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The Hmar Autonomy Movements in Mizoram
The Hmar Autonomy Movements in Mizoram
INTRODUCTION: Mizoram is a state which is situated in the region of northeast India. It lies between East longitude 920 15 to 93029 and North latitude 21058 to 24035, covering total area of 21,087 sq.kms. The Hmars are an indigenous tribal people in the Northeast India, who settle in different states of Northeast India (including Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura). Hmars are generally considered to be part of the larger Mizo ethnic group, and they were the first settlers in the land of Mizo people, what is now the state of Mizoram. Till today, we can see the Hmars names of many villages and river in the Champhai area of the state bodering Myanmar. Before they were known as Old Kukis and with the arrival of the other Mizo groups, such as Lushai, Pawi, Mara and others, the Hmars spread out to the other parts of the Northeast regions: Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. Here in this paper we shall mainly focus on the Hmar Autonomy Movements in Mizoram to maintain their culture, their language, and their autonomy continues to this day.
Mizo Movements:
The Hmars struggles for Autonomy movements in Mizoram has its root from Mizo Movements. Towards the end of British rule in India, there was a grassroots movement in the Lushai Hills (now Mizoram, then a part of Assam) against the chieftainship system that was exploited by the British administration. This led to the formation of the Mizo Commoners Union in 1946, later renamed Mizo Union (MU). The MU also demanded the unification of all Mizo(Hmars)-inhabited areas in Manipur and Assam(including Lushai Hills) into a single administrative unit, and various units of the MU were set up outside Mizo Hills District. After India gained Independence, in 1952, the Lushai Hills Autonomous District Council of Assam, a body with significant governing powers, was formed and soon after abolished the chieftainship system. The governing body was renamed the Mizo Hills District (MHD) Council in 1954. . However, the demand for integration remained unfulfilled. In 1959, another political movement in MHD gained momentum. The Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF), which later became Mizo National Front (MNF), protested against the indifference shown by the Assam government in handling a serious famine in the area. The main objective of the MNF later became self-determination and the establishment of Independent Zoram comprising all Mizo-inhabited areas in Manipur and Assam(including Lushai Hills). This movement culminated in an armed rebellion in 1966, followed by years of underground activities. After several rounds of negotiations, the MNF signed the Mizo Accord with the Government of India on June 30, 1986. And on February 20, 1987, Mizoram became its own State under the Constitution of India; however, it did not include Mizoinhabited areas outside MHD. Therfore, Hmars living outside Mizoram feel discontentment against these Movements, as neither of these Movements addressed their hopes and aspirations having been support and took active part in the MU- and MNF-led integration movements. This discontentment led to the growth of Hmar Autonomy Movements within Mizoram.
Hmar Volunteer Cell (HVC). The first armed confrontation between the HVC and MAP occurred on May 16, 1989 at Moniarkhal in Cachar district of Assam where two HVC cadres and one MAP sub-inspector died. The armed confrontation continued until 1992, when HPC representatives and the Government of Mizoram mutually agreed to hold ministerial level talks. After multiple rounds of talks, a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed to grant autonomy to the Sinlung Hills Development Council (SHDC) for social, economic, cultural and educational advancement of the people under its jurisdiction, in Aizawl on July 27, 1994. And armed cadres of the HPC surrendered along with their weapons in October 1994. But the council was not given political autonomy. Therefore after the MoS was signed, a series of meetings were held between representatives of HPC and the Mizoram government to discuss the implementation of the MoS. It was agreed that the SHDC would comprise the areas where Hmars made up a majority of the population. But the HPC objected to the area of the SHDC proposed by the Mizoram government, and a Commission was appointed to conduct verification of the Hmar population in the HPC Demand Area. The Commission submitted its report on August 1, 1996, and the SHDC was officially formed on August 27, 1997. However, the demarcation of the SHDC area has not been settled, nor has the Hmar language been introduced as a medium of instruction in the SHDC areas. Meanwhile, the state has used a divide-and-rule policy by exploiting the internal differences among the HPC leadership and interfering in Council elections. With no statutory powers and limited funding, the Council became largely defunct.
Operation (SoO) Agreement was signed at the State Guest House, Aizawl by the HPC(D) and the Government of Mizoram for an initial period of six months. The ground rules were mutually agreed upon to ensure an effective SoO in the common interest of finding a peaceful political solution in Mizoram. It was agreed that a Joint Monitoring Group with equal representation from the HPC(D) and the Government of Mizoram would be set up to enforce an effective implementation of the SoO ground rules. It was further agreed that the HPC(D) would have the liberty to appoint any respectable person(s) to assist them in their dialogue with the Government. However, the peace dialogue could not be started as scheduled in January, because the Mizoram government could not accept the inclusion of non-Mizoram citizens as representatives of the HPC(D). With the nonextension of the SoO period, which expired on May 11, 2011, and without any proactive interest on the part of the Government of Mizoram in extending the SoO period and resuming the peace dialogue, the HPC(D) declared that the SoO no longer exists.
Conclusion: The Hmar political movement in Mizoram has never aimed to break up
Mizoram or disassociate Hmars from Mizo ethnic nationhood. Rather, it aims to strengthen the ethnic Mizo nation as a whole, to preserve and develop its distinct cultures and traditions, customs, dialects and languages, and to protect its ethnic interests, identities, land and natural resources. To end a prolonged militancy in Mizoram and to address the long-pending and unfulfilled political aspirations of the Hmars, there is an immediate need to accept the rightful demands of the Hmar people in Mizoram by setting up an autonomous administrative body under the purview of the Indian Constitution. Eventually, such an administrative setup would ensure the protection of the identities and cultures, land, and natural resources of the State of Mizoram.
INTRODUCTION:
I.
Mizo Movements:
II.
III.
IV.
CONCLUSION:
HOME ASSIGNMENT
A TOPIC ON:
THE HMAR AUTONOMY MOVEMENTS IN MIZORAM
SUBMITTED TO: N.BIJEN MEETEI ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DEPT. OF POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSAM UNIVERSITY, SILCHAR.
SUBMITTED BY: LALHLUOSANG HMAR M.A. 4th SEMESTER, ROLL NO. 1055 DEPT. OF POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSAM UNIVERSITY, SILCHAR.