus, the Hmar people joined a newly paid an official visit to Tipaimukh area. formed Mizo Union and started the In his public address to the Hmar people boycott movement against the Manipur at Parbung, M.K.Priyo Brata Singh Government. They boycotted the first reiterated that while the Hmars people had general election in 1948. But this agitation all his sympathy, he was not prepared to was of non-violent movement and there take up any measures which affect the was no untoward incident. The village territorial integrity of Manipur. Priyo Brata chiefs and their village authority members did his best to save Manipur from breaking did not join the agitation because their up by suggesting the formation of Hmars chiefship and privileges would be Regional Council. This offer had forfeited. The chiefs represent the eventually divided the Hmars into two Maharaja of Manipur in the administration conflicting groups. One section wanted to of the village and therefore, it was their accept the plan, as the first for demanding duty to maintain the integrity of Manipur. and eventually forcing further concession. The chiefs and their authority members Whereas the second section, perhaps the acted as agents to the State Government. more dominant group rejected the plan on They acted as watchful dogs on the side the ground that it would affect their of the government. The chiefs used to give relations with other Mizos (Pudaite a very detailed report of various activities Rosiem, 2002). of the Mizo Union (Resistance, 1979). Thus, the State Government tried to put The visit of Chief Minister to the down the agitation by sending armed Hmar area had further widened the gap forces to the hill areas, stationing them at between the Unionists and the loyalists which had existed before. The loyalists 23 Vanlalliena Pulamte particularly the chiefs and the authority Lushai hills alone were given the members welcomed the Chief Minister Autonomous Hill district (Lala Hmar, and got moral encouragement from him. 2005). It was through this political demand On the other hand, the Unionists received that the Hmars joined hands with the Mizo a great setback and decided to reject the so that the Hmar inhabited areas Chief Minister’s offer of regional council contiguous to the Lushai hills district in his public meeting (Lala Hmar, 2005). would be amalgamated. Thus, the boycott In course of time, the village chiefs and movement launched by the Hmar tribes their authority members were strongly was defeated and the Hmar felt let down against the movement. For them, to from the hands of their kindred brethren. support the movement would mean the For this very reason, their political wishes loss of their chieftainship rights and remained unsolved till date. The Hmars privilege. And therefore, it was impossible joined the Mizo Union movement with for them to support the movement. Under great enthusiasm because of the following the proposed Mizo Autonomous District factors: Council, there would be no room for the hereditary chief on the ground of 1. Through the Mizo Union democratic process and thus the chiefs had Movement, people were mobilized for the full allegiance to the Maharaja of Manipur movement for having the sole objective (Pudaite Rosiem, 2002). Under such of merging the Hmar inhabited areas of prevailing situation, repressive measures south west Manipur with the contiguous were employed by the State Government hill areas of Assam to form a Mizo hill to suppress the movement. The chiefs district. joined hands with the government and 2. The people became conscious that tried to save their positions. In this way, as long as they remain divided, they would the chiefs and their supporters were remain weak and would continue to be considered as a stumbling block to the exploited. Unionists movement. This kind of confrontation between the two sections of 3. Thus the Hmar people’s boycott the people had soon caused for the arrest movement started from 1946-1949 under of unionists leaders and their the name of the newly formed political imprisonment. party ‘Mizo Union’ in Manipur against the state government. They (the Hmars) first While this movement was going on of all boycott the first general election held in Manipur, the Mizo leaders in Lushai in 1948. hills accepted the Autonomous Hill district plan of the government of India. This was Separation of the Hmars from the Mizo an exclusion of the Hmars inhabited areas The unsuccessful attempt for the outside the Lushai hills and therefore, the inclusion of Hmars inhabited areas into 24 Political Movements of the Hmars in Mizoram: A Historical Study the Mizo Hill Autonomous District had President of the new political party was negative impact upon the Hmar people. Selkai Hrangchal and Vanlalbawi was the They were deceived by their kindred first General Secretary. The Hmar brethren in Mizoram. As a result, the Hmar National Union (HNU) submitted politics took a different turn. They now memorandum to the Prime Minister by feel ashamed to be called themselves as demanding the Hmar Autonomous Hill Mizo tribes and even began to dislike the District comprising of the Hmars Lushai language which they had used as a inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur and common language. Since then the Hmar Mizo Hills (1Hmar National Union’s began to think in term of Hmar ethnic Memorandum to the Prime Minister of interest only. Even before the formation India, 1968). As mentioned earlier, the of Mizo Union, the first political party Hmar people were scattered in Cachar, among the Hmars was the Hmar North Cachar of Assam, Mizoram and Mongoloid Federation Party, formed in Manipur under different administrative set 1934, under the leadership of Laltudaia up. The integration of all the Hmar Hmar (Pudaite Rosiem, 2002). The main inhabited areas has been the greatest desire objective of the party was to maintain their and the political goal of the Hmars since unity, custom and culture. However, the time of the British rule in India. The majority of the Hmar population embraced division of the Hmar inhabited areas under the Mizo Union party to fight for their different administrative units has been a political demand. drawback for the progress and development of Hmars. When the Hmars Immediately after the failure of the embraced the Mizo Union party, they Hmar boycott movement in Manipur, hoped that they might do better with their Rochunga Pudaite, a student of Allahabad kindred brother for the maintenance of University formed the Hmar National their identity and culture.