Prelude to the Insurgency

In the case of Mizoram, exploitation by Lals (Chiefs) before the Chieftainship was abolished in 1954; abject poverty and misery of the common people; economic and regional imbalances, lack of civic amenities and poor communication; lack of contact between the Government and the people and the people’s aspiration to have a state, which the States Reorganization Commission overlooked in 1953 might have all played a part in the growth of discontentment and dissatisfaction of the people with the administration which eventually resulted in the call for independence from the Union of India in 1966 by the MNF under its supremo Laldenga. Internal corruption, nepotism, favouritism and non-participation in the processes of development alienated the people from the ruling elite. Further, differences in culture, language, religion, habits, etc., accentuated these grievances among the Mizos.

The Mautam or the Great Famine during 1958 - 59 was the ‘powder keg’ that triggered insurgency in Mizoram. Mautam is a natural phenomenon wherein roughly after every fifty years, entire bamoo forests start flowering, bearing fruits, a favourite for rats and brings about their increased fertility resulting in an explosion in rodent population. Incidentally the bamboo forests wilt away soon after and then a year or two later, new bamboo shoots take their place. Once the rodents finish the bamboo flowers, they turn to paddy and other crops on the slopes destroying entire hill slopes with crops in a single night and later even start infesting houses. This was precisely what happened in Mizoram in 1958 -59. The havoc wreaked by the rats was terrible and very little of the grain was harvested. For sustenance, many Mizos had to collect roots and leaves from the jungles, others moved out to far off places while a considerable number died of starvation.

The Government of Assam did very little to rehabilitate the people and failed to provide the much needed relief, while the Union Government too was insensitive towards the ensuing famine. The natural calamity aggravated the people’s sufferings, adversely affecting their lives. It was the welfare organizations like the Mizo Cultural Society formed in 1955 with Laldenga as the Secretary that organized relief measures, helped starving villagers and facilitated supplies to remote and inaccessible villages. The Society gained popularity due to its Samaritan efforts and it did render a yeoman’s service during those trying times thereby becoming very popular amongst all sections of the people.

In September 1960 the Society changed its name to Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF) and subsequently on 22nd October 1961, it was changed into a political party – Mizo National Front (MNF) with the declared objectives of complete political independence for greater Mizoram and improving the socio-economic condition of the Mizos. In December 1963, Laldenga accompanied by others went to East Pakistan where they were well received and promised help in fighting against India with a base, arms and money; by December 1965, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) had already trained two batches of MNF Volunteers (MNV). The MNF high command, during an Executive Committee meeting in Aizawl in July 1965, set up its underground government and termed it the ‘Mizoram Sawrkar’ with a legislature, executive and judiciary, to project an effective demand for independence. Its armed wing, the Mizoram National Army (MNA), was created to take the fight to the streets. It recruited young men from colleges, schools, farms and also ex-servicemen, on a voluntary basis. On 30th October, 1965 the Mizo National Front (MNF) submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India for granting freedom and aimed to fight it through non-violent means. This Memorandum was ignored by the Indian Government.

It is true that there was no adequate initiative on the part of the Union Government to bring the Mizos into the mainstream of Indian life. But it is also equally true that a handful of local leaders, while taking advantage of the adverse situation, exploited mass sentiments.

The Uprising

On 28th February 1966, the Aizawl Treasury was attacked and that night itself at ‘zero hour’, a 2000 strong Mizo National Volunteers Force encircled Aizawl, Lunglei, Champhai, Vairengte and Chhimluang and struck these towns which resulted in an exchange of fire between the MNF and the Government forces for almost three days. On 5th March the infamous bombing of Aizawl was carried out by the Indian Air Force which continued till the next day. As a result of the heavy bombings, the MNF was forced to move out of Aizawl into the interiors. The bombing devastated Aizawl and people in the thousands left their homes to seek safety and refuge in the rural areas. Reinforcement troops began moving up from the plains of Silchar towards Aizawl and some moved south towards Lunglei and Champhai. As the troops advanced towards Aizawl, they set fire to villages and tortured people therein.

On March 2nd, 1966, the whole district was declared a disturbed area. The Union Government, sensing more trouble, announced a developmental package for the district, but it was already too late as fear and panic gripped the whole of Mizoram. In the name of counter-insurgency measures, security forces started visiting villages and dealt with the rural populace in the most indiscriminate manner. At times, the men folk were made to squat on the ground the whole day and were even dealt with blows. Such was the plight of the people who were caught in the crossfire between the security forces and the MNF.

In 1967 the MNF was outlawed. Under pressure, the Union Government acceded to some of the demands of the Mizos and, as a compromise, elevated the Mizo Hills District to the status of a Union Territory on January 21st, 1972. This arrangement not only gave relative autonomy to the Mizos, but also gave them a pride of place under the Indian Constitution.