The Mizo National Front uprising (Mizo: Rambuai) was a revolt against the government of India aimed at establishing a sovereign nation state for the Mizo people, which started on 28 February 1966. On 1 March 1966, the Mizo National Front (MNF) made a declaration of independence, after launching coordinated attacks on the Government offices and security forces post in different parts of the Mizo district in Assam. The government retaliated and recaptured all the places seized by the MNF by 25 March 1966.
In the initial response of the government operations to suppress the rebellion in 1966, the Indian Air Force carried out airstrikes in Aizawl; this remains the only instance of the Indian Government carrying out a prolonged airstrike on its own people, in its own civilian territory. Counter-insurgency operations continued over the next two decades, although the intensity of the rebellion diminished over time progressively. In 1986, the government and the MNF signed the Mizoram Peace Accord, thereby ending the rebellion.
Background
Mizo territories of the Lushai hills were incorporated into the British Indian province of Assam following the Chin-Lushai expedition, as the Lushai hills district. Before the formation of the Mizoram state in 1987, the Mizo-dominated areas in independent India were a part of the Mizo district of the Assam state. The Mizo organisations, including the Mizo Union, had long complained of step-motherly treatment of the largely Christian Mizo people at the hands of the Assamese Hindu dominated Assam Government, and demanded a separate state for the Mizos.
Every 48 years, a cyclic ecological phenomenon called Mautam leads to widespread famine in this region. When such a famine started in 1959, the Mizos were left disappointed by the Assam Government's handling of the situation. The introduction of Assamese as the official language of the state in 1960, without any consideration for the Mizo language, led to further discontent and protests.
Before the uprising, there was only 128 km of pucca (metalled) road and 581 km of kutcha (unmetalled) road in the whole district. Till 1971, there was no industrial unit worth the name in the Mizo hills. Education ultimately brought a large section of the young people away from agricultural pursuits. They remained without any employment as there was practically no other economic activity in the area.
In the early sixties, the Assam Regiment Second Battalion, where there was several Mizos was disbanded without making any provision for their rehabilitation. These ex-soldiers nurtured a grudge against the Government of India, and their feelings prompted them to join hands with the MNF. The ex-army men were recruited by the MNF to give guerilla training to the young volunteers.
The growing discontent with the Government ultimately resulted in a secessionist movement led by Mizo National Front (MNF), an organisation that had evolved out of a famine relief team. While the Mizo Union's demand was limited to a separate state for the Mizos within India, the MNF aimed at establishing a sovereign independent nation for the Mizos.
After the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 the military presence in the northeast was largely redirected to the western frontier. The MNF began to pressure Laldenga to carry out an attack in light of the opportunity. The executive committee of the MNF party consisting of the party president Laldenga, the party vice president Lalnunmawia, the general secretary Lianzuala, assistant secretary Rosanga and treasurer Rochhinga met in July 1965. A presidential form of government was adopted known as the Mizoram Sawkar. The Mizoram constitution established Upa In (Senate) and Aiawh In (House of Representatives) as the legislative branch of the Mizoram sawrkar. The sawrkar functioned similar to the US style of government with a presidential executive. A national refinement court was established to manage constitutional matters and civil/criminal cases.
The government formed was as follows:
Executive:
- President:Laldenga, with full executive powers like the USA government.
- Vice President: Lalnunmawia
- Commander-in-chief: Lalnunmawia
- Finance Secretary: C. Lalkhawliana
- Foreign Secretary: Lalhmingthanga
- Defense Secretary: Zamawia
- Home Secretary: Sainghaka
- Chief Justice: John F. Manliana (delayed appointment)
- Secretary of Supplies: Thangkima
- Secretary of Information: Ngurkunga
- Secretary of Welfare: Lalmawia
- Foreign ambassador for Pakistan: Lalthangliana Phillip
- Foreign ambassador for China: J.H. Rothuama
- Foreign ambassador for East Asia and Burma: Dr. Saikunga
Senate:
- Senate President: Vice President Lalnunmawia
- Pro-Tempore President: Rev. Sawkhawliana
- Senator Lalmalsawma Colney
- Senator Bualhrunga
- Senator R. Thangmawia
- Senator Lalhmuaka
- Senator Lalchhawna
- Senator Ngunhulha
- Senator Lallialzuala Sailo
- Senator Dr. Saikunga
- Senator Tlangchhuaka
- Senator Lalkhawhena
- Senator Vanmawia
House of Representatives
- Speaker: Chuailokunga
- Deputy Speaker: V.L. Nghaka
- Representative James Dokhuma
- Representative S.M. Vanhnuaithanga
- Representative Zoramthanga
- Representative Hnuna
- Representative Thangbuaia
- Representative Thangkhuma
- Representative Vala
- Representative Hlunsanga
- Representative Thanghuta
- Representative Thangzika
- Representative Rosanga
- Representative Khawlremthanga
- Representative Chhunzawna
- Representative Lamputa
- Representative Lalchuanga
- Representative Thanghuaia
- Representative Vansiama
- Representative Thattiauva
- Representative Lalchhawna
- Representative Thangzika
Judiciary:
- Chief Justice: John F. Manliana (succeeded by Lalhmuaka after Manliana's surrender)
The Mizoram Sawrkawr designed two flags initially. One for the government and one for the Mizo National Volunteers. The Mizo national volunteer force consisted mainly of personnel discharged from the disbandment of the Second Assam Regiment. The flag of the Mizoram sawrkar was originally a red cross on a blue background separated from four white rectangles with white bands. The three colours of the flag were said to represent the Holy Trinity as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Along with the constitution, with Christ as the head, Mizoram would be governed with justice, sanctity and love. The blue colour stood for Mizoram and the people. The red colour represented Christ's sacrifice on the cross. The white colour represented the presence and assistance of the Holy Spirit. It was later changed to a small white cross on a red disk on a blue background.
A constitution was also drafted for the Mizoram sawrkar. The first line of the constitution states "The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of Mizoram and the Holy Bible is the foundation of her administration". The government structure was modelled upon the American government. It was a presidential-style political structure consisting of three branches. The branches were the executive, judiciary and legislative. The legislature had two houses; the senate had 12 members and a senate president who was the vice-president of the Mizoram sarkar. The speaker would head the House of Representatives. The executive branch was headed by the President, including the Vice President and 5-6 ministers and secretaries. The Mizo National Army and the Mizo National Volunteers were placed under the authority of the executive branch. The judiciary was a hierarchy with the National Refinement Court headed by a Chief Justice, a Session Court, a District Court, a Subordinate Court and a Village Council Court in that order.
The meeting for the formation of the Mizoram sawrkar also oversaw the planning for Operation Jericho to be commenced on the midnight of 28 February 1966 and for independence to be declared on the following 1 March 1966.
Mizo National Volunteers
The Mizo National Volunteers were placed within the Mizoram sawrkar. The MNV were divided into three categories: Cammando Squad, Intelligence Squad and Signal Squad. An enrolment form was to be signed with a nominal membership of ₹1. Three conditions were required to become a Mizo National Volunteer as part of an oath sworn on the Bible:
- Promise to sacrifice one's own life for the freedom for Mizoram.
- Promise to keep secrecy at all times.
- Promise for one to do their best for Mizoram.
An MNV would then receive an identification card. The MNV employed both men and women in different roles. Women would undertake training in first aid and nursing along with management of dehusking rice, mending uniforms and food preparation at camps.
The MNV was established with two commands. The Western Command was delegated eight brigades, and the Eastern Command was delegated ten bridges. The original intention was to establish 3 divisions consisting of three brigades per command. However, the shortage led to a total allocation of 18 brigades and a total of 2000 MNV participants in the uprising. Laldenga personally arranged 50 of the best-performing volunteers into a new "special force" designated as bodyguards for his presidential role. Major Lalliana was the commander of the special force. The MNV established a separate flag from the Mizoram Sawrkar, the flag consisted of a black background with the head of a tiger in the centre.
MNF's plan for armed uprising
The extremist section within MNF advocated the use of violence to seek independence from India. A special armed wing called the Mizo National Army (MNA) was created for the purpose. The MNA consisted of eight infantry "battalions" organised on the pattern of the Indian army. One of the battalions was named after Joshua, while the rest were named after the legendary Mizo heroes: Chawngbawla, Khuangchera, Lalvunga, Saizahawla, Taitesena, Vana Pa and Zampuimanga. The Lion Brigade (Chawngbawla, Khuangchera, Saizahawla and Taitesena battalions) operated in the northern half of the district, while the Dagger Brigade (Joshua, Lalvunga, Vanapa and Zampui Manga) operated in its southern half. MNA consisted of around 2000 men, supported by another group called the Mizo National Volunteers (MNV), which comprised an equal number of irregulars.
As early as September 1963, Laldenga met spoke with the Pakistani Assistant High Commissioner at Shillong. The MNF leaders Lanunmawia and Sainghaka accompanied Laldenga and visited East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). They travelled through the East Pakistan Rifles Camp at Mahmuam reaching Dacca on 6 December 1963. This was where the Government of Pakistan offered them supply of military hardware and training and gave the go ahead for further activities. Laldenga and his lieutenant Pu Lalnunmawia were arrested by the Government of Assam on the charge of conspiring against the nation, but were released in February 1964 after an undertaking of good conduct by Laldenga. However, shortly after their release, MNF intensified its secessionist activities. The MNF members forcibly collected donations from the Mizo people, recruited volunteers and trained them with arms supplied by Pakistan. By the end of 1965, the MNF weapon cache consisted of the plastic explosives stolen from the Border Roads Organisation, rifles and ammunition obtained from the 1st Battalion, Assam Rifles (1 AR) headquartered at Aizawl, crude bombs and Sten guns.
The men trained in Pakistan were delayed from the arrest. As a result, the first training batch of 22 men occurred in December 1964 and finished to return to Mizoram in February 1966. A transfer of arms from the Pakistani government was also. The arms were hidden in jungles on their way home and retrieved by 200 volunteers. A second arms transfer was made at Ruma Bazar in July 1965 with 300 volunteers sent to receive the arms from East Pakistani troops. After the uprising, another arms transfer would take place at Ruma Bazar on 20 August 1968 under ss Col. Halleluia of the Mizo National Army.
The Indian armed forces, fresh from the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, were focused on the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-China borders. The extremist MNF leaders wanted to take advantage of this situation by starting an armed rebellion to establish an independent Mizo nation. The rehabilitation of the pro-government Chakma refugees from East Pakistan in the Mizo district further instigated them.