Growth and development of Mizo language and literature with special reference to contribution made by Christian missionaries from 1897 to 1947

436 Pages·1990·11.773 MB·English

by  Lalzama

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF MIZO LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO
CONTRIBUTION MADE BY CHRISTIAN
MISSIONARIES FROM 1897 TO 1947
__9 0 (jl~~ 2 -Q
A THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR
OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GAUHATI
1990
4
LALZAMA
LECTURER,
Department of Mizo,
Pachhunga University College
Aizawl, Mizoram
Or B SARMA 134TGAUHATI UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
Department of Modern Indian Lf^guages GUWAHATt-781014
Data; 8.
/•
This is to certify that Mr Lalzama, Lecturer,
Department of |tizo of Pachhunga University
College* AizwaJMias carried his research trork
for his thesis entitled NGrowtfc(|^nd Development
of Mizo Language and Literature with special
reference to contribution fcade by Christian
M issionaries from 1891N&0 1947" for more than
three years under my supervision. He has fu lfilled
all the requirements laid down in the regulations
for Ph.D. degree of the University of Gauhatig.
The thesis is the result of his own investi­
gation and neither the thesis as a whole nor an^
part of it was submitted to any universities in
India or abroad for any research degree.
•9
DATE : /• « -9 0 ( B. SARMA )
RESEARCH GUIDE
I
il
ABBREVIATIONS USED:
A. B.M.U. A•aerioan Baptist Missionary Union.
B. M.S. Baptist Missionary Sociaty.
I.S.S.U. « India Sunday School Union.
K. T.P. K-ristian Thalai Pawl.
L. S.A. L-ushai Students' Association.
M. S.S.U. M-i zo Sunday School Union.
M.A.L. ■ Mizo Acadeny of Letters.
W.C.M.F.M. Welsh Calvanistie Methodist Foreign Mission.
S.P.C.K. - Society for Pronoting Christian Knowledge.
Y.M.C.A. ■ Young Men's Christian Association.

iv
Rev.F.W.Savidge, Rev.J.H.Lorrain,
1894- 1897, 1903- 1925. 1894- 1897, 1903- 1932.
V
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Mizo is a modern language spoken by about four
lakhs people. Since it has been recognised as a standard
languagev it has become extremely necessary to study scien­
tifically the growth and development of the language and li­
terature with its various aspects and find out various steps
to be undertaken by the present generation of the Mixo for
development of their language and literature.
With a view to fulfilling the long standing deside­
ratum of a thorough investigation and research concerning the
growth and development of the Mizo language and literature the
present work under the name and style "Growth and Development
of Mizo Language and Literature from 1897 to 1947 with special
reference to the contribution made by the Christian Missiona­
ries" has been undertaken under the guidance and supervision
♦
of Dr, B,Sarma, Department of Modern Indian Languages, Gauhati
University, Gauhati, It would have been absolutely impossible
to complete this work without his benevolent help, I, there­
fore, express my sincere and hearfalt gratitude to him,
I am also thankful to the Governsent of Mizoram for
granting me a Research Fellowship for carrying out the work.
vi
My thanks ara also due to tha church leaders and
othar local aldara who gave me vary usaful informations necv
assary for this work.
/
I also axprass ay thankfulness to the members of
tha staff of National Library* Calcutta* The Asiatic Society*
Calcutta* K.K.Handique Library* Bauhati University, District
Library* Gauhati, Historical Antiquaran Department* Assam*
Qauhati* Office of tha keeper of records of the Assam Secre­
tariat* Dispur* Mizoram Archives* Aizawl* Office of the
keeper of records of the Deputy Commissioner* Aizawl* Dis­
trict Library* Aizawl* P.U. College Library* Aizawl and Aizawl
College Library* Aizawl for kindly extending to me all possi­
ble helps in collecting materials necessary for the research
wdbk*
X an greatly Indebted to the Principal* Padhhunga
University College and the authority of N.E.H.U. for granting
me study leave for completing the work*
Moreover* I must offer my sincere thanks to my
esteemed colleagues of the Mizo Department* P*U. College for
their kind encouragement for enabling me to get myself engaged
in the work without any strain*
vii
In connection wLth the study of the subject, I
a
would like to sey thet collection of materials hes become
very difficult job because of the fact that the Church and
the Government of Mizoram have no proper records of the old
books and news magazines vhich had been published in the ear­
ly years. Moreover, owing to the political disturbance which
began in 1966 many people have lost their old books and other
important documents or written informations which would have
been helpful for tracing the progress of the literature* Fur­
ther , most of the local people do not know the importance and
necessity of maintaining such old writings and they do not
have the habit of preserving them* However, an honest attempt
has been made to collect reliable materials from various sour­
ces besides the interview with many enthusiastic and reliable
persons interested in the field*
In this connection, I must thank Rev* M.Kipps,
lecturer, Eastern Theological College, Jorhat, Mr* B.Lalthang-
liana, lecturer, Hrangbana College, Aizawl, Mr. C.Vanlallawma,
lecturer, Hrangbana College, Aizawl, Rev* Or* C.L. Hminga,
Serkawn, Mizoram, Mr* Lalchunga, Sihphir, Mizoram and Dr* J*V*
Hluna, Senior Lecturer, Pachhunga University College, Aizawl
for their generous helps in supplying me with many useful ma­
terials for preparing the Thesis*
viii
Last but not the least, Z must offer ay sincara
thanks to ay wife, Mgurchhuani, for har help and coopera­
tion in all possible ways throughout the work.
Dated Gauhati University
( LALZAMA )
the 1990
ix
CONTENTS
Pag£:
Certificate i
Abbreviations ii
Map of Mizoran iii
Photographs of the first four missionaries iv
Acknowledgement v
Contents ix
INTRODUCTION 1-3Q
Oeographical Features 1
The People 2
Economy 10
Administration 13
Zawlbuk 24
Religion 27
Marriage 34
Language and Literature 37
CHAPTER I 39-119
ADVENT OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES
The coming of Christian missionaries to India 39
Missionaries in Mizoram 44