Mizo student organisations today took strong exception to the Centre’s intention to felicitate Mizo warrior Khuangchera as an Indian freedom fighter.
A joint resolution adopted by the Mizo Students Union (MSU) and the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or Mizo students association said that “Khuangchera did not die for India but for the Mizo people”.
The joint meeting was convened in view of the proposed visit of the Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain on Thursday.
Gohain, who is visiting the state on Thursday would attend a public meeting at Ailawng village, about 30 km from Aizawl, to pay tributes to Khuangchera as an Indian freedom fighter among the tribals in the north east.
The students opposed the Centre’s intention claiming that the Mizos at that time were not in India.
Khuangchera, with his friend Ngurbawnga were killed in 1890 when they tried to expel the British invaders from Lushai country and save the Mizo people, the resolution said.
At that time, Mizos were neither under the rule of the Britishers nor India, it said, adding that no Mizo should attend any meeting aimed at declaring Khuangchera as an Indian freedom fighter.
“We appeal to the Indian government to respect our history and not try to change it,” the student leaders said.
Mizo hills were formally declared as part of the British India by a proclamation in 1895. North and South Hills were united into Lushai Hills district in 1898 with Aizawl as its headquarters, according to Mizoram government website.
