Who are the Zomi?
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The term 'Zomi' meaning, 'Zo People' is derived from the generic name 'Zo', the progenitor of the Zomi. In the past they were little known by this racial nomenclature. They were known by the non-tribal plain peoples of Burma, Bangladesh and India as Chin, Kuki, or Lushai. Subsequently the British employed these terms to christen those 'wild hill tribes' living in the 'un-administered area', and was subsequently legalised to be the names for the newly adopted subjects by Queen Victoria of England. However, they called themselves Zomi since time immemorial. They are Zomi not because they live in the highlands or hills, but are Zomi and called themselves Zomi because they are the descendants of their great great ancestor, 'Zo'.
In this regards, F.K. Lehman, Professor of Anthropology and Linguistics, University of Illinois (USA), who had done extensive study on the Chin of Burma, said:
'No single Chin word has explicit reference to all the peoples we customarily call Chin, but all - or nearly all of the peoples have a special word for themselves and those of their congeners with whom they are in regular contact. This word is almost always a variant form of a single root, which appears as Zo, Yo, Ysou, Shou and the like.'
Relating to this generic name, Fan-Cho a diplomat of the Tang dynasty of China, mentioned in 862 AD a Kingdom in the Chindwin Valley 'whose Princes and Chiefs were called
Shou (Zo)' . In 1783, Father Vincentius Sangermano in his book, 'A Description of the Burmese Empire' described them as, "a petty nation called
JO (JAW)" Sir Henry Yule, as early as 1508 mentioned about the YO country the location of which was
"west of the mouth of the Kyen-dwen (Chindwin) the interior of Doab, between the Irrawaddy and the Chindwin, from Mout-Shabo upwards and the whole of the hill country east and north-east of the capital, towards the Ruby-mines, the upper course of Hyitnge, and the Chinese frontier" . Rev. Howard Malcolm also testified thus,
"The YAW (ZO) is on the lower waters of the Khyendiwen (Chindwin) not far from Ava. The district is sometimes called YO or JO".
Another early use of the name ZO with reference to the Zomi (Kuki-Chin-Lushai), the first on the Lushai Hills side which till then was a terra incognito, was by Col. T.H. Lewin, the first white man to know the inhabitants of Lushai Hills (Mizoram). He wrote that he came to know, during the Lushai Expedition of 1871-72 that,
'the generic name of the whole nation is Dzo' Dr. Francis Buchanan also wrote of Zomi and
Zomi language , while Captain Pemberton mentioned Zo or Jo in his
'Reports on the Eastern Frontiers of British India, 1835'. The fact that the Zomi were known as ZOU or YO or YAW, before their society evolved into clan based organisation and lineage segmentation, was pointed out by Dr. G.A. Grierson in his survey, thus,
'The name (Kuki and Chin) is not used by the tribes themselves, who use titles such as ZOU or YO or CHO'.
Rev Sukte T. Hau Go, a former lecturer of Mandalay University (Burma) also shared the same view,
"Zomi is the correct original historical name of our people, from the Naga hill to the Bay of Bengal. To the north of Tedim, the Thadous and other tribes call themselves Yo; in Falam, Laizo. The Tedim people call themselves Zo; the Lushais, Mizo; in Haka, Zotung, Zophei, Zokhua. In Gangaw area Zo is pronounced as YAW, in Mindat Jo or CHO; and in Paletwa Khomi. In Prome, Thayetmyo, Sandoway and Bassein areas they call themselves A-Sho. So, inspite of slight variations Zomi is our original historical national name ".
Regarding the truth of Zomi as the racial designation of the so-called Kuki-Chin people, U Thein Re Myint, a well known Burmese Writer, who knew Chin history, perhaps better than the Chin themselves remarks:
Two British administrators, Bertram S. Carey and H.N. Tuck who place Zo people under modern system of administration record as thus:
Another European writer, Sir J. George Scott also claimed that, the Zomi never called themselves by such names as Kuki or Chin or Lushai. He wrote:
It is, therefore, no wonder that Zomi use the term Zo, Zou, Zhou, Chou, Shou, Yo, Jo, Yaw, Shu, etc in their speech and poetic language as Zo-Vontawi, Zo-lei, Zogam or Zoram, Zo-tui, Zo-fa, etc; in naming geographical names such as Zotlang, Zopui, Zobawks; and in some of the clan names like Zophei, Zotung, Zokhua, Laizo, Bawmzo, Zote, etc. All these have a common derivation from the generic name, "ZO". It is also because of this fact that scholars like Dr. Vum Kho Hau, Prof. Laldena, Dr. Vum Son, Dr. Tualchin Neihsial, Dr. H. Kamkhenthang, Dr. Mangkhosat Kipgen, Cap. Sing Khaw Khai, Dr. J. M. Paupu, Pu K. Zawla, Pu R. Vanlawma, B. Langthanliana, Dr. V. Lunghnema, Dr. Hawlngam Haokip, Pu L. S. Gangte, Pu T. Gougin, Pu Thang Khan Gin Ngaihte, Rev. S. Prim Vaiphei, Rev. Khup Za Go, Pu L. Keivom, Rev. S. T. Hau Go, Dr. Khen Za Sian, Prof. Thang Za Tuan, Rev. Sing Ling etc. concluded that ZO is the ancestor of the Zo people (Zomi).
"Biakna,Ngeina leh Khantoh na"
By Rev Khup Za Go
(Zo Kum Thak ahi Khuado Pawi leh Tedim Chin Union Kum Sawmthum Cinna pawi, October 2, 1990 ni-in TCCC Hall, Lanvaah a simkhhia hi a, Tedim Chin Cultural Club Silver Jubilee 1969-94 leh Khuado Pawi 1994 Souvenir pan a kiteikhia hi)
Do na lingling, do na lingling e,
Gual in kum khua do na lingling e.
Gual in kum khua do na lingling e,
Do hanah nau bang va kap ta’ng aw e.
Khanglui laiin Khuado ciangin hih la a kisa pelmawh khat ahi hi. Tuni Mahatma Gandhi’ suahni tawh kituaka Zo minam pawi lian pen gualnoppen ahi Khuado leh Manipur gamah Tedim minamte kipawlna Tedim Chin Union kici a kiphuat zawh kum sawmthum cinna pawi i zat theih citciat manin upa vaihawmte leh makaite tungah lungdam thu puak ing.
Zomite Kum Thak pawi zong ahi Khuado pen i pu i pate in Tedim gam sung Saizang leh Phaileng kikal Cimnuai-ah a ten laiun na zang khin uh hi dingin ki-um a hih manin Khuado pawi i neih zawh kum 600 sangin tawmzaw lo ding hi ci-in kigen hi. Bang hang hiam cih leh i pu i pate in “Cimnuaia sa kibak Geltuiah kithuk” cih kampau na nei uh a hih ciangin Cimnuaiah a om lai pekun Khuadoin sa na kibak vauvau zo uh hi cih kithei hi. Cimnuai pen AD 1400 pawl in khuapi mahmah zo hi ci-in kiciamteh hi. Tua a hih manin hih bang ni manpha leh vanglian a sim, a zang uliante, nupi papite, nungak tangvalte leh numei naupang khempeuh tungah Pasian thupha hong tung kim ta hen.
Gam khat, minam khat leh mihing nuntakna sungah thu lian ahi biakna, ngeina leh khantohna pen khi banga a kikhen thei lo, suangthu banga a kiphiat thei lo thu ahi hi. Tang laiin Zo numei khat leh pasal khat a kipi, a kiten ciangin “Akmit et” loh, “khahual” lohin nupa suak thei lo hi. Tua pen khangluite ngeina leh gamtatna hi. Tua pen minam ngeina bek hi kici thei mawk lo hi. Bang hang hiam cih leh akmit et leh khahual pen mi khempeuh sep theih leh bawl theih hi mawk lo in siampipa bek in a hih thei hi. Siampipa bek in a sep theih na pen ngeina vai hi loin biakna vai hong suakzaw hi. Tu hun Khristiante in zong i kipi i kiten ciangin Pastorte maiah dingin khut kilenin, Pasian maiah kiciamna leh thungetna a neihsak khit ciang bekin ngeina bangin nupa pum khat a suak kici thei pan hi. Tua pen Khristiante aa dingin a biakna ngeina uh lah ahi, a minam ngeina uh lah ahi nuntakna ahi hi. Siampipa in zu a phih, phui a sam mah bangi tu lai Pastorte in zong thu ngenin thupha a pia uh hi. Tua a hih manin minam khat in a zuih uh ngeina pen tua minamte mah aa dingin a biakna ngeina uh zong na hi thei kawikawi a hih manin biakna leh ngeina mun tampi-ah kiton khawm a, kikhen thei kim het lo hi. Gentehna khat gen lai ni. Tu hunin mi khat in inn thak khat a neih ciangin upate leh siate samin inn kong honna, inn apna kinei thei hi. Tua pen Khristian ngeina hi a, minam ngeina hi lo hi, mawk cih theih ding hi lo hi. Bang hang hiam cih leh khanglui laiin zong inn thak khat a kilam zawh ciangin pasal khat in inn tung panin zuha a sak a khang theh kawikawi a, “Tuilu huih na pel in, tui taw huih na pel in. Mei ngo, mei san, kangmei patau na pel in. Huih sia, guahsia na pel in” ci-in phui a sam hi. Tu hunin zong na inn zawh ni-in a tung khumah kahtoin Topa tungah lungdam thu puakin thu ngen lecin a sia hi loin, a kilawmzaw mahmah ding hi. Khanglui laiin inn thak neite in a tap uh a keu ciangin, inn kiluah thei taktak ta ding cih a kitheih ciangin siampi sam a, zu bel lupin, aklui khat goin, inn thak leh inntekte innkuan in thupha a ngah nadingin zu a phih hi. Tua pen “inn tam” kici hi. Tua bangin Khristian i suah main “inn tam” kinei a, Khristian suah zawh ciangin siate leh upate tawh “inn apna” kinei hi. I apna Pasian a kibang lo hi bek cih ding hi.
Biakna, ngeina leh minam thu kikhen thei lo hi. Jesuh suahna, nuntakna leh nasepna sungah vantung leh leitung kigawm a, vantungmi leh leitung mi pumkhat hong suak hi. Jesuh pen van minam sungah suak loin leitung minam khat ahi Judah minamah hong suak hi. Van pau zang loin leitung Aramik pau hong zang a, Judah mite puan tualpi sialhin, tua lai gam annek ahi anlum leh lenggahtui ne in a dawn hi. Tua lai gam uk Rom Kumpi nuaiah hong khangkhia in ‘Kumpipa’ sum Kumpipa pia unla, Pasian’ sumteng Pasian tungah pia un’ a ci ziau hi. Ahih hangin Jesuh in bang hong piangsak hiam? Amah in tua hun lai minamte, ngeinate, biaknate, zuihnate leh gam vai hawmna sungah Pasian’ deihna tawh kituak lungsim thak, ngaihsutna thak, gamtatna pha, tawntung nuntakna vantung thu, “Gospel” thu leitung minamte in a zuih ciangun minam ngeina manpha suak a, biakna it tawh a ente a’n biakna manpha a suak hi. A tomin leh gen kik lehang, minam ngeina khat pen biakna ngeina tawh a kituah kei leh, tua ngeina a man lo hiam, tua ahih ke’h tua biakna a man lo hiam khat hi ding hi. Tua ahih kei lai leh, tua minam ngeina pen a kizang khial kha hiam, a kigen khial kha hiam, tua biakna a kizang khial kha hiam, a kikhia khial kha mah hiam, khat teitei hi ding hi. Ngeina a nei minamte leh biakna a zui minamte pen mihing hi tuaktuak a hih manin ngeina leh biakna in mihing hoihna ding leh phatna ding a hih teitei ding hi. Tua bang ahi kha lo takpi cih a kitel nak leh, phiat hiam puahphat hiam, bawlphat hiam mah kisam hi hamtang ding hi. Mihingte pen Pasian lam man leh thutak lampi panin a lam khial ngei khin, a kipuk ngeisa mihingte i hih manin Pasian ngeina tawh a ki-elpuak leh a kilehngat minam ngeinate khempeuh Lai Siangtho bulphuhin et tel ding ahi hi. Biakna thu, Gospel thu pen minam ngeina a susia ding leh a mangthangsak dingahong piang hi loin a kiciang lote a puahpha ding thu hi zaw hi. Tua ahih manin Jesuh in hong puak Gospel in minam ngeinate, deihnate leh ngimna tupnate a sawpsiang ding, a khi siang ding, a khaih siang ding, a hawi siang ding, a hah siang ding, a zolsak, a mamsak, a nelsak ding, a alsak, a limsak, a khumsak ding silngo leh tol bang ahi hi. Jesuh’ kha in a suk khak minamte Pasian mi siangtho a suak uh hi. Lai Siangtho siam Dr. R.C. Prout in, “Lai Siangtho pen van laizang pan parachute tawh hong kikhia suk hi, Lai Siangtho zong a tuam pian van pau khat tawh a kigelh hi, i ci hiam, Lai Siangtho thute Pasian in leitung gam khat, minam khat tawh tawm beek kisawh kha lo, kisuk kha mahmah lo a tang taka hong kipulak ziahziah hi, a ci i hih kei buang leh, lai Siangtho thu (biakna thu) leh leitung minam ngeinate a kizopna, a kipehna leh a kisaina gen ding om kei, kici thei ngei vet lo ding hi”, ci-in biakna leh ngeina thu a kikhen theih lohna thu a gen ngiat hi. (Evangelical Reiew of Theology, October, 1978, laimai 181).
Tua zaha biakna leh ngeina a kikhen theih loh mah bangin gam leh minam khantohna tawh zong a kikhen thei lo, a kilom khat, a kithubup ahi hi. Bang hang hiam cih leh, biakna leh ngeina in a tup leh ngim bulpi bang hiam cih leh, a zui minamte, a zang mihingte hoih nading, siamna ding, phat nading, pil nading, khuamuh nading, a tom in a khantoh nading uh ahi hi. Tua bang hi lo a, minamte, mihingte leh gamte a hai sak ding, a kiamsak ding, a mialsak ding leh a sumsak zaw ding biakna leh ngeina a hih khak zenzen leh manlanga phiat hiam, puahphat hiam, khit siang hiam kisam pah ding hi. Gentehna in, tanglaiin Hindu minam leh biakna ngeinaah pasal khat a sih ciangin a luang kihalna meikhukpi mahah a zi zong a kikhul ding, a sihpih ding ngeina om a, tua pen “Sati” ci uh hi. Tua pen a zi in a pasal it takpi hi, ngai takpi mah hi, cih a lah nopna uh hi. Hih ngeina pen a nung ciangin numeite in it takei leh, ut ta kei leh kihal lup teitei nading ngeina suak a, teknu tekpate in dong kholh a sak uh, a muhdah uh a monu uh gawt theihna dan hong suak hi. Ki-itna leh kingaihna siksana kinei biakna leh zuihna ngeina a hih hangin sihna leh manthanna ngeina numei simmawhna ngeina suak ahih manin Dr. William Carey leh Raja Rammohan Roy-te in nasia takin sawtpi tak a langpan uh ciangin Mikang kumpi hun ciangin a kiphiat zo pan hi. Biakna ngeina, minam ngeina i cih hangin tua banga a thanghuai, a siahuai gamtatna leh zuihnate pen gam leh minam khantohna a lam khak a hih manin lim takin et ding kisam hi. Tanglaiin Zomite in zong sihna manna i tuah ciangin ki-itna leh kingaihna hang mahin “kawsah hangtak” i nei hi. A sawt ciangin ki-itna leh kingaihna hanga kawsah bawl vai hong hi nawn loin, nei taleng nei ta kei le’ng, ut ta le’ng ut ta kei le’ng hih teitei ding ngeina, ana suakin, leiba thangba kiguan liangin nasepna a suak hi. Kikepna, kithoihna ah a neih khempeuh uh bei a, sihna manna tuak lai a, tua zawh cianga neih leh lam khempeuh, nei kei ta leh zong leitawi lianga a nungta laite aa ding khual nawn lo-a kawsah kibawlna pen hi kisa lo a hih manin Khristian i suah ciangin a kiphiat hi. Tu hun caingin khristian ahi lote in zong lim taka a ngaihsut ding uh ngeina lipkhaphuai khat a suak hi. Tua bangin biakna leh ngeina pen khantohna a tawh lo om lua hi cih ngaihsuthuai hi. Gentehna gen lai ni. Zogamah Khristian thu hong tun cil lai in Nipi ni tan pen a suphuai-in kingaihsun a, lawkite lo kuan ngekngek uh hi. Ahi zongin Nipi ni pen Pasian thu, kha thu kihilhna leh kikupna hun bek hiloin pumpi aa dingin zong ni sagih hala tawl om a, tha thak ngah kik zel pen mihingte nuntaknaah a kisam khat a hih manin tu hun ciangin Khristian lote zong tawlnga uh a, Khristian omlohna gamte nangawn in tawl om ni (holiday) in a kizang ahi hi. Khristian lote in zong Nipi simin mun khatah pai khawmin bang ci lehang nuntakna zongin, bang ci gamtat lehang mihingte hoih zaw ding hiam cih thu bek zong kamkumna zang thei tawntung leh nakpiin khantohna hi ding hi. Khristiante ngeina manpha mahmah khat gen lai le’ng – tua pen tanglai Israelte, Judahte leh Sawltakte in a na zat uh, a hau a zawngte in a neihsa uh, a lamsa uh pan Sawmah khat a neih khop uh ahi hi. Hih pen kuamah kideidan lo a neihsa kiciampihna leh kipawlna “sum-lawm” hi a, Khristian pawlpite’ “Marup” cih ding hi. Leitung “Marup” te bang loin a tamkhia leh a tawmkhia kideidan loin, hih sumte tawh Pasian gam thu kigen a, mizawng daipamte kihuh a, Khristian a hi het lo i leitung mipih huhtuak leh panpih tuakte kihuh hi. Hih sawma khat sumlawm pen Khristian lote in zong nei theiin, kithuthuak zo uh hi leh a sia het lo ding ngeina hi. Tu lai takin Kawlgam Vaigamah a om Zomite khempeuh in, suang bawl sumbawlte khempeuh tawh, i sumlawm tawh i lam sia, i lei sia, i inn siate bawlin, tagah meigongte enin, i lai i pau puahin, sanginn zato inn bawlin “Development Fund” in zang thei zen le’ng bang zah takin Zogam leh Zomite in i noptuampih ding hiam cih ngaihsun leteh Khristian ngeina khat ahi Sawma khat i tawi khop, i zek khop pen minam leh mihingte aa dingin a manpha ngeina hi cih na tel ding hi. Tua hi a, biakna, ngeina leh khantohna pen a kikhen ding hi loin a pangkhawm a sem khawm ding, a ton khawm ding, a luang khawm ding ahi hi.
Tedim Zomi nam bup ahi zongin, Zomi sung pan minam lian khat ahi, Cimnuaia piang Tedim minam teng i khantoh nadingin ngaihsutna pawlkhat kikum lai ni. Khuado ciangin khangluite’n:
Kum kikhena solkha dang e,
Zin in vangkhua zong hen lawm aw e.
Zin in vangkhua zong hen lawm aw e,
Sian sung tui bang siang hen lawm aw e
ci-a kum khen kum thak akipanin dawite, kaute tawh kikhen a, Pasian thu tawh cidama mul mam a om ding a deihna uh la a sak theih zel mah bangun ei Zomite a khanto, a pil a cim, ngeina kician a nei, biakna a hahkat minam i suah nadingin Minam Thukhunpi Nam Sawm hih bangin nei thei lehang a hoih tam ci ing:
- Minam ngeina ahi innsung bangkua “Phamawh” neih ciat ding.
- Pupa ngeina nau min phuahzia ngeina leh kammalte zat ciat ding.
- Minam la – zola, zawlla, latung la phei sak theih ciat ding.
- Minam lam – phitlam, daklam, tonko, khawkhai, lamvui siam ciat ding.
- Minam puan leh kizepna: numei in puandum, khephiau leh zonik, pasal in puanlaisan, tangcing leh angki neih ciat ding.
- Minam pawi – Sialsawm leh Khuado pawite, kum simin eimau khua, eimau mun leh gamah bawl ciat ding.
- Minampi suahna February 20, Zomi Nam Ni, kum simin eimau khua, eimau mun leh gamah zat ciat ding.
- Mun tuam, gam tuamah a om Zomite kihotheihna, kikawmtheihna leh thu kizakna theihna Zopau leh Zolai sim theih, gelh theih, zat theih ciat ding.
- Minam kiciamtehna ahi Vaphual lim zat ciat ding.
- Minam nuntakna sungah “Hawm siam nungta – ne bum si” cih bulphuh ciat ding.
Minam makaite leh upate hawm siamna tawh tuni hih bang hun pha leh pawi i zat theih mah bangin mai hunah zong Mikang kumpi ukna tawh Zogam kumza cinna (Chin Hills/ Chin State Centennial: 1896-1996), Tedim gam Vuandok uk khat a suahna kumza cinna(Tedim Subdivision Cenetnnial: 1894-2004), Tedim khuapi kum zanih cinna (Tedim Bicentennial: 1810-2010), leh Tedim Chin Union kum sawmnga cinna (Tedim Chin Union Golden Jubilee: 1960- 2010) pawite gam leh minam a piangsak Pasian tungah lungdam thu puakna tawh nasia taka a bawl nuam, a bawl zo dingin Topa Pasian in Zogam leh Zomite ama thupha tawh hong kidimsak ta hen.
Source: Leivui Panin
"Lai Tawh khantoh Nadingin"
(Lungdamna Aw, Vol. XIV, No. 4, July-Aug. 1990, laimai 33-36 pana kiteikhia, Source Leivui Panin by Rev Khup Za Go)
Lai lam khantohna thu i gen ciangin laidal leh laimai khantoh nading i cihna hi loin laibu leh thukizakna sungah i gelh, i gen leh a kiciamteh thute tawnin i gam, i minam leh i pawlpi mite khantoh nading pulak ding, tangko ding leh kikup ding i cih nopna ahi hi.
Lai lam nasepna khantoh nading leh lai tawh khantoh nadingin laibu leh thukizaknalai bang zah peuhmah Tedim pau tawh kigelh zo, kikhen zo a, kibawlzo hiam cih i theih masak ding kisam hi. Tua bek hi loin tua a kibawlsa laibute sungah bang thuthu kigen zo, kigelh zo hiam, mai lamah bang thu lam kisam hiam cih theih ding hi. Tedim pau tawh ahi zongin, Zo pau khat peuhpeuh tawh ahi zongin laibu leh thukizakna a kikhen cih taak leh gen tham ding a nei nai het lo hi napi hangin, ahi zongin tua i neih sunsunte nangawn bu bang zah hi a, kuakua bawl hi a, cik kum pawla kikhente ahi hiam cih thei loin i om mikmek hi. Thu leh la lam nasepna a kin lo minam khat i hih a kitheihna hi pah hi.
1984 kuma England-ah ka pai laiin British Museum Library-ah tawlkhat thu kanin ka pai hi. Hih laibu saalsungah 1955 ma lama leitunga laibu kikhen khempeuh minte ciaptehna nei uh hi. Tua laibu pen British Museum Catalogue of Printed Books to 1955 Compact Editionkici a, volume tampi pha hi. Tedim pau tawh kikhen laibu a ciamteh kha uh hiam ci-a ka velvel leh volume 3, laimai 187-ah:
Chin
Kamhau Dialect
Mate Lai Siangtho Tedim Kam
The Gospel of Matthew
Tiddim Dialect (Translated by J.H. Cope)
Pp. 78 BFBS, Rangoon, 1915
kici leh laimai 205-ah:
Chin
Kamhau Dialect
Zawhang Lai Siangtho Tedim Kam
The Gospel of John etc
(Translated by J.H. Cope) pp. 82.
American Baptist Press: Rangoon, 1923
ci-a kigelh ka mu hi. Hih bang ka genna inah amau Mikangte aa dingin kimanna a nei lo, a sim theih beek uh zong a hi lo, tanglaia kikhen Tedim kam laibute nangawn a ciapteh ciltelna uh ka lah nopna hi a, phathuai, pahtakhuai ka sa peuhmah hi.
Tua mah bangin Guwahati Christian Literature Centre-ah ka sep cianga ka laibu muh khat pen A Catalogue of Available Literature in the Languages of the Council of Baptist Churches in North East with the names of literature workers, November, 1961 kici ahi hi.
Hih laibuno pen Amerika pan hong pai Misawnari Rev. George Gillespie in CBCNEI zumah Literature Director a sep laia a bawl ahi hi. Hih sungah Assamese, Garo, Karbi, Manipuri, Ao Naga, Angami Naga, Tangkhul Naga, Thado Kuki, Mao, Mundari, Hallam pau cih banga CBCNEI in laibu a khet ngeisa teng leh a sem a bawlte min, laimai phazah leh a kingahna munteng lahna laibu ahi hi.
Ei zong tua bangin Tedim pau tawh a kikhen ngei laibuteng a kan a, laibu khatin a bawl zo om thei lehang lai lamah i khantohna leh i khantoh nai lohna zong a kitheihna, a kitelna hi ding a, bang thu lam laibu om ngei zo hiam cih zong kithei pah ding hi. Tedim pau bek hi loin Haka, Falam, Lusei, Hmar, Paite, Thahdo, Vaiphei, Gangte, Simte cih bangin Zopauteng tawh laibu a kibawlteng a kan zo, a khenkhia zo om lehang a manpha mahmah ding khat ahi hi.
Tua bangin Catalogue ahi zongin, Bibliography ahi zongin a kibawl ciangin laibu min, a gelhpa hiam, a teipa hiam min, laibu liatna, laimai phazah, a kikhet kum leh a kikhetna mun leh gam kigelh a, laibu man zong kigelh hi. Tua banah tua laibu pen tu ciangin a kingah lai hiam, koi pana kingah thei hiam cih zong tuang pah hi.
Hih bang laibu in bang laibuteng om a, bang thu lam laibu kibawl zo hiam cih thu bek hong phawksak loin laibu gelhpa, teipa in laibu bang zah bang bawlkhia zo hiam cih theihna zong a hih manin lai lam nasepna hanthotna hi a, mite thalawpsak tuam lai hi.
Hih bang laibu a bawl nuam, a kan nuam gige khat na hih a, a kilawp khinkhian khat na hih leh kikuppih ding na ut leh kei zong a mansa khat ka hi ve. Lungngai loin, na laitui leh laikung dokkhiain pan leteh laibu a bawlpa suak pah ding na hi ve. I gam, i lei leh i pawlpi in “pama lui dawng hong bang a, nu tha, pa tha kheng dingin” hong ngaklah lua a’i ve!
Lai tawh i gam i lei, i minam puah nadingin Zolaia kikhen laibu minteng i ciapteh a, i theih pen a kicing hi nai loin a laibute mahmah lim taka i kepcing ding ahi hi. Laibu, magazine, thukizakna laidal khat peuhpeuh i tatsa, i leisate pha takin i kep pah cinten ding kisam lai hi. Guwahati CLC zumah ka sep laiin tu lai taka Champhai ZBC zumah Secretary a sem Rev. Cin Kam tungah “Ni danga TBA in a khet Lungvakna bu luisa na kep lai leh, nong huhnain kei hong puak thei lecin” ci-a ka nget leh siapa in zong ama kepteng mah hong puak pah letlat hi. A hun laiin ka ngah loh hangin tu ciangin a beisa huna TBA sung thupiangte leh lai kigelhte ka theihlawh hi. Khatvei laiin Tamu-ah Sia Gin Khat Suan’ innah ka hawh leh tu nunga Zangkong Zo sangnaupangte in kumcin magazine a khette a lompi khat a kep hong lak a, ka nuam peuhmah hi. Zan diak mahin New Lamka-a om Sia Khampu Hatzaw, Section Officer (Electricity) kiangah ka zing vak leh, Zangkong pana kikhen magazine-te mah, Tedim pana kikhen Thupha Puak leh Khanlawhna Hun cihte pawl, a khol tohtoh lompi khat hong lak neinai hi. Hih banga laibu leh thukizakna laite bal kek pah pai mang pah, lal thangsak gawp lo-a a kem vinven tampi i gam sung leh i minam sungah om ding hi ci-in ka ngaihsun a, lungdamhuai ka sa hi. Bang hang hiam cih leh, tu huna kigen, kigelh thute leh ngaihsutnate pen tu zawh kum sawmnih, kum sawmthum hun ciangin kikan kik nuam ding a, kisim kik nuam ding hi. Mi dang in a sim nuam kei zongin nang tate beek in sim nuam ding hi. Laibu leh thukizakna khet pen thu baih lo-a laidal man zong khang mahmah a hih ciangin mailam hunah tu-a kikhen bangin hong kikhen zo nawn lo bang hi kha zenzen leh, tu-a na neihsa teng mah na sim kikkik hong kul ding hi. Laibu hong kibawl thak leh a kikhen thak a om hangin lei zo nawn lo hiam, tan zo nawn lo hiam hi lecin tu-a teng mah zong a tuamna bawlsak lecin nang laibu manpha nei khat na suak lai ding hi. Laibu pen pa cik khat nangawn zong a bei ciangin khet kiksak ding thu baih lo hi. I neihsa, i khuta omsate kem ni.
Lai khantoh nadingin a gelh a khen i om kul hi. Laibu bawl ding, gelh ding ka thei kei hi a ci nuam peuh zong ki-om mikmek thei hi. India gamah teng napi hangin India tangthu (History) i thei kei lua hi. Kawlgam history bu zong khat beek Zolaiin a bawl i om lohpi!
Bawl thanophuai ka sak, min lah a sim nop luat ding uh mite’ tangthu (biography) a hi ve. Leitung kumpi minthang, mi pil minthang, mi hau minthang, la siam, thu siam, lai siam, lam siam minthang tam lua a, theihnophuai sa ing. Zolai tawh kuamah in i bawl nai lohpi! Gam dang lei dang gen taak loh Zogam leh Zomite sungah i mi masate tangthu a gelh a om peuhmah ciangin bu khat beek vokkuang tung liangin a lei pah sawm hi’ng. Galkap lamah Col. Dal Za Kam, Col. Lian Cin Zam, Col. Van Kulh, Col. Khen Za Mung, Brig. Tuang Za Khai cihte; Civil ulian masa Pu Thawng Cin Thang, Pu Tuang Hmung, Pu Vum Ko Hau cihte; gam vaihawmna lamah Capt. Mang Tung Nung, Pu Za Hre Lian, Pu Vuantu Maung cihte tam lua! Biakna lama i makai masate, lai pilna lamah Masters degree ngah masate, doctorate degree ngah masate tangthu bawlhuai lua hi. Tua bang danin a kitengkhia mi sawm hiam, sawmnih hiam tangthu bek zong gelhin, bang hanga amaute hih banga za lian thei a, min pha thei a, khua suak uh hiam cih gelh thei lehang tu lai khangthak pilna zong tawm pan lai tadingin bang zahin manpha ding hiam! Hih a tunga kigen minte a gentehna dinga i lah pak hi a, nang theih lam Manipur gama i uliante – Pu T. Kipgen, Pu T.C. Tiankham, Rev. Nengzachin, Rev. Dr. Rochung Pudaite, cih lam khawng a hih leh zong kidawm tuan kei in. Kan in la, gelh in la, khen in la, zuak in
Hih bang danin laibu bawl tuak pen tam lua zaw hi. A tunga i thu zawhna kam ahi “zuak in” cih thu tawm gen laiin hial bawl sawm ni. Zomite lakah lai lam nasepnaah i hamsatna lian pen in laibu khot zawh loh thu hi. Tua pen a dahhuai mah hi. Laibu pen khet bek ding hi lo a, sima theiha noptuampih ding ahi hi. Minam i tawm luat manin laibu kikhawng zo lo hi cih lam pen i theihsa a hih ciangin gen vet kei ni. Ahi zongin a kibawl sunsun pen kizuakkhia lo mawk hi. Laibu sai gina kinei lo hi. A bawlte in amau innah koih dap lel uh hi. A lei nuamte in a ngah nading baih lo pah hi. Tua bang laibu kibawl hi cih kuamah in kitheihpih lo hi. Tua a hih manin sum hamsatna, lai sim thadahna cihte pen a hih tei hangin a zuakna a ginat lohna hi zaw hi. Tua a hih manin pawlpi lam pana lai lam saite i hi zongin, Literature Society lam pana tavuan neite in i hi zongin, sangnaupang lam pana lai a puah sawmte in i hi zongin laibu leh thukizakna a kikhen peuhpeuh bang cih lehang Tedim, Kawlpi, Tamu, Tonzang, Zangkong, Lamka, Singngat, Thanlon, Imphal, Aizawl, Champhai, Shillong cih bangah thakhatin kizuak pah lian thei ding hiam cih thu lim taka vaihawm ding kisam hi. Lamka nupi bazarah meh zuak pawlte in a anteh tatte mi zonna mun sumbukah sun thapaiin tutpih uh a, tua pan a khot khit lohteng pen innah hong ban zuak lai ciangun a khawng zo pan uh hi. Ei lai lam nasemte in sumbukah, bazarah i laibu thak i tutpih hiam? Station khawng, hotel khawngah i vakpih hiam? A gelh leh a khet bek nasepa nei a, a zuak lam a sai ding, a hawmkhia ding i dahlauh manin a sim thei ding, a lei zo ding mite khut tungsak zo lo hi lehang kilawm hi. Lai bawlnaah mangngilh het loh ding khat pen a hih leh, i gam leh i mite in a kisapna uh, a deih uh laibu i bawl ding a thupi hi. A tunga kigensa bangin kei uukna khat ahi mi-tangthu (biography) pen ka bawl hangin mite in a kisapna lam uh a hih kei a, mi theih nop pen bang ci lehang cidam thei ding, ankhing kham thei ding cih thu peuh a hih leh, zato laibu lam, lokhawh thu, singno thu, gan khawi thu lam bawl leng a kikhawng zo bek ding ahi hi. I gam in bang thu lam kisam hiam cih ngaihsut masak ding hi.
Gentehna lah ahi, a man takpi lah ahi khat i khit nadingin gen ta lehang – 1983 kumin Tedim Lai Siangtho bu tulsawm (10,000) kikhen a, tua zawh kum thum, kum li 1987 ciang kikhawng khin a, kingah zo nawn lo hi. 1984 kumin Tedim La Bu 10,000 mah Calcutta-ah a kikhen pen 1988 ciangin kingah zo nawn lo hi. Laibu dang neu cikcik bu 1,000 bek kum sawm khawng zuak kul a, Lai Siangtho leh La bu sum tampi man, a bu zong tampi a kikhen lah kingah kim zo lo liang i cih ciangin i gam leh mite in a kisapna (demand) tawh kisai hi cihna hi. Tua a hih manin bang laibu bawl masa ding, bang bawl nunung ding cih thu zong i kisapna panin et ding hi. Tuhun khangnote khempeuh zong lai sim thei hong hi ta uh a hih manin amau kisapna lam tawh pattah ding kisam hi. Lai tawh, thu tawh Pasian na sem ni.
Burma
