'Mizoram Map' recollects unfulfilled dream

Aizawl, Oct 30 (UNI) A 'Mizoram Map' drawn by former Mizo National Front's 'senator' L Malsawma Colney, on behalf of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (the state's most influential student body) will remind many in the MNF fraternity of an unfulfilled dream.

The map, which was released by former MZP president PC Laltlansanga here today, shows the pre-British territory of Mizoram, which was claimed by the Laldenga-led MNF as 'Greater Mizoram' in its independent movement starting from 1966.

Colney, also a one-time president in the MNF's underground government, had prepared a similar 'historical map of Mizoram' in 1989, on account of which he had been questioned by the CBI officials, while it had also reportedly caused a heated debate in the neighbouring Manipur's assembly.

The new one is more detailed and larger, he said.

The MNF had three main objectives, one of which was to bring together different tribes of Mizo, who had been divided by the British between India, Burma and Bangladesh, under a single administration. ''I have prepared this map so that the Mizo people, though being politically divided, are strongly bonded together,'' Colney has said.

The Mizoram in this map is three times bigger than the Mizoram we know today. But this map shows the original territory of Mizoram that had been divided by the British, Colney said, adding, ''even though the goal remains unfulfilled, there is the torch of Mizo nationalist movement still burning in my heart which has resulted in the making of this map. This map does not pose threat to the national integrity of India. It just shows the land inhabited by the Mizo tribes, and it aims to bring about mental integrity of these tribes,'' MZP president said, while releasing the map.

UNI