Pu L.Keivom's Speech at ZOFEST 2009

[INPUI Exclusive] Noted Hmar Mizo litterateur and Inpui columnist Pu L.Keivom was invited to deliver keynote address at the ZOFEST 2009, held on October 2 and 3 in Aizawl. Here's the text of his speech for those of us who weren't not there to listen to him speak at the unity event.

[Photo: Pu L.Keivom delivering keynote address at ZOFEST 2009]

Pu Lalmuanpuia Punte-in, “Hei, Zofest-ah thu sawi turin kan sawm duh che a, i lo kal hman ang em?” tiin Aizawl atrangin mi rawn bia a. “A thu azir a ni ang chu. Eng thu nge sawi turin min duh a?” tiin ka zawt a. “Thupui tuk bik pawh a awm lo, Zofate insuihkhawmna nena inzawm leh Zofate tana thra leh trul i tih apiang a ni mai” tiin min chhang a.

Hei hi ka sawi chhan chu, kumin July khan Mosia hringnun ramri kham chu ka lo kân ve tawh a. He leia ka khualzin chhunga thu le hla lama ro hlu ka chhar vete chu Zofate tan a tam theih ang ber ziaka hnutchhiah ka duh si avangin tih tur ka ngah êm êm a, minit tin hi ka tan a pawimawh a, ni tin darkar 12 vel hi ka penson hnua ka hnathawh dan pangngai a ni. Chuvangin, mahni tawkah ngaina taka hmun hrang hrang atranga min sawmtu awm ve reng mah se ka kal ngai zen zen lo.

Tunah erawh, ka chang thlan ber thupuia hmanga MZP huaihawt Zofest 2009-a thu sawi tura min sawm hi nêp rualah ka ngai lo a ni. Mosian Nebo tlang a chuan hmaa a mite hnenah thuro a chhiah ang khan, hnam ropui tak leh zahawm taka Zofate kan lo din chhuahna tura ka hmathlirte leh kan zin kawnga min chim ral thei hlauhawm tam tak awmte chu puan chhuahna hun remchang, Pathian remruat a nih ngei ringin, min sawmna chu pawmin, hun chêp tak karah, Zofate Jerusalem Aizawl tlangah hian ka rawn chuang chhuak a ni. Min duhsakna avang hian namen loin ka lawm; ka tan nihlawhna chungchuang a ni.

Chim ral hlauhna rilru
A ruh no no chhuahna he khawvela cheng hnam tin rilrua awm chu chim ral hlauhna hi a ni. Chu chu Zofate rilruah pawh a lian hle. Chumi rilru chuan thil thra a hring thei ang bawkin thil thra lo pawh a hring thei. Chutiang bawkin, chim ral hlauhna rilru neih miah lo chu, chhungril chakna atranga chhuak a nih si loh chuan, ât huai vang pawh a ni thei. Chu chu thil hlauhawm tak a ni. A pawimawh hmasa ber chu kan chakna leh derdêpna, mahni nihna leh dinhmun inhriat chian a ni.
Hei hi sawi fiah hret a ngai ang. Eng vangin nge chim ral kan hlauh? Keimahni nihna, kan hnamphung leh ziarang pu-a dam khawchhuah kan duh vang a ni hmasa ber ang. Chumi avanga China ram atranga Bay of Bengal Tuipui kam thleng raka thlang tla a, tu mah min khawih buai phak lohna, ram khawkrawka inham tâng leh khawvel hriat tham hnam pakhata lo chawr chhuak ta chu kan ni. Tunah pawh dam khawchhuah duhin thlang kan la tla zel a, Vairampur hmun hrang hrangah awmhmun khuarin, America thleng kan inzar pharh tawh a ni.

Chim ral hlauhna rilru hian thil thra a hring thei a, thil thra lo pawh a hring thei bawk. Chim ral hlauh avanga dam khawchhuahna kawng sialtu chuan chim ral theihtu laka invèn dan a zir a, mahni kea ding thei turin a inbuatsaih a, a ding khawchhuak thrin. Mahse, mi dang ngam loh hrim hrim tur leh an chim ral mai theih nia inngaihna rilru pu mi chu buan hma pawha dawl zawr leh tlawm tawh a nih avangin, a tan din chhuahna kawng a awm lo. Rilru zàm leh tlân chhe chunga râl beitu tu mahin hnehna hlun an chang ngai lo. Dam khawchhuah kan duh chuan huaisenna, tumruhna, taihmakna, thiamna leh finnaa innghat chakna tha hmanga inthurual taka hma kan nawr a ngai.

Tin, chim ral hlauh nachang hre lo mihring an awm bawk. Chutiang mi chu sava lian ostritch rilru pu mi an ni. Hlauhawm a lo thlen hunah ostritch chuan vaivutah a lu a rawlh a, ‘Hlauhawm engmah ka hmu lo” a ti thrin, an ti. A sawi zawh hmain a ûmtuten an thlen chilh rup tawh si thrin. Ngaih a tihthrat leh tihngam rikngawtin kori a tu lo; a him phah chuang bawk hek lo. Kan hmachhawn lai leh ka hmachhawn zêl tur hriatna leh chumi atana inralrinna leh inbuatsaihna chu dam khawchhuahna rahbi pawimawh a ni. Hei hi ram hruaitute tan hriat a pawimawh zual.

Inchimralna hmanruate
Ar talh dan chi khat chauh a awm lo tih ang khan, inchimral dan chi hrang hrang a awm a. Chung zinga hlauhawm ber chu a langa mi rûntute aiin, hmuh theih loh, chhungril lama mi rûntute an ni zawk. Chutianga inchimral dan chi hrang hrang chu a tawi thei ang berin han bih tlang ila.
Pakhatna, tharum leh ralthuam hmanga inhneh lak a ni. Assuria lalin BC 721-a Israel lalram a rûn a, Israel hnam sawm an riral vek kha entirna fiah tak a nih ka ring. Rei lo te chhungin Israel hnam sawm chu thehmeh ang maiin an riral thrak a ni. Tharuma inhneh lak hi Indopui Pahnihna hnu lamah chuan a reh tah duak a, chakna thar leh tektik chi hrang hmangin kan inchimral tawh zawk a ni.

Pahnihna, intam chilh vanga inchimral a ni. Mizoram kawmthlang Tripura hi entirna nung fiah ber chu a ni. Kum 1864 khan a ram neitute tamzia chu 64% a ni a, 1901-ah 52 %, 1937-ah 37%, 1971-ah 29 %, a kum têlin an sazu mei tial tial a ni. Tun kum za chhunga inchimralna bung leh changa sawi hlawh ber a ni.

Pathumna, rilru inbawih (enslavement) a ni. Inbawih dan chi hrang hrang a awm. Sakhua leh kalchar hmanga inbawih hi a nghet ber a, a hlauhawm ber bawk. Mingo misawnariten kristian sakhua hmangin kan rilru min bawih a; an kalchar tuia chiah leh an hnam rawng kai tawh, khawthlang kristian sakhua an rawn tuh a, an tih dan apiang chu Pathian thutak emawa ringin tih ve kan tum a. Kan hnam ro hlu tam tak, ringlote thawmhnawa min dahsak apiang chu pawnchhe hnangkhai anga ngaiin ui miah loin kan hluihlawn a, chutianga tih chu Pathian thu awih thra leh thlarau mi nihnaah kan ngai. Kristian sakhaw hminga tih a nih phawt chuan hnam thil hlu a enga pawh hnawl fithla vek pawi tihna kan nei lo. Kan sakhaw thara a tum a tlanga pem luh vek chu inchimralnaa ngaih ahnêkin thim ata enga lutah kan inngai hmiah ngam a ni. Kan hnam thil réng rèng thim thila dah leh mingo thil hrim hrim var (êng) thila ngaihna rilru hi piansualna rapthlak tak a ni.

Hemi thil hian eng angin nge hnam nunah nghawng a nei tih kan ngaituah pha lo. ‘Lalpa zawn chhuah ram’ kan intih mai te hi thil zahthlak bera ngaih tur ni awm tak, inchhuan nan tak kan hmang letling hlauh zawk a ni. Hemi aia kan rilru min bawih nghehzia tar lan chuan dan a vang hlein ka ring. Engkim siamtu le hretu zawn chhuah ngai hial khawp ram pilrila awm anga min dahtute chu kan misawnari hmasate kha an ni bulpui ber. Deuteronomy 11: 12 hi ‘Lalpa zawn chhuah ram’ tiin min lehlinsak mauh mai a. Mahse, han bih chiang ila, hemi trawngka hi Hebrai, Grik leh English khawi version-ah mah a awm lo. Khang hun laia Bawrhsap tihlungawi nana hetianga an lo lehlin a nih chuan, a mak lo e. Mahse, engah nge keimahniin tun thlenga chaw tak bara kan la bar? Ek aia rimchhhia leh uih zawk a ni tih engah nge kan hriat theih loh? Kan rilru min bawih hneh êm vang a ni. An lem chang thiam apiang kan ngaisang. Kan zinga lemderna leh lemchang nun a hluar êm êm pawh hi chumi nghawng chhuah chu a ni. Chuvangin, hemi trawngka hmang leh apiang chu a nêp berah salam tal chawitir zêl tur niin ka ngai. Lalpa zawn chhuah ram kan ni lo. Lalpa duat leh ngaihsak ram kan ni zawk.

Palina, inchimralna hmanraw dang chu sumpai (economics) a ni. India hmar chhak rama State zawng zawng deuh thaw hi Kutdawh State kan ni. Inei ba lo State kan awm lo. Kristian State inti apiang hi inei ba nasa zawk State kan ni. Chutiang State atranga lo kalte thu chu, eng anga fing leh Pathian thu ril pawh ni se, eng vangin nge kut kan dawhnate chuan kan thu chu barah an lo khawn ang? Kutdawh aw chu eng anga mawi leh hawihhawm pawh ni se, kutdawh aw a ni. Kutdawh chu kut a dawhna bawiah a tâng lo thei lo.

Tun lai khawvela lal ber chu sumpai a ni. Sumpai tamna ram apiangin mi an hîp a, a theih apiang pèm luh an tum a, a pêm lut apiang zawi zawiin a lo chimpil deuh zel bawk a ni. Keiniho pawh chumi kawng chu kan zawh tran mek a, Vairampur khawpui hrang hrangah kan lut thla a, zawi zawiin chimpilin kan awm mek a ni. Sawrkara hna lian chelh fate hi dannaranin thrang khatah an âwm chen vel chimpilin an awm a, chungho thlahte erawh chu an chhip thleng an pil hman tawh a ni. Chumi awmzia chu chhuan hnih pawh kan daih mumal lo tihna a ni. Ngaihtuahawm tak kan ni.

Tin, hmasawnna rahbi tam tak hi a dawngtute dinhmun azirin inchimralna hmanraw hlauhawm a ni thei. Look East Policy te leh Tipaimukh Dam kan tihte hi thil thra a nih reng laiin inchimralna hmanraw hlauhawm an ni thei tih kan hriat fiah a thra. Compensation tlem azawng hmuh beisei avanga Esaua rilru pu a, vawi khat chaw puar nan maia roluahtu nihna hralh hi kumkhuaa ral hlenna a ni thei. I fimkhur ang u.

Khawvela hnam fei ber chu Israela thlahte hi an ni awm e. Jakoba hoin mi sawmsarih lek tram tlan turin Aiguptaah an pem thla a, kum 430 hnuah pawh ral aiin maktaduaia chhiar an pung hman a ni. Zofate pawh kan Aigupta hmun hrang hrangah kan tla thla ve a. Delhi tlanga kan awm tirh 1970 lai kha chuan Zo hnahthlak awm zawng zawng kut zungtrang thliaka chhiar tham lek kan la ni a. Tunah chuan, Churachandpur District atranga lo kal ringawt pawh mi 7000 chuang kan ni tawh a, Central Government Ministry tin deuhthawah kan awm a ni. Fellowship hrang hrang sawmpakhatin kan inthren darh a. Kawlram atranga refiuzi anga lo kal Zo hnahthlak eng lai pawhin sang chuang an awm reng bawk a. Delhi tlanga Zo hnahthlak sing chuang awm zingah hian Mizoram atranga lo kal chu a tam berah 25% an ni pha trawk tawh a ni.

Kum 1990-a USA ka tlawh trum chun USA leh Canadaa Zofa awm zawng zawng Directory an siam a, an zavaiin, nausen nen 88 an ni a. Kum 2007-a ka zin leh chuan USA leh Canadaa Zofa awm zat chu 5000 chuang ni tawhin an insawi a, chung zinga zaa sawmkua aia tam chu Mizoram pawn, abikin Chin State atranga an ram harsatna avanga thlang tla an ni. Mizoram atranga pêm thla erawh an pung mawh hle. A chhan hrang hrang a awm ngei ang. Mahse, chu chu tunah sawi ka tum lo.

Ka sawi duh tak zawka chu heng kan ram pawna lehkha zir leh hnathawka awmte leh kan thlahte hi hnamah kan dam khawchhuak ang em? tih zawhna lian, kan hmaa lum hi a ni. Ei leh barah kan intodel thei. Kan fate pawh rual khum khawpin thiamna lamah hma an sawn thei. Mahse, chhuan hnih pawh kan daih mumal si loh chuan, eng tin nge ni ta ang? Sumpai ngahin kan hnianghnar hle thei. Mahse, Zozia kan la pu ang em? Pu tawh loa kan nihna kan hloh si chuan enge a sawtna? Khawpui hrang hranga kan hmuh, Zofate Jerusalem, kan khawpui Aizawl atranga lo kalte ziarang hi Zozia dik tak turah hnam dangten lo ngai ta se, kan chhuang ang em? Nge, zak lutukin kan kun tlawk tlawk zawk dawn? Heng zawhnate hi keimahni ngei chhan tura lum a ni.

Pangana, sawrkarin a ram trawnga a pawm hmangin hnam tenaute trawng chimpilin, zawi zawiin an hnam thleng a chimral thrin. Ram khat trawng khat hmang rama siam tumna pawlisi a lian hunah he thil hi a hluar duh zual. Kawlram hi entirna hnai ber a ni awm e. Kawl trawng barh luiin tlangmi hnam hrang hrang trawng 135 chu chimraltir vek an tum a ni. Engemaw chenah an hlawhtling hle. Zofate zingah ngei pawh, abikin khawpuia awmten inbiak nana trawng tualleng an hman chu Kawl trawng a ni tawh. Hei hian nghawng thra lo tak a nei thung a. Chimral duh lo tlangmite chuan hnam chhantu le humtu tur tlawmngai pawl an din a, Burma chu khawvela helpawl ngah ber ram a nih bakah ram hausa tak ni bawk si ram hnufual zingah pawh a hnukhawi pawlah a trang reng mai a ni.

Trawnga inchimral hi nuih reng chunga lu inlak ang a ni. Chimpila awmte chuan chimpiltute trawng lungawi taka an hmanah mai a tawp lo. An nunphung an rawn ngaisang a, a kawpi chak apiang changkangah an inngai a, an rawn inneih pawlh a, an sakhua an rawn be ve mai a ni. Tuiti taka Vai film en thrin chuan a hriat loh hlanin a rilruah an pathian ban sawm nei tan hmun zau tak a lo kian hman der tawh thrin. Engemaw lai kha chuan, Zoram khawvel hmun threnkhatah chuan, Baibul aiin ‘Kasauti Zindagi’ film-in kan zingah ram a la chak zawk daih a ni. Mi tam takin vai trawng kan zir duh chhan chu an film kan en duh vang a ni awm e. Trawng thiam hnem a thra;, hnam dang thu le hla hriat hnem pawh finvarna a ni. Mahse, kan trawng kan inchimpiltir tur a ni lo.

Parukna, sikul hi hriatna leh thiamna zir chhuahna hmun mai ni loin, mihring chherna pûm thra tak a nih avangin, thuneihna chelhtuten sikul hmangin hnam tenaute chimral hna an thawk thrin. Silebas siam thuah, zirlaite rilrua thu kan tuh duh dan anga duan a ni duh fo. An thu zir chuan an ngaihtuahna leh thil thlir dan nasa takin a hruai thrin. Abikin, histawri kan zirtir danah fimkhur a ngai zual. Tun hnaia Aizawl tlanga zirlaiten text-book hàla thawm an neih chhan pawh kha hemi thil nena inzawm a ni.

Trawng thuah, entirnan, Hindi chauh thiam leh hman tura pawlisi a awmna hmunah chuan trawng dang a leng thei lo. Chumi pawlisi chuan trawng tenau zawkte thran len tur a dàl a, a dîp ral thrin. Mahse, Hindi ringawt zirte chuan an ram pawnah hna an zawn hunah, khawvel dang nena indawr tawnna trawng English an thiam si loh avangin kham bang su ang chiah an ni. India ram hruaitu hmasaten hmathlir thui tak neia ‘Unity in Diversity’ thuthlung min lo hmanpui hi a finthlak hle. State tinah mahni trawngpui hman min phalsak a, a ram trawng atan Hindi an pawm a, mahse English nen a thriangin, lungrual takin an kaltir a. Chumi rual chuan hnam tenaute trawng humhal leh tihmawsawn turin hma a la bawk a. Hemi avang hian, hnam tinin mahni nihna leh zia pu reng siin, ‘India mi’ nihnaah kan inhui khawm tial tial a, ka nghet sual sauh sauh bawk a ni. Hetiang pawlisi hi hmang loin, Hindi min barh luih se, India ram hi bung tam takin a keh darh tawh ang.

Hemi thu nena inzawma HRD Minister Kapil Sibal intarviu ka ngaithlak chuan beng a verh hle. Sawrkai Laipui pawlisi kengkawh tum chu trawng pathum tal zirlaite thiamtir a ni. Chungte chu (1) An zung kaihna State nen an insuih zawm reng theih nan State trawngpui; (2) India pumpui nen an intringmit theih nan Hindi; (3) khawvel dang nen indawr tawn theih nan English. Hemi thil pathum hi an dinna mualah threuh an pawimawh dan a inang vek. Kan nu trawng kan hriat tawh loh chuan kan zungpui nena inzawmna a chat tawh a ni. Chu chuan mihring nunah siksawina hrang hrang a siam thei.

Ram hrang hranga awm darh Zo hnahthlakte insuihkhawm leh dan tur daptute pawhin hmathlir thui tak neia kal kan pen ve chuan, hnam ropui takin kan ding chhuak ve thei. Chumi atan chuan India sawrkarin a rama cheng hnam hrang hrangte hnam hlawmpuia din chhuahna tura kawng a sial dan hi entawn tlak a ni mai thei. Hindi tihlar tumna avangin barh luih pawlisi lo hmang ta se chuan, a hmaa kan sawi tawh ang khan, kan keh darh vek tawh ang. Tin, trawng a ral apiangin hnam rohlu kan chân a ni tih kan hriat a pawimawh hle.

Lusei trawng denchhena hmanga Zotrawng lo thrang chho zel pawh hian a chawmtu hnâr Zo hnahthlak trawng hrang hrang hi a chimral hlauh chuan fintu tur hnâr hrang hrang atranga luang chhuak luite nei lo ang a ni ang a, trawng hausa, thatho leh hman tlak a nih tur angin a thrang chhuak lo ang. A bakchhamna phuhruk tumin hnam dang trawng a la lut treuh ang a, chu chuan zawi zawiin a chiah hlum mai ang. Tunah pawh, inthlan thu emaw pawlitiks thil kan sawi chuan zaa sawmruk aia tam mah hi Saptrawng hman a lo ngai tawh a, a chimpil mek a ni.

Pasarihna, mihringin a chenna leilung a suásam nasat avangin siksawina chi hrang hrang a thlentir a, chu chuan nghawng thra lo tak a neih chhawn zêl avangin khawvelah hian hmun leh ram tam tak rauhsanin a awm tawh a, an sulhnu kalsan ropui tak tak hmuh tur la awmte bak chu an thlahte thleng chhui ngaihna awm loa riral ta an tam èm ém. Mihring kan pun zel rualin ram kan tipawn a, awmna tlak lo thlalèrah kan siam a. Ruahtui tla lo hîptu leh ram tihnawngtu thing leh mau leh hnim a awm loh hunah ruah leh thliiin lei thra a len bo a, tui hna a kang chat a, ram sa leh sava leh luia cheng thilnung tinreng an rèm a, a ramin a ngeih lo chi kan lak luh le chìnte chuan leilung an ei chhia a, mihringin hma kan sawn zel ruala hman sen loh thil neih tuma kan intlansiak avangin leilung hausakna kan tichereu a, boruak thra lo a lêng a, chu chuan sik le sa a khak buai a, khua a kheng a, a hunah ruah a sûr lo a, tràm a tla a, hri leh hrai a lêng a, civilization ropui tak tak pawh a chim thla ruap mai thrin a ni. Hei hi Saptrawng chuan ‘Ecocide’ an ti a, Zotrawng chuan ‘Khuasàm’ tih tur a ni ang.

Hetiang lam chhuina hi ziaktu lar Jared Diamond-a chuan a ziak a, a bu hmingah ‘Collapse: How Societies choose to Fail or Survive’ (2005 p.575) a ti nghe nghe a. Ani hi international bestseller The Third Chimpanzee te, Why Sex is Fun te leh khawvela mihring chengte chanchin danglam taka chhuina Guns, Germs and Steel tih te ziaktu kha a ni. Heng lehkhabute hi mihringte tana banga kutziak an ni a, ram leh hnam roreltute phei chuan chhiar ngei ngei turah ka ngai a, chhiar turin ka fuih bawk a ni. Mihring hi hriatna tharlama chawm reng kan nih lo chuan kan bula miten min chimral thuai mai a ni. Hriatna fim le sang zela chawm reng ram leh hnam leh mihring erawh lui kama thing phun, a hun taka rah thrin, a hnah vuai ngai lo ang hi a ni a, an thiltih apiangah an hmuingil thrin.

Thu khârna
Zofate hian hnama dam khawchhuah kan tum chuan a thu maia sawi a tawk lo. A tak ngeia dam khawchhuahna kawng kan zawh a ngai. A pawimawh hmasa ber chu inpumkhatna leh inthurualna a ni. Kan dam khawchhuahna chu zau zawka inhung khawm leh tranrual a ni. A hrang threuha inmualvawm kan tum chuan Zo hnahthlak tu pawh hmabak chu mi chimrala awm a ni.

Tin, Chhinlung chhuak, Zoram khawvel hmun hrang hranga cheng Zofate hian kan nihna kan hriat chian a ngai. Piangthara insawi piangthar tak tak si lo ang hian, Zofa bera insawi, mahse Zofa nihna taka chiang si loa lang, trawng pakhat chauh Zofa tehna funga ngai pawl, Zofate histawri pawh chumi huang atrang chauha teh pawl kan awm a. Hemi tukverh zimte atranga Zo nihna kan teh hunah a leng lo kan awm thrin a, chu chuan insuihkhawmna kawng pawh a tichep thrin a ni. Zoram khawvel hi chutianga zim chu a ni lo. Ramri a nei lo a, kawlrawn erawh a nei. Hmun pakhat atranga kawlrawn i hmuh kha i thlen hunah a insawn zel ang a, tawpintai a nei lo.
Khawvel hi a ruh no no chhuahna, indona zawl a nih avangin, hriatna, thiamna leh finna kawngah hnam dang khûm khawpa hma kan lâk a ngai. A mei ni loin a lu, puktu ni loin puktirtu nih kan tum tur a ni. Thru reng sia hmasawn tum chu ka âng miah loa thu sawi treuh tum ang a ni. Histawri zahawm kan duh chuan keimahni ngeiin thra kan tih dan ang takin kan siam tur a ni. Mi dang histawri siamah dinhmun thra chan kan inbeisei a nih chuan, chu chu beiseina thlawn mai a ni.

MZP hruaituten zawlnei mit pu a, hmathlir thui tak nei a, finna ril tak hmanga Zofest an buatsaih hi a tak ngeia Zofate insuihkhawm lehna kawng sialna a ni a, rah hlimawm tak a chhuah zêl ang tih ka ring mai loin rinnain ka hria. Hetiang intawh khawmna hian rilru le thinlungah Zofate min suihkhawm a, unau kan nih takzetzia kan kalchar ziarangin kan entir a ni. Zofest 2009-a lo kal zawng zawng te hi kan insuihkhawmna tura palai rinawm, ambassador vek kan ni tih kan inhriat nawn ka duh a. Chumi rawngbawlna hna chu kan tlatna mualah threuh chak taka kan kengkawh theih nan duksakna ka hlan a che u.