By Pu L.Keivom, Inpui.com columnist
Kristian hla saa nasa taka Zoram khawvel rûntu lâr tak minu pahnih an awm a. Heng arsi êng tak pahnihte hi Zoram khawvel vanzawlah kum 80 dawn lai danah an lo lang a, an inchhang bung dan hi khât tak a ni. Mizoram pawna mi ve ve an nih bakah, mak tak maiin, Watkin Roberts (Saptlangvala) din kohhrana mi ve ve, chhul khat kual rial an ni. A hmasa hi Chalrûma leh Rothluaii te fanu Darrokâmi,[1]* ‘Kâmi’ tiha an koh, kum 1904-05 vela Khawchhete (tuna Samtlang)-a piang, kum ruk vel a niha Kristiana inpe, kum 1913-a Sakhan tlâng, Tripuraa khaw pakhat Tlângsânga pêm leh seilian, kum 1920-23 laia zaia rawngbawltu hmingthang a ni. A pakhat zawk chu Rengkai khua, Churachandpur, Manipur-a September 8, 1980-a piang leh seilian, Lalruotmawii, kum 2003-2006 laia zaia Zoram khawvel rûntu ropui a ni. Isuan kum thum rawng a bawl ang deuh khan, anni pahnih là r hun vanglai pawh hi kum thum ve ve niin a lang.
Hemi thu hi September 6, 2006-a Pastor Jacob Rodawla enkawl Mizo Presbyterian Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland (USA) a Lalruotmawiin rawng a bawl zan ka sawi a. Chumi thu chu New York Diary-5 ah hetiang hian ka ziak bawk a:
“A kârlakah thu tawi sawina hun an siam a, kei pawh sawi ve tura min sawm avangin ka sawi ve a. Ka hmaa thu sawitu, Mizo Christian Fellowship President Pu Sangliana chuan Lalruotmawiin Zoram khawvel a rùn nasatzia leh ani tluka hla lama mi rilru hneh theih hi kum za danah pawh an chhuak lo mai thei tih a sawi a. Chu chu chhunzawmin, kum sawmriat lai liam taa Watkin Roberts (Saptlangvala) hoa ramthim an nawr laia an hman tangkai, aw rangkachak neih, Tripura Sakhan tlanga Râlte nula Kâmi chanchin tawite ka sawi a. Kâmi hi Watkin Roberts leh a thawhpui H. K. Dohnuna leh a hnua rawn puitu Edwin Rowlands (Zosapthara) leh an hoten inkhawmpui pawimawh apianga hla lama rawngbawltu atana an hruai thin a ni. Kâmi makna chu, eng anga rilru sak leh luhlul pawh a zà i an ngaihthlak hunah an rilru a khawih a, mittuiin a sil a, an tap mai thin a ni. Pi leh pute nuna an inzirtir pakhat chu, eng anga nâ pawh ni se mipa chu tap ngai loh tur leh nâ tih hmel put loh tur tih a ni tawp mai. Tap chu naupang leh hmeichhe thawmhnawa ngaih a ni.
“Chumi khawvel paukhauh tak le pä tak, a aw nêm mawia vaw chimtu chu Kâmi a ni. Patling, intipachang tak tak pawh a aw nêm fawna a han velh tah ruai ruai mai chu, kan khawvela thil la awm ngai loh a nih avangin mak an ti êm êm a; mak pawh a mak rêng lah taka! A velh taptu chu Kâmi awrawl, atom bomb aia chak zawka chantirtu leh hmangtu chu a ni tih kan chhuahtlang hluia chengte chuan an la hre ngai si lo. Kâmi zai chuan mi rilru Pathian lamah a hawitir a, ringlote hîp nana hmanraw pawimawh tak a ni. Chutiang deuh chuan, zanina a zai kan ngaihthlak nin loh, Lalruotmawi hi kan ‘Second Kâmi’ chu a ni e, tiin thu ka khà r a.” (New York Diary, September 6, 2006)
Inkhawm bà n chuan, “Tunge Kâmi chu?” tiin min zawt sap sap a. A ni rêng lah tak a, ram pilrila ngaih Tripuraa cheng, kohhran nawlpuia mi pawh ni bawk loh tan chuan mi hriat hlawh nih chu thil har tak a ni rêng ang. Kei ngei pawhin Zoram Khawvel 5 & 6-a Edwin Rowlands (Zosapthara) chanchin leh Watkin Roberts leh a hote rawngbawlna chanchin ziak tura ka inpuahchah hma chuan Kâmi hi tu nge tih ka lo la hre ngai rêng rêng lo. Mahse, Pathianin a rawngbawltu mi rinawmte zinga mite hriat reng hlawh tura a duhte chu, kum tam an hming a reh hnu pawhin a rawn pho chhuak leh mai thin niin a lang. Chu chu Kâmi dinhmun luah pawh niin a lang. Lehkhabua a hming chuanna ka hmuh theih zawng chu a pil bo hnu kum 80, Zoram Khawvel 5 & 6 chhuah hnua mi vek a ni. Lehlamah chuan, hming thang duh êm êm, an dam laia theihtawp chhuaha mahni infak leh inchawimawia ramtangte pawh, Engkim Lalpa duh dan a nih loh chuan, an thih rualin an ral hlen mai a ni. Chu chu khuarèl kan tih hi a ni mahna. Nawhchizuar Rahabi phei chu khuarêl avangin Isua thlahtute hming chuannaah thleng hmun a luah tlat asin!
Sakhan Tlâng
British-ho rikawtah chuan Mizoram chhunga awm tlâng ni si, mahse Tripuraa tlâng sâng bera an sawi (1097 m) ni tawh bawk si, Kawrvai Hindu hoin an pathian Shiva hming nen thlun zawm phêt an tum avanga ‘Betlingshiv’ tiha an ziak, batling thing tamna a nih avanga Zotawnga ‘Batlingchhip’ kan tih thinah hian Tripura sawrkarin khawthlir (look out tower) a siam a. Chuta tanga thlang lam i thlir chuan chhim leh hmar hawi zawnga inkham phei Sakhan tlâng dung, zai thiam hmingthang Kâmi te tual lenna thin, lal tawrawt leh nunrawnga thang Sibuta’n sial anga Darlalpuii a chhun avanga a nuin,
Sakhan tlâng khi lam ang ka en,
Ka tuai Darngovi sial ang a tlûkna
tiha a chham, a tâna tlâng râpawm, kum zabi 18-na lai atang tawha Zofate tlâng leh khawzawl lo ni tawh thin, kum 1997 laia Mizorama Riang (Tuikuk) chengten harsatna an tawh avang leh chumi buaina siperin a kan kai zêl avanga Zofa chengten an chhuahsan tak, mi rama chang ta si chu, i hmu ang a. Damhauhvan ‘Pipu sulhnu hnam tin lung lai kuaitu’ a tih ang khan Sakhan tlâng phei chuan lung a kuaiin a tileng vawng vawng a. Chumi rual chuan he tlâng hi kumkhuain kan chân hlen tawh dawn tih ngaihtuahnain mi rawn dêng a, thin-hnûn a thîp veng veng a, kan indawm kun ngawih ngawih mai a ni. Sibuta tawrawtna avanga a nghawng kan tuar zêl a nih erawh chuan le, engnge kan sawi tak ang!
Sakhan tlâng tlâk lam luite hi chi lui deuh vek, chi an tenna thin, chi khurte chu ramsaten an tlan thin avanga sa chà nna atâna khà n tha a ni a, chumi avanga ‘Sakhan’ tih hming hi pu ta pawh a ni mahna. Rei tak he tlâng hi an rial hnuin 1908 khan an luah thar leh a, 1910 phei kha chuan lal pathumin khaw hrang hrang an awp hman leh tawh a ni. He tlângah hian Dârrokâmi chu a rawn seilian a. A hmaa kan sawi tâk ang khan, kum 6 mi a nihin an chhungkuain Kristian sakhuaah an inpe a, Kristian chhungkua atanga seilian a ni. Kum 1913-ah Sakhan tlânga khaw pakhat Tlângsâng-ah an pêm a (Jampui Tlângah pawh Kristian khua Tlangsang a awm a, chumi nena ngaih fin lo a tha). Chung lai chuan Kâmi chu Sakhan tlâng dunga nula tleirawl Kristian awm chhun a ni. To pawh a to nangiang ang.
1919 Harhna leh zaia rawngbawlna
Harhna tum thumna, kum 1919-a lo thleng khan Jampui leh Sakhan tlângte pawh a dêng pha ve a. Ni khat chu Kâmi chu amah chauhin thingphurah a kal a. A thing phur tur paikawngah a thawm fel hnuin a rilruah Pathian hla a lo lang a, a sà a, zanriah chhum hun thlengin a lâm a lâm ta mai a. A than rei êm avangin a nu chuan tlangval nen an awm avanga lo haw tlaiah a ngai a, a lo hau a. Thil awmzia a hrilh pawh chuan a awih chuang lo. Tichuan, eirawng bawl pahin hla a han sà leh a, a lâm a lâm leh ta mai a. Chutah zet zawng a nu chuan a hmaa a sawi kha a pawm ve ta a ni. Harhna changa Thlarau Thianghlim pawlna a dawn atang hian a zaithiamna talen chu a rawn inlâr chhuak a, Zoram khawvel a dêng ta a ni.
Heng hun lai hian, 1917 atanga intanin Watkin Roberts (Saptlangvala) phun Thado-Kuki Pioneer Mission (TKPM), kum 1923 atanga North East India General Mission (NEIGM) hming pu ta chuan Jampui tlângah rawngbawlna a tan a, Kristiante awmna tura Raja Hrangvunga Sailo khaw din Tlângsâng-ah hmun khuarin, Superintendent hna thawk turin chung laia Aizawl mi hausa bera sawi H.K.Dohnuna chu a chhuk thla a. Hemi hmun atang hian Rengpui Ram (Tripura) te, Satikang (Chittagong Hills Tract) te leh Arakan ram thleng bawh èn tumin nasa takin hma an tawn a, ram pawh an la chak hle. TKPM hi Mizoram pawna Zoram kohhran hrin hmasak ber a nih avangin a tira thawktu tam tak chu Mizoram Presbyterian leh Baptist kohhran atanga lo kal an ni. Chutiang chuan an bial pawn Manipur, Tripura, Chittagong Hills Tract, Arakan Hills leh Chin Hills-a cheng Zo hnahthlakte zingah, Mizoram Presbyterian leh Baptist kohhran chuan TKPM hmingin, a ram mi leh sate nen thukhat vuahin, rawng an bawl tlang a, Zo leh Zo inbitum an ni bawk a, an thawk chak hle. Khawvel histawri-a rawngbawlna hlawhtling chanchin an sawi apiangin hemi bung leh châng hi bung leh châng chhuanawm leh zahawm berte zinga mi a ni fo ang. Chumi rawngbawlnaa hmun pawimawh tak luahtu zinga pakhat chu Kâmi a ni.
Jampui Tlângsângah
Heng hun laia tirhkoh hmingthang, hmun tina chhawr hlawh êm êm leh Pathianin nasa taka a hman pakhat chu thu sawi thiam leh zai thiam Tirhkoh Liangkhaia a ni a. 1920 kum bul khan Manipur Senvona awm TKPM Field Superintendent R.Dala chuan thusawiah a sawm a, khaw hrang hrangah riakin thu a sawi a, a khaw tlawh apiangah awmni khamin a khawnawtin an lo hmuak a. Aizawl-a a lo kir leh hnu, a kum leh March 21-24, 1921 chuan Jampui Tlângsângah TKPM inkhawmpui a awm a, Superintendent H.K.Dohnuna chuan Tirhkoh Liangkhaia leh mi dang engemaw zat a sawm a, Tirkoh Chhawna, hla phuah thiam leh thlarau mi, a hnua zawlnei lâr pakhata sawi pawh a kal ve a. Mizorama misawnari hmingthang ber Edwin Rowlands (Zosapthara), TKPM rawngbawlnaa inhmang tawh zawk pawhin inkhawmpui hi a rawn chhim nghe nghe a. Hemi inkhawmpui hi Kâmi hming chherna leh Zo histawri-ah hmun a luah tanna chu a ni.
Chung lai chuan Mizoram leh Jampui tlâng inkal pawhna kawng a la mumal lo a, sapa vaha tlang dung te, lui dung te, saitluang te zawha kal mawp a ni mai a. Hah thi kûlin Zirtawp ni tla suar suarah Tirhkoh Liangkhaia leh a kalpuite chuan Tlângsâng an thleng a. Liangkhaia chuan a mi hmuh duh ber zinga mi, Kâmi a lo kal leh kal loh a zawt nghal a. A lo kal loh tum a nih thu an hrilh rualin a ko peih an awm leh awm lo an han inzawt dêk dêk a. Tlangval tlawmngai Berraia chuan, “Keimah ka kal ang e” tiin a tho a, kal turin meichher a buatsaih nghal chûk chûk a. Zan kalin tlangval tlawmngai dangte nen Kâmi chu an zuk hruai ta a ni.
Hetah hian sawi dan inang lo a awm a. ‘Raja Hrangvunga Sailo’ (2002) tih lehkhabu ziaktu Rualchhinga chuan Kâmi chu Inrinni inkhawm rorel lai Tlângsâng lo thleng leh chumi zana zai chu niin a sawi a (71-72). ‘Liangkhaia Lungphun’ (2000) buatsaihtu Dr. Laltluangliana Khiangte chuan, Tlângsânga inkhawmpui tumtiak Thawhtan chhunah Hrangvunga Sailo khaw dang Phuldungsei-a lo thleng niin a sawi thung a. A sawi zêl dan chuan, Tlângsâng atangin Superintendent H.K. Dohnuna te, Zosapthara (Edwin Rowlands) te, Pastor Zabiaka te, Tirhkoh Liangkhaia leh Chhawna te leh inkhawmpuia lo kal mi dang thenkhat chu Phuldungsei-ah an phei a. Chumi zan inkhawmah chuan a ni Kâmi a malzai zawk (p. 196-199). A tawp lama ka dah, he inkhawmpuia tel ve ngei Zosapthara ziak ‘The Girl Singer of Tripura’-a a sawi dan leh sawi dan hnuhnung hi a inmil zawk a ang hle.
Tlângsângah emaw, Phuldungsei-ah emaw, a khawi zawk zawk pawh ni se, zan inkhawmah chuan Kâmi chu pulpit atanga malzai turin an sawm a. Biak in, chu pawh chu pulpit tlang atanga Zonu malzai kan hriat hmasak ber, Zosapthara sawi dan chuan kum 13-14 vêl chauha upa Kâmi chu phûr takin pulpit-ah a kai chhoh ta teu teu mai a. Pulpita thu, thu leh hlaa mi chung en Zosapthara (Edwin Rowlands) leh Liangkhaia hmaah chuan a han ding a, “Eng hla nge ka sak ang?” a ti a. Sawi dan pakhatah chuan, mi pakhatin, “ ‘Kalvaria hnehna ropui chu’ tih kha le”[2] a lo ti a. Pakhat leh chuan, : “A tawi mang e, a sak tui hlauh chuan” a lo ti a. Kâmi chuan, “A tui tâk leh a bul hla hek lo” a ti vei reuh a ni awm e. Zâm lo tak a ni. Edwin Rowlands sawi dan chuan, Pastor Zabiaka’n hla a tanpui a, chu chu a sa ta a ni.
Dr. Laltluangliana ziak hian chhunzawm ila: “Hla chu a han sa taa le, chang khat a sak chuan a la tui tak tak lo deuh va, chang 2-naah chuan a tui tan ta a, a lâm ta de de mai a, a vaipuan vâr lukhum chuan a mittui a hru zêl a, a bân lehlam kha mipui chungah a vai a, ‘Tlang zawng zawng aiin Kalvari a ropui zawk êm êm a ni’ a han tih zawng te chuan amah Liangkhaia ngei chuan, ‘Kan lo mûr ur ur hlawm mai a, a en ngam rêng an awm lo va, an kaikun fur mai a, hmeichhe lam phei chu an uk tluah hlawm mai a, Sapthara (Rev. Edwin Rowlands meuh pawh chu a kun reng mai’ a ti hial a ni.” (p198).
Amah Liangkhaia ngei pawhin hetiang hian a ziak: “Inkhawm bà nah chuan kan thleninah kan zai khawm dawn a, an upate chuan, ‘Kami, i pu kiangah khan thu rawh khai, inngaia in lo chhuak ta lailenga’ an han ti a, thu awi fe mai chuan a lo kal a, ka kiangah chuan a lo thu chat mai a. Kan han zäi chuan a piaha hmeichhe dang pakhat chu amah aiin a zäi ring zawk mah a, a zà i chu ka hre thei mang lo va, hla pakhat chu tui mang lovin kan sa zo ta mai a. Kâmi hla duh zawng an han thlang a, kan han sa chu, a sa tui taa le, a tho phat a, a lam leh ta deh deh mai a. A lukhum khan a mittui a hru zêl a, a ban kha mipui chungah a vai a; chhuat lai dungah a vei tawn chhen ta mai a. A en ngam rêng kan awm lo, kan kun nghuai mai a. A zai mawizia ka tehkhin dan ber chu, lipui zau takah, tiau lungphek tha ver vawra lailen tui pal an han ti a, a pal phei zet zet a, a ti zing telh telh a, a zuih ral raih thin ang hi a ni ber mai, a zai thiam dan chu. A aw mawi dan chu umme-in an um vang vang a, a mè dawn têp lai ang mai a ni, chu chu ti tak meuhvin mittui tla zawih zawih chungin a han bei thin a ni a, a zai mawizia leh a urhsunzia khan mi a hneh lo thei lo a ni,” tiin.
Phuldungsei atang hian TKPM hmunpui Tlângsângah Superintendent H.K.Dohnuna hoin an phei leh a, Kâmi pawhin a zui phei a, Rev. Dohnunan vawk sum nga a talh a, an châm a, ni lênga inkawmin an zai khawm a. A tûkah kham lo takin an inthen darh ta a ni.
Pathian thil rèl dan
Kâmi chanchin ziahna ka hmuh theih apiang atanga a lan dan chuan, hemi inkhawmpui hi rawngbawlna lama Zoram khawvel hriat khawpa hming a chher tanna a ni. Hla phuahtuin,
Pathian thil rel dan chu,
A va mak êm!
Hriat phak rual loh a ni
a tih angin, Pathianin mi a chawimawi duhte tana kawng a buatsaihsak dan hi a makin sawi fiah ngaihna pawh a awm lo a ni ber. A zai thiamzia hrepuitu atan leh a chanchin ziaktu atana a rawn hruai khawmte kha mi namai an ni lo. Khang hun lai leh tun thlenga thu leh hla lama mingo misawnari kan chhuanvawr ber, a misawnaripuiten tluk lo rim nama an dah, kan kristian hlabu-a tun thlenga mimal kut chhuak ngah ber la ni reng, Leonardo da Vinci te ang deuhthawa mi famkim (complete man) tiha sawi phû ve, thil thiam ngah êm êm, Edwin Rowlands chu a lo lang ve tlat asin! ‘The Girl Singer of Tripura’ tih a ziakte hi kum 1990-a USA-a kan zin tuma Rev. Rochunga Pudaite in, Wheaton (Illinois) atanga ka zuk hai chhuah ngat a ni! Khang hun laia Tirhkoh lâr ber, solfa le zai thiama hmingthang bawk Liangkhaia pawh a chanchin rikawttu tur leh a hnu zêla a rawngbawlnaa kut pawimawha din chhuak turin Jampui tlangah Remruattu chuan a tîr mai a ni. Chumi kawng lo sialtu atan chuan kum 1917 khan Aizawla hausa bera sawi, mi thiam leh fing H.K.Dohnuna chu Jampui tlangah a tîr thla a, a hnuaia thawk Pastor Zabiaka te nen inkhawmpui pawimawh apianga zaia rawng bawl tura Kami hruai thintu an ni. Hetiang hi thil awm palh (accidental) ni loin awm tura duhtu remruata tla a ni duh zawk.
Hemi thil nena inzawm tlat, sawi hmaih chi loh pakhat chu: Zoram khawvel tana Saptlangvala rawngbawlna hlutzia leh pawimawhzia a ni. Khami hma kha chuan Zo hnahthlakte khawvela kohhran chanchin an ziak changin Saptlangvala leh a hote rawngbawlna hnuhma hian hmun a chang ve lo tluk a ni a, a chan ve châng pawhin a kahpah chauha sawi telh a ni thin. Mahse, harsatna leh dodalna tam tak kara an rawngbawlna chuan ram hrang hranga cheng Zofate min suihkhawmzia leh he kohhran hi hmanga ramthim an tawn nasatzia hretu chu Pathian a ni a. Rawngbawl an tanna Manipur simthang bial chuan February 5, 2010 khan Gospel Zabili (Centenary) an thleng a, kum tluanin ropui takin hmun hrang hrangah an hmang a. Jampui Tlangah pawh Gospel Zabili chu November 25, 2011 hian an hmang ve dawn a ni. Hmun dangah pawh an rawngbawlna hnuhma awmna apiangah, a thlen hun zirin, an la hmang zel dawn. Chumi hunah chuan, Engkim Lalpain mite hriat reng atana a duh, an sulhnu kalsante chu, tu hriat hlawh loh pawh lo ni se, a hun takah a rawn pho lang zel dawn a ni. Kâmi chanchin kan sawi pawh hi chumi bawma tla chu a ni.
Lunglei Zotlângah
Kâmi hming Mizorama a là r hmasakna ber chu kum 1921 October 12-16 chhunga Lunglei-Zotlanga Zoram Baptist Inkhawmpui (Presbytery) ah a ni. He inkhawmpuiah hian Tripura, Satikang (Chittagong Hills Tract) leh Arakan thleng bialtu, TKPM Superintendent H.K.Dohnuna leh a thawhpuite chu an sawm a. Dohnuna chuan Kâmi a rawn hruai bawk a. Kum 1907-a a duh thu pawh ni loa Mizoram chhuahsan tak, Zofate thinlunga nung reng leh an ngaih êm êm Zosapthara (Edwin Rowlands) pawhin he inkhawmpui hi a tawp lamah a rawn chhim hman a, Mizoram a chhuahsan hnu, kum 14 hnuah 1921 khan Lunglei vawi hnih a tlawh a, he inkhawmpui hi a vawi hnih kalna a ni. Rohmingliana, a hnua Lunglei atanga Manipur TKPM Field Superintendent R. Dala thlaktu tura Manipura tirh, khang hun laia Saptlangvala hote rawngbawlna chanchin ziaka hnutchhiah hnem ber zinga mi pawh he inkhawmpuiah hian a tel a, Zotlang inkhawmpui chanchin leh zaia Kâmi rawngbawlna chanchin kimchang taka ziaka TKPM chanchinbu Thado-Kookie Kristian[3] (Nov-Dec, 1921) a chhuahtu a ni.
Rohmingliana ripawt hi a ngaihnawm hle a. A vai chuan a sei lutuk dawn avangin, Kâmi rawngbawlna chanchin lam chauh lo ngaithla ila: “…Pu Dohnuna thu sawi leh Kâmi zaiin mi tam tak min tilawm a, engtikah mah theihnghilha mawi kan ni lo ve. Kan Chhim Biala kan Lalpa min fakpui tura ni 15 lai thanga an lo kal leh an nula leh an tlangvalten an theihtawpa Pathian min han chawimawipui hi kan lawmzia kan sawi chhuak zo lo ve. October 15 zan chu chhinchhiah reng tlâk a ni. Chumi zan chu Kâmi zà i zà n a ni a, amah hi Mizo hmeichhe zinga Pathian fak tura mahni chauhva zai ngam hmasa ber a la ni. Chumi zan chuan Inkhawmpuia kal zawng zawng tih theih tur hi Biak Inah chuan kan kim vek awm e. Pawn lamah, bangah te kan bet thep thuap mai. Tha ti ngiang ngiang an awm, ‘Ka rin ang chiah a ni’ ti an awm, ‘Ka rin aiin a tha zawk’ ti an awm! Thenkhatin, ‘Kan Mizo hmeichhiate mahni chauhva an han zai ngam ta chu a va lawmawm em!’ tia Pathian faka lawmthu hril an awm, kan beng a tlai ngei.
“Kan nghahhlel ang ngeiin min tilawm a ni. Kâmi aw hi (kim tawi takin sawi ila), ‘A tha’ tih ngawt loh chu fakna dang a awm lo ve. Rengpui nula dangte pawh hi an zai a tha êm êm a ni. Mahse, Kâmi zai zawng a danglamna a awm a, a nêm a, ngaihthlak a nuam bik a ni. Kan Lalpain amah chawimawi nan leh kan Mizo hmeichhiate fuih nan a lo thlang a ni ang tih hi a rinawm hliah hliah mai. Tin, a thlangtu duh ang takin ani pawhin heti chena hlaah pawh a rawn kalpui peih a, a thil tih theih hlu ber chu mipui hmaah Zotlâng Biak Inah a rawn ti a, tun thlengin chu hla chu a pui a pangin vêng tinah an la aupui a, a la lâr reng mai. Hla No. 555 leh hla thar ‘Aw, hmangaihna khawvêl èntu’ tih hi a ni…”
Inkhawmpui lungchhiatthlakah
Tuiruang kam, Jiribam Sub-Division, Manipur-ah khaw te tak tè Jakrador a awm a, kum 1921 lai khan kristian 35 an awm a, a bul lawk Bekara khuaah kristian 85 an awm bawk a. Anni khaw hnih tangrualin January 12-15, 1922 khan TKPM Inkhawmpui (Presbytery) an thleng a. Vanduaithlak takin, kalkawngah an hotu ber R. Dala, Field Superintendent chu tuihriin a thi a, a ruang chu January 11 tlai-ah Jakrador an rawn thlenpui a, a zan a zanin an vui liam a, Zofate zinga misawnari puitlinga Mizoram pawna pèn chhuak hmasa ber chu kan chân ta a ni.
Hemi inkhawmpui hmang tur hian Cachar lam atangin Saptlangvala leh a nupui leh an fanu Ruthi te, Zosapthara (Edwin Rowlands) leh mingo misawnari pahnih dang nen, Tripura atangin Rev. H.K.Dohnuna leh a palai rawn hruai mi 20 leh Sakhan nula zai thiam Kâmi te an lo thleng a. An hruaitu ber Dala a thih avanga note hruai lai arpui, mu-in a lak avanga a note an chi-ai anga khawhar leh lungchhe vankaia awmte chu Kâmi zai chuan tiharhin nasa takin a hnèm a, inkhawmpuia kal zawng zawng sawi leh hriat zui a hlawh takzet a ni. Hemi inkhawmpui hi inkhawmpui liana Sakhan Lelte a kiu thu rikawta awm kan hriat hnuhnun ber a ni mai awm e.
Thu khà rna
A kum leh 1923 chuan Kâmi chu an khaw tlangval Saithankhuma (Pangkaia tiha koh lar) nen an innei a. Kum hnih chhung Tuikuk (Bru/Riang) ho zingah tirhkoh niin rawng an bawl a. An chhangchhiat tak deuh hnu chuan an bansan a, Sakhan Tlangsangah rawngbawltute thian tha leh tanpuitu ni zui zelin an khawsa a, fapa panga leh fanu pakhat an hring a. An fapa pahnih chu kohhran upaa thlan an ni a, pakhat phei chuan Tripura Baptist kohhranah a penson thlengin rawng a bawl a ni. Upat lamah a fate nen Mizoram Tuidamah an pêm a, December 22, 1990 khan kumkhuaa inhmatawna a Lalpa faka kiu zui zêl turin kum 86 lai a chamna lei ram chu Sakhan Lelte, Zoram khawvela kan soloist hmasa ber chuan a lo chhuahsan ta a ni.
A sulhnu chhuia Tuidama zin, August 14/15, 2011-a a thlà n hmun ngei kea raptu leh a fapa upa ber Thangzaua leh a tu leh fate kawmtu J.D.Mawia, Vanghmun, Jampui Hills thu ziak hian a hmawr bawk ila, Kâmi kha zai thiam mai ni lo, theihna tam taka Siamtuin a thuam a lo nihzia a sawi fiah ber awm e:
“Amah hi zaithiam a nih bâkah, mi inngaitlawm, zaidam leh hawihhawm, mite biangbiak thiam, khual chhia khual thate lo chhawntu ber a ni a; ziak leh chhiar pawh lo thiam tawh a ni bawk. Tin, talent dang pawh Pathianin a pek belh zel a, nau chhar a thiamzia hi sawi tling a ni: a kut dam taka naupai lai pum a han zut zai zai hian mipa tur leh hmeichhia tur a sawi sual ngai meuh lo niin an sawi thin. Nau 200 chuang hlawhtling takin a chhar a, a kutah nau chunga luvawm hlauh sawi tur an hre ngai lo. Tin, a chil hmanga zutdam theihna talent kawltir a ni bawk a, tha nâ, kâwng nâ leh khamnat neiten an pan awl lova; a kuphahah chilfim a chhak huh zeuh hmanga a han zût chuan an dam mai thin a ni. Puantah leh ze-thlante a thiam êm êm a, Mizo puan mawi tak tak a tah hnem hle bawk.”
Thu lâkna hnâr thenkhat:
1. Khiangte (Dr) Laltluangliana., Liangkhaia Lungphun, LTL Publications, Aizawl, 2000
2. Keivom, L., Zoram Khawvel- 5 & 6, MCL Publications, Aizawl, 1999-2000
3. Lalthangliana, B., Zoram Encyclopaedia (Zoram Tinreng Bu), Aizawl, 2003
4. Mawia, J.D ziak ‘Zaithiam Hmingthang Kami (1904-1990), August 2011 (Unpublished)
5. Roberts, Watkin., Kum 1912-1968 thlenga mi a lehkha hnutchhiahte (Unpublished)
6. Rowlands, Edwin (Zosapthara) ziak, ‘The Girl Singer of Tripura’ (Unpublished)
7. Rualchhinga., Raja Hrangvunga Sailo, LTL Publications, Aizawl, 2002
( Delhi, September 6, 2011)
Thu Belh:
The Girl Singer of Tripura
By Rev. Edwin Rowlands
Sometime ago Mr. D. Lloyd George remarked that the song of the nightingale is never heard in Wales and that there is not the need for its song, that it would be a superfluity because there is such a wealth of the nightingale song amongst the people. This cannot yet be said about the Lushai Hills. There is choral singing amongst the natives which is pleasant to their ear and sweet to listen to. There are no nightingales amongst them thus far, and we must look forward to the future for that. But here and there in Lushai land and the adjoining countries you will find an occasional singer who many at home in Wales would give much to hear. The subject of the present article, Kami is one of those. The present article refers to a time when I heard her sing a little while ago.
Kami was a girl of about 13 or 14 years of age when I heard her sing. She had a sweet and very deep voice for a girl of her age. It was sympathetic and had a tear in it. Her home is in the Tripura State, and she is a member of one of the churches under the North East India General Mission. But the work is much the same as is carried on in the adjoining country of Lushai, the language is the same, the same hymn books are used, and the little Kami was considered to belong to everybody, and everybody was proud of her. She belongs to a clan known as Ralte, and that clan has a dialect of its own, but Lushai is principally spoken amongst all these clans. It is said amongst these people that the Raltes are more talkative than the others, and it is quite easy for a stranger to believe this for there appears to be much more sound in a vicinity where they live, than elsewhere. But Kami is a quiet, loving, simple little girl, and deeply spiritual.
Whilst mentioning the fact that she belongs to the Ralte clan I might mention a tradition which is rather interesting amongst them. There are not many of them, and it is said that the reason is because of their talkativeness. According to the tradition they are supposed to have appeared from a great hole in the earth. On this hole there was a large stone, but it was raised that they might come out. During this ‘exodus’, they made such a tremendous noise that an order was given to replace the stone at once, as it was thought that such a great crowd had already come out. Even to this day this talkativeness amongst the Ralte clan is being associated with that tradition.
This is one of the keenest of the clans amongst the Lushai tribes. But to revert to Kami, the sweet singer from the heart of the jungle, she was expected to sing at the annual gathering where a distinguished preacher from the Lushai land had been invited to preach. He and others were very anxious to hear her sing, but because of sickness or something of that nature, she failed to appear.
This preacher was invited and pressed to take services in another large village some miles away, and he took two services at that place. As this village was nearer to Kami’s home, she was sent for again, and was able to be present.
It was on the second night that I heard her sing. Their little chapel was crowded. It was a building of some dimensions, built of bamboo. It was built the first time without being very large, and shortly afterward had to be enlarged. And then again they had to enlarge it, and still a third time I understand they had to enlarge it. This night it was full, with many standing outside at the windows and doors.
The text from which this preacher, who was one of the two preaching that evening, spoke was “But we have the mind of Christ.” Kami sang during the service. The little girl with a splendid voice and the deep spirituality came forward. She was asked to stand in the pulpit. Everybody was watching and waiting for her. On the right were the leaders and the elders, and opposite on the left were the women and the children. They had a great treat. And what did Kami sing? She also has her favorites. This is what she sang: a translation of a Welsh hymn conveying the message that a victory was accomplished and the hill of Calvary, which is somewhat as follows:[4]
This is what she sang with her melting voice and hearts were melting ‘in response’ as they listened. One could see the tears streaming down the cheeks of one here and one there, much against their will, probably. They love to hear and to sing of Calvary, Christ and the Blood.
As I have said before, Kami has her favorites, but if I remember aright it was at the suggestion of the Superintendent that she sang of this Calvary victory, after a dialogue something like this:
“What shall I sing, Grandfather?” (This is a term of respect similar to sir, only that it has more warmth and nearness.) When asking this question she turned towards the left from the pulpit, probably thinking specifically of Pastor Zabiaka.
“Which Grandfather,” said the Superintendent, “you have so many of them here?”
But the Pastor went forward towards the young singer. He started the hymn, and sang one or two scores with her. Unfortunately, he struck it rather low, but little Kami went through it most effectively, and not without repeating the refrain. As a result of the numerous revivals which have swept through these countries it has now become a custom to repeat and repeat and repeat the refrains. Little Kami had a most natural gesture, and held up her arm in a way that appealed to us all with great effectiveness. She was singing to the Christians at that time.
On the street the following morning she again sang. This time for the non-Christians. That morning they sat in the centre of the street- I refer now to two or three old veterans who were still clinging to their heathen religion and its customs and, possibly, were even rejoicing in that fact. Kami was prevailed upon to come and sing for them.
Generally speaking, these tribes are very undemonstrative when it comes to matters of the heart and family life, and yet in the question of the religion of Christ they have become most demonstrative. For example, after the father of a home might have been away for sometime he would come home and would be received by the wife without any attention whatsoever. I heard a remark about this after the return of those who went to France during the war. This is how one of them gave me an example of the fact: The mother would say, “Look, John, your father has come back!” That would be the welcome. The religion of Jesus Christ has brought out the fact that there is within them a great store of unsuspected emotion. But with the old veterans mentioned above, there was no demonstration of any feeling.
Kami sang to them one of Sankey’s hymns: “Open wide the Door”- a most appropriate hymn for the occasion. She sang most beautifully with her attractive young voice. They were probably amazed and struck at her voice, and glad to think that she was one of theirs, but they showed no feeling and hardly looked at the little singer, although I noticed one of them seeking to watch her without giving any outward indication of that. In the chapel, tears were showered, but no demonstration amongst the heathen… (circa March, 1922)
NOTE: The smudgy concluding page available with me in which the writer compared the gift of singing amongst the Karens, Khasis and the Mizos has to be left out as it is not possible to reconstruct the disjointed sentences. It is either possible to know the length or the conclusion of this valuable and rare article which beautifully captured the young singer of Tripura and imprinted her name in the history of Zoram khawvel. L.Keivom (Delhi August 29, 2011)
[1] Thenkhat chuan a hming tluan hi ‘Siamkami’ tiin an ziak a. Mahse, a fapa upa ber, kum 88 mi, Upa Thangzauva, Tuidam khaw miin August 14, 2011-a J.D. Mawia a hrilh dan chuan a hming tluan hi ‘Darrokâmi’ a ni. LK
[2] Hla hi Welsh Tune Book 146a mi, D.E.Jones (Zosaphluia) lehlin, chang hniha sei a ni a, ka hla bu kawl, 1960 edition-ah chuan nambar 102, 1988 edition-ah chuan no.133 a ni.
[3] Thado-Kookie Kristian magazine hi October 1920 khan ‘Kristian’ tiha thlak a ni a, chumi hming chu Hmar tawng awphawi, KRISTIEN tiha ziakin tun thleng hian Independent Church of India (ICI) chuan thla tin a la chhuah reng a ni. Rohmingliana ripawt kimchang zawk chhiar duh chuan Rualchhinga buatsaih ‘Raja Hrangvunga Sailo’ (2002) bung 6, p 60-74 ah pawh hmuh theih a ni. LK
[4] As per the records of the event left behind by those present at the service like Rev. Liangkhaia and others, the song she sang that night was “Kalvari hnehna ropui”, a translation from Welsh hymn book. L.Keivom (Sept 2, 2011)
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