Rambuai, Mizoram’s ‘Trouble’ years

Date: 5th October, 2016
Venue: Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110003

Rambuai focuses attention on a period in the nation’s history that has rarely figured in contemporary discourse, official reports, civil society dialogues or even scholarly debates.

Every 50 years, a species of bamboo in the Mizo hills, flowers. In the late 1950s, this phenomenon had a deadly side effect, triggering an explosion in the rat population. Hordes of rats swept through the district devouring standing crops and granaries. The villagers were hungry and desperate. At the time, the Mizo Hills was extremely isolated. Laldenga, a Mizo government officer, mobilized young people and launched a relief movement. This turned into an anti-India insurgency. At midnight on 28th February 1966, the Mizo National Front (MNF) declared independence.

The Indian Arm relieved Aizawl, the district capital, and other parts but in the following years the quiet nature of the Mizos was severely tested with the forced displacement of villagers. Villages and homes were burnt. The film shows the wide-ranging effects of violence, different approached to peace and peacemaking and how some key questions remained unaddressed.

The Mizo movement also became international. MNF leaders travelled to Pakistan and China, for political support, arms and training.

However in 1986, a joyous explosion of celebrations ended 20 years of conflict. After protracted negotiations, the Government of India, the MNF and te Mizoram Government signed an accord. People could breathe and live easily once more. The MNF laid down weapons and accepted the Indian Constitution while Mizoram became a full state.

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Information:

Chok Tsering
Program Co-ordinator, Democracy & Dialogue Programme
E: chok.tsering@in.boell.org