ZO TRIBE in India: Is it heading towards its demise or Vibrancy?

By Philip Thanglienmang

PART I

UNIFICATION PERIOD (1950-1965)

Birth of Jou National Council

Jou National council was founded on 23 May 1954 at Grimson Road Imphal. The first President of JNC was Late S.Semkhopao and its first Chief Secretary was Lat T. Khup Grace. After a term of 3 years, the chiefs, members and other distinguished persons met at Tuaitengphai village for general conference. The name Jou National Council was rechristened as United Manipur Jou Organization(UMJO).

Recognition of Jou Tribe

Under the leadership of Late S.Semkhopao, President, UMJO, Late T. Khup Grace Chief Secretary and Pu. T. Gougin Treasurer, the UMJO representatives represented the case for recognition of the JOU tribe to the Commissioner for SC/ST, Government of India. In the last part of 1956 the JOU tribe was recognized by the Government of India. The spelling employed for the tribe was JOU.

The first JOU TON was held at Tuoitengphai village on the 24th January 1959. The Chief Commissioner of Manipur Late J.M Raina was invited as the Chief Guest of that ocassion. But he failed to make it to the august celebration, thereupon, the Jou people vented their displeasure by undertaking a long march from Tuoitengphai village to Old Churachandpur where the seat of Government was located in those days.

2nd JOU TON

The second Jou Ton was held on the 4th February 1960 at Tuoitengphai village again. In that celebration Late J.M. Raina was the Chief Guest of the ocassion.In that conference the spelling of the tribe was changed from JOU to ZOU, interchanging the J and Z to attain similarity of usage with Zo brethren in Burma(as told by Rev. David K.Samte, 1994, Lamka to the author).

3rd ZO TON

The 3rd Zo Conference was held on 12th February 1961 at Singtom village. The number of participants were recorded as 3000 souls. Pu. Sienjahau, Pu. Vummang, Sub. Thangkhokam, Pu Nengjachin, Sub.Eljapao and Upa Thangkhogin were the main organizers of that eventful celebration. The organizers welcomed the President and Chief Secretary of UMJO with horse ride from the bottom of the village to the site of the conference while the UMJO flag fluttered in the breezy day. One huge mithun was killed for the common meal. The name of United Jou Organization Manipur(UMJO) was changed into United Zomi Organization Manipur(UZO) at that conference. Pu T. Gougin an ex-servicemen had an excellent rapport with the ex-servicemen Zos of Tengnoupal District now known as Chandel district. He was in fact, the connecting link between the Gungals i.e Lamka and Sugnu areas. He unified the various Zo clans into a well-knit organization in the form of UZO although they were speaking different Zo dialects. Thus, he came be given the title of Unifier of Zo people. From 1962-70 UZO became dormant and defunct due to lack of good leadership.
Part II

DISINTEGRATION PERIOD(1970-1993)???

ZNC LEH UZO KIKÂL THUTE: UZO GENERAL ELECTION 1970 SINGNGAT
Gangpi hla ni 28-30, kum 1970 in Singngat khuo UZO Gen.Election a na om a, ni 25 Gangpi hla niin Phamsa Pu. Thangkhanlal UZO President in a na kâicing a, Pu. T. Semkholun Chief Secretary in na pang hi. Tua kum in phamsa Sub. Ginkhozam Election Commissioner in na pang hi. Tua dungzuiin President charge lâhna 11/2/1970 kum in na la hi. So far so good, ci mai vai.
1972; MANIPUR STATEHOOD LEH MLA ASSEMBLY ELECTION
28.1.1972 kum in MLA kitelna ding hun nai ziehin Daijang khuo ah UZO Special Assembly a na nei uhhi. MLA support tungtang a UZO thupuasahna zuilou a op leh kum 6 guh sunga pat nawsuo leh tanvou neithei lou ding ciin thupuasahna a na nei uhhi.12.2.1972 UZO Executive Committee in 1972 Manipur Assembly Election hun ah Churachandpur A/C ah Pu T. Goukhenpau leh Singngat A/C ah Pu. Thangkhanlal UZO President full support dingin phuong uhhi.

Tuaciin, Pu. T. Gougin leh phamsa Pu. S.K. Samte tegel in Pu. Thangkhanlal MLA makaina a UZO kivaipuohdan duthusam sa lou un tualeh piching zou lou a sah ziehun Zogam siemphatna dingin ZNC Party ciin Daijang khuo ah 1972 kum ma in a na phut uhhi.

UZO Executive Committee dated 29.2.1972 kum in hla 3 sung vingveng nawsuo in a om gel a, tualeh ZNC kikhopna va pang UZO member pouma leh member a va kiminvaw pouma te’n kizutkia uh heh ciin thupuasahna a bawl uhhi.I mipilte leh i masate uh, Pu. T.Gougin leh phamsa Pu. S.K. Samte in MDC Election a din ut ziehun, Pu. Lunkap Chairmanshipna leh Pu. T. Semkholun Chief Secretaryna neiah, UZO Executive Committe dated 16.3.1972 kungah support a na ngen u’a, hinanleh UZO support pen Pu. T.Semkholun Tuining MDC leh Pu. S. Kamzadou Singngat MDC a na pie uhhi.1972 kum Manipur Assembly Election kitêlna ah Chief Agent in Pu. T. Gouzadou President, ZSP na pang hi, tuaciin Phamsa Pu. Thangkhanlal pen a khatveina dingin Singngat MLA dingin a na lawching hi.UZO General Assembly Tuoitengphai khuo ah dated 15/4/1972 kum in phamsa Pu. Semkhopao Samte leh Pu.T. Gougin tegel UZO party apat kum 6 guh sung nawsuo in a na phuong uhhi.

Zote Bible tahpi zong neizouloute chiin simmawna leh haidaina tampi tuozou un, Catholic Church huna toh kum 1976-78 kikal sungin, Zo te’n Bible a neilou ziehun, Zohâm a Bible khat nei vai chiin, makai tampite kikhopna khat; Zomi Interconfessional Bible Translation Committee na kiphutkhie hi. Tuanah, Pu Stephen Semkholun Chairman masapen in na kiteldoh hi. Daijang leh Tuaitengphai khuo ah, kum 7 sagi vingveng Bible letdoh in na busa uhhi. Zo tribe hing hatna dinga kibawl Holy Bible pen gintatloupiin, biehna pansia in Bible pen Zo tribe sâtzâhna in a’ng kizang a, Zo tate ki-ittuo liliei pen tonsiel kisat nêm vaduoi bangin phalni/kehni ah a’ng kikhenta uhhi.

UZO General Assembly Tuaitengphai dated June hla ni 4-5 1976 kum in a na om kia hi. Tami kum in Zo Laisiengthou i.e Holy Bible in Zo sunga Apocripha tel ahiziehin MGP sung hitaven, Zo sung hitaven buoipina leh kikhenzâhna na tung hi. Tuami buoina suveng dingin Phamsa Pu Thangkhanlal, Pu. T. Gougin leh Dr. M. Lachinkhai na guong uhhi. Ahi’nlah, tua kikhenzâhna leh buoina pen tuni dongin, a kisuveng zouta sih hi. UZO pen ZNC min a hlen díngin Pu. T. Gougin in a na phut pen a na phuvang zouta sih hi.

UZO Special Assembly Zomi Colony dated 11.11.1979 kum in Singngat A/C MLA ding dingin Phamsa Pu. Thangkhanlal leh Pu. Kamzadou Samte UZO party ticket na kitu gel hi. Pu Kamzadou Samte a na nualahkia hi.

UZO Executive Committee dated 22.4.1980 Zoveng Pu.T. Chinzagin inn ah Zomi Working Committe(ZWC) thusuo dated 30.4.1980 kum in a na kisuo hi. Tam thusuo na sungah Gungal lam ci vai Churachandpur Zo te ngen 30 sawmthum val a kiguol demduom hi. Chandel district Zo khat beh a tel sih hi. 1983 April hla in Kana huong na kici pen Kana Block leh Sugnu Block ciin ni in na kikhenkhie hi. Ahivangin, UZO sungah Chandel district huop sunga dingin palai a kibelap tuon sih hi.

Kum 1977-78 kikal in, eima unau Thangkhal hamzangte’n kumtawp khawmpi a na na neina u’ah UZO naupangte hiva chia ginlelte’n a sielkhau uh a va sattan uhhi. Tuami bepin, kitheisiemlouna tampi na piengkhie in, i unau Thangkhal hamzangte pen lungkimlouna tuomtuom nei un, tuachiin Thangkhal People’s Organisation chiin a’ng kiminvawta uhhi. Tuni’n amaute pen nam tuom danin a kidinsawmta mawh uhhi.Khuciin, 1980 apatin 1996 tan in Zo sungah Election toh kisai in buoina leh nawngkaina tampi na tung zel hi. Kum 1985 in Pu T. Gouzadou na kai hi. Kum 1995 in zong na kai kia ha, ahinlah, vangsiethuoitahin ama pen na kidisqualify khata hi. Luoi kivei bangin MLA kai leh kailou in na kikhen zel hi.

Kum 1995 kum in 41 Chandel A/C ah Pu Hangkhanpao MLA in na kitelching hi. Term 2 nivei na kai a, cabinet minister tanin zong na kaisang ma hi. Ahinlah, Zo te adingin bangma phattuomna a tun tuon sih hi, chiin mipite phunnawi uhhi. Tuachiin, a kitanaute deisahna tangin, UZO President a’ng kai hi. MLA politigs pen Chandel lang ah a’ng nuasie a, Churachandpur lam ah a’ng kihei hi. Kum 2005 in 60 Singat A/C ah MLA dingin telching in a’ng om hi. Tuin a tuh laitah ahi. Zogam adingin bangbang tengpi a’ng semkhe diei? chi pen kitheithei nai sih hi. Mipite’n hai bang a ngahla mama uhhi.

Tua chi hun hing peitou zel a, Mate-Taithul Phungpi Organisation(MPO) a’ng hât mama a, tuachiin Mate Tribe chiin a laibu khat a na suo uhhi. Tuni’n dinmun tuompi khat nei danin a a kingaituo ta mawh uhhi. Mate-Taithulte pen tang a tuon a, Zo phung lui vawt khat a na kisim ngitnget ahihi.

Tam toh kizawitawn in, Phiemphu Phungpi Organisation chi zong kum 2008 in Lamka khopi ah vaihawmna lienpi na neizouta uhhi. Ma ban ah bang a’ng bawl uoi? chi pen koima’n theizou lou hi.

Manlun-Mantuong Phungpi Organisation zong a’ng dingkhie dan in ka thei a, tu’n zong a gawlgin sih vangun, a om khinkhian phot uh ahihi. Tua ban ah, Phaitu khuo ah Pu Hanghil kum 500 cinna pawipi kibawl ding ahi chi thu zong kithang venvung simta hi.

I lah u’ah, Suantak People’s Council kichi phung organization khat a om chi thu zong i zah chiet dingun ka gingta hi. Tam in a tup leh a ngim bang e? chi zong a kithei panpan ta hi. Tuonthu tângthu sim, khangthu sim theichien lou pawlkhatte pen lunglut mama uh chi’n ka na za hi.

Kum 2006 tuom in, Kana Block pen Sugnu Block sungah, a na gawmkhawmta leuleu uhhi. Chandel district huop sunga dingin UZO palai a kiemsuhta hi. Chandel district khat sunga sim dingin UZO palaite pen dei bangin a hiding dan sangin palai a tawm tel hi. Tam pen equal representation principle kizuilou zieh ahi. Ei leh ei kisuneu i suoh uhhi.

Tungdim Phungpi Organisation Manipur zong kum tampi na ki’mu pen tuni’n(2007) Zomunnuom khuo ah puotha in a om kiata hi. Tami in zong bangteng a’ng ngaituo diei? chi pen bangma a kitheithei nai sih hi.

Thukhupna leh ngâidân kupna

I mipil I misiem lamkai masate’n UMJO/UZO a na siemtup lai un, tua mun a panmun luothei dingte pen chientahin danbupi sungah a na gielzouta uhhi. UZO kichi koikoi bete phungte ahiei? chiin na gelchien zou uhhi. Pu Zo hlah leh suonte ka hi uhhi, chi be leh phung pawlkhatte na kipawlkhawm ziehun, UZO na om thei ahibou hi. Tuaziehin, be leh phungte pen UZO khuom leh pansia thupipente ahihi, chiin a kilang hi.Kawikhat ah, UZO danbu sungah be leh phung politigs bawl lou ding kichi pen I gel chiengunleh UZO danbu in a hici gen khu ama leh ama kikal in ka mu hi.

Bangziehin lah? tu-a atunga ka gente zieh ahi. Be leh phung teng kigawmkhawm sih leh, UZO kichi omthei lou ahi. Ham leh pau zieha kigawmkhawm a na hi sih uhhi, chi khu thei zing va ui.Tam be leh phung na kigiellutsate pen UZO a dinga Indiate constitution kigendan in, basic feature ahihi. Jou Tawndawn bu 1957 sunga na kigielsa be leh phung minte pen makai masate’n na kiemsahkhata mana’n uh leh zong khat zong, kiemsahthei sil ahi sih a, himaleh belapthei ahi gige chi khu thei zing va ui.

UZO danbupi na kisiemtha sunga Zo tawndan zuite leh Zoham a hâmte bou UZO ahi a na mawh chi pen uh, UZO basic feature toh kikelki a suoh hi. Hâm zieh a Zo/zou kihi hilouin, Zo/Zou I hi zieh, be leh phung pansia a UZO na kihi ahizaw hi. Tam pen a kinkin a, suhdih dingin hoi ka sa hi.

I UZO politigs uh zong be leh phung politigs om lou, lut lou chichi ma’nan uh lei zong, ei leh ei kinaupang mawsol i hi giap uhhi. Politigs ahing hitahtah chiengin be leh phung tuomtuomte in kikâihuoina(alliance) simtham in a bawl chiet u’a, langtangtahin hing pusuoh sih mana’n leh zong, melchithei, theithei leh zahthei in ahing om veve hi.

Tua ahimanin, tulai hun a, be leh phung uong deudeu a, hing kibawl pen minam damna hizaw dingin ka gingta hi. Bangzieh ahiei? i chi chiengin, be leh phung kicite pen UZO na puona, na pienkhietna khuom leh zawl, pansia leh toupha ahimanin, tam be leh phungte a’ng kihuitup chiet chiengun leh I minam party/organization in zong thangana leh thathawna a’ng nei thei pan dingin ka gingta(um) hi.

Be leh phungteng a’ng kisuhtup chiet zou chiengun, i minam zong a’ng kisutupthei dinga, i gam u’ah, thudih thuman hing lengthei zaw va chi’ng.

Zo/Zou be leh phung hinapi a, UZO sunga na lut loute tuni’n hing kilekiata uh henlen, UZO sungah hing lutzaw uh leh, tua khu thuman leh thudih ahizaw ding hi. I minam lamkai hivanuh a, a be leh phung organization lah, UZO nuoia, om loupi, chi pen ngaituo tham ching ahi.

Tua ban ah, Zou tribe vis-à-vis UZO hingsah leh damsah va ui, i chi uh leh, i Zou be leh phung chiet sunga lamkaite; Chairman/President leh Secretary te pen UZO working committee member ahi chiet ding uh poimaw leh kul in ka mu hi. Tua bangin kipothei lei, ei Zou sung a’ng kibeltha nuom ding hi.

Tachi lou vânglah ding ahileh lah, UZO pen BJP/Congress bangin complete/pure Political party danin mi kitetna/kidemna(MDC/MLA/MP) muntenga party ticket pethei(issue thei) party/organization hisuhmai zaw henlen politigs bawl nading mawngmawng in kituomkoidoh leh hoizaw va chiin ka gingta(um) hi. Tami neiah, ZSP Hqtrs leh ZSP branchteng kikhaikhawm sah va ui.

Ei Zo sunga be leh be, phung leh phung, ei leh zatdangte kitanauna, kilaichinna, kichimatna leh kibuoina vaihawmpi ding, pupa tawndan, pupa ngaina dan leh danbu kemching dingin Zo Socio-cultural-legal organization khat kiphutdoh henlen tam khu ei Zo/Zou te Apex Body danin kitungding leh I nam dam ding hi, chi pen ka mamu hi. Zou sunga mipil misiemteng in tam Apex body e.g ZOM sungah vaihawmna nei uh henlen panmun lathei chiet uh leh hoi ding hi.A min dingin kikupna thupitahin kinei thei leh hoi ding hi.

Gentena in, Zo Organisation India(ZOI) ahilouleh Zo Organisation Manipur(ZOM) kichi leh hoi ka sa hi. Tami organization in bangma politigs buoipi da leh saipi da henlen, Zo/Zou te cultural social, customs, history leh welfare body lienpen lîuliêu in kikoituom leh minam damtheizaw ding in ka mu hi. Tami neiah, ZYO Hqtrs leh ZYO branchteng, Zou Zumpi, Zou Literature Society Manipur, Zou Cultural Club, Zoculsin, Zomi theatrical Society, Zo Mass media chiteng leh ahing piengkhe ding organization dangdangte pen ZOM nuoiah kikhaikhawm sah lei hoiva chiin hangsantahin, ka’ng genngam hi. Tamteng in Zo tate zumkaina inn mun lou mun te hing lam uh henlen hing kemching thei uh leh hoiva chi’ng.

Tua ziehin, atunga thu leh la kitâlatna toh kizuiin tami dohna thupi “ZO TRIBE in India: Is it heading towards its demise or vibrancy?” ka chipen a nigel a, piengthei tuoh ahihi. Sithei mangthei ahia, hingthei hâtthei zong ahi veve hi. Bangma zousie, ahun a op lâipêt a, ei Zo/Zou sunga mipil misiemte leh khangnoute khut sunga kinga ahizaw hi, chi vai.

US President kaitha Pu Barrack Obama in Campaign a bawl laia, “CHANGE we need’ chia a thupi a, a na zah ma bangin, mipite’n ama Change bawltu dingin a kaisah uhhi. Tuachi ma bangin eite lah ah zong mipite lungsim sungah, CHANGE (Kikhêlna) hing omthei leh khun Zo/Zou tribe a hâtzaw sêm dinga, a hingzaw sem dinga tualeh a masawnzaw sêm dingin zong ka gingta(um) hi.