REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN IN MIZO HISTORY

Academica Press, 2022

It is a book review done on one of my authored books entitled Perspectives on Mizo Culture --Folktales of Mizoram by Khiangte

Journal of History & Social Sciences Volume VII | ISSN: 2229 - 5798, 2017

Abstract The present paper attempts to recover women’s agency in North East Indian History by rereading insurgency in Mizo hills from 1966 to 1986. It raises questions with regards to the formation of ethnic nationalism. The ethnic political ideology and discourses embedded the image of ethnic masculine role as central while portraying feminine role as secondary. In this paper agency has been used as an investigating tool that includes, consciousness, aspiration, assertion and resistance from the shared experiences of women. From an unpublished autobiography, written memoirs and reminisces, oral interviews of the participants, the present paper uses women’s personal narratives as an alternative form of reading Mizo insurgency movement. Adopting the feminist approach on “agency” it recovers the lost voice of subaltern women. Though it places feminine and masculine roles equally important for the completion of ethnic nationalism, the paper concludes that Mizo insurgency was a war of power contestation between the two patriarchies that required the two gender roles, but only for the consolidation of the patriarchal power. Keywords Ideology, discourses, insurgency, power contestation, ethnic nationalism

Criticality by Activism Foundation, Kolkata, 2024

This article closely reads Malsawmi Jacob's Zorami: A Redemption Song (2015), which explores the rich Mizo heritage, with the plot set amid the Mizo insurgent years during the 1960s. The novel brings out the grievances of the Mizos, a community in Northeast India, during the Mizo insurgency. The novel subtly portrays mainland India's imperious stance towards Mizoram as a peripheral region. Dissatisfaction with mainland India's negligence during the Bamboo famine crisis primarily motivates the Mizo insurgency. The Mizoram National Front (MNF) emerged to advocate for the needs of the Mizos amidst government neglect. The clash between the MNF rebels and the Indian army hugely impacted the lives of Mizos. The purpose of the research paper is to speculate on the causes of the Mizo insurgency and the impact of the mainland's geopolitical interventions on the Mizo's livelihood. Zorami recounts the traumatic life of a young girl named Zorami and how geopolitical unrest impacts her and her community in Northeast India. The history of the Insurgency years is just as significant as the 1947 Partition, as it sheds light on the issues faced by the previously overlooked region of India. The novel serves as a reminder of the Mizo's traumatic endurance during the insurgency years, as there are only a few works that have dealt with the Mizo insurgency. The paper delves into the challenges the region encountered due to geopolitics and the trauma inflicted upon the Mizos, as portrayed through Zorami's subjective history. This Malsawmi Jacob's debut novel is commendable for its revelation of an uncounted version of Mizo history.

New Literaria, 2020

Ever since the Vedic period, the land of Bengal was considered outside the ambit of Vedic Culture. This provides the basis for the distinctiveness of the Bengali pantheon. Bengal was also considered a land of fever and endemics. Atharva Veda, from where Ayurveda takes its roots, holds a subsidiary position among the corpus of Vedic Literature. This paper is an attempt to trace the trajectory between the marginalized land and its marginalized deities. It aims at picking up selective incidents and examples within Ayurvedic and Hindu traditions to portray how endemic had been instrumental in some watershed movements in Hinduism and its offshoots in folk theology. With several examples ranging from Kali to Sitala, and from Manik Pir to Jwarasura, the paper relocates the caste question and the question of marginality in the light of iconographic and ritualistic observations.

Our Heritage, 2020

Understanding the complex state-building process in Mizoram requires the systematic mapping of the discourses and narratives of 'inclusion' and 'exclusion' at all levels which is thoroughly dictated by those in power. The region's 'Histories' of statecraft and policies displays a distinct narrative than that of mainland India. The 'Northeast' in general and Mizoram in particular, provides a unique experience in understanding the trends in everyday politics as 'a living space' in contemporary India. Mizoram, as a category in contemporary Indian politics reminds one of 'the protracted insurgency led by the legendary Laldenga and the Mizo National Front'. The region remains a geo-political puzzle and mapping its location becomes a perplexing task for most Indians. The complexities involved in the regions politics, state-building and citizen-building efforts based on the logic of exclusions and inclusions, hardly echoes beyond the Zo tlang ram. Against this silhouette, the paper attempts, first, at peeping through the 'Zo' Oral traditions; and the impact of Colonialism and Christianity-the timeless gendered practices in the Zo/Mizo society. Second, it attempts at reflecting on the Human Rights situation of women in the state building process of Mizoram from the Insurgency period onwards. Third, it attempts at highlighting the survival strategies adopted by the women to create their own spaces and have their voices heard in the public sphere.

Journal of International Women S Studies, 2008

Understanding the complex state-building process in Mizoram requires the systematic mapping of the discourses and narratives of 'inclusion' and 'exclusion' at all levels which is thoroughly dictated by those in power. The region's 'Histories' of statecraft and policies displays a distinct narrative than that of mainland India. The 'Northeast' in general and Mizoram in particular, provides a unique experience in understanding the trends in everyday politics as 'a living space' in contemporary India. Mizoram, as a category in contemporary Indian politics reminds one of 'the protracted insurgency led by the legendary Laldenga and the Mizo National Front'. The region remains a geo-political puzzle and mapping its location becomes a perplexing task for most Indians. The complexities involved in the regions politics, state-building and citizen-building efforts based on the logic of exclusions and inclusions, hardly echoes beyond the Zo tlang ram. Against this silhouette, the paper attempts, first, at peeping through the 'Zo' Oral traditions; and the impact of Colonialism and Christianity-the timeless gendered practices in the Zo/Mizo society. Second, it attempts at reflecting on the Human Rights situation of women in the state building process of Mizoram from the Insurgency period onwards. Third, it attempts at highlighting the survival strategies adopted by the women to create their own spaces and have their voices heard in the public sphere.

NEIHA Seminar Paper, 2024

This paper explores the remarkable life of Zakapa Fanai, the esteemed chief of Khawhri village, who emerged as a stalwart Guardian of Mizo women's beauty and dignity during the era of British colonial rule. An accomplished administrator and a strategic genius in warfare, Zakapa devoted his entire life to the protection and empowerment of Mizo women, going to great lengths and making profound sacrifices to secure their well-being. His unwavering commitment sent ripples of apprehension through the corridors of colonial power, leaving even the British Superintendent, C.S. Murray, wary of his influence. This paper examines the multifaceted life of Zakapa, his confrontation with Murray, and the consequential events surrounding the burning of his barns, which continue to define 'Buhkang Mual' in present-day times. In addition, it discusses a 2002 visit to the site where charred unhusked rice, remarkably free from soil contamination, was discovered, adding a tangible link to this historical account. Zakapa's enduring dedication earned him the honorific title of "Defender of the Dignity of Mizo Women." Despite his capture and imprisonment by the British, his indomitable determination secured his release, allowing him to establish his own village and continue his role as chief. This paper pays homage to a courageous Mizo leader whose unwavering dedication and valor are indelibly etched in the annals of history, offering valuable insights into the historical context and legacy of Zakapa's remarkable life.

ailla.utexas.org

Asiatic: IIUM Journal of English Language and Literature, 2023

Mapping a societal canvas requires a frame of reference for the placement of the chosen keywords, which Negotiating Culture: Writings from Mizoram expertly does by addressing the salient registers of the Mizo world. Studies of Mizo society and culture have often taken specific areas for evaluation, each encompassing history, folklore, customs, and practices, among others, with concentrated emphasis on them yielding specialised treatises on such subjects. Negotiating Culture: Writings from Mizoram is a remarkable feat of critically informed reading, especially evident in the marshalling of resources that serve to frame the arch of this book. "A notable feature of Mizo society is its strong community bonding," (89) writes Lalrinsangi Nghinglova in the chapter on tribal justice system in Mizo folk tales. Inclusive in nature, but expansive in the way it looks at social realities rooted in