KEYNOTE ADDRESS
On the auspicious occasion of the 65th Zomi Nam Ni Celebration at New Delhi.

BY:  Pu L. B. SONA,
CHAIRMAN,  ZOMI COUNCIL

I am extremely delighted to present Keynote Address on this momentous 65th Zomi Nam Ni Celebration being held in the Capital City of the Greatest Democracy in the world today, the 20th February 2013.

The fact that, the Zomi of India celebrated one of its historically significant moment here in Delhi demonstrate the freedom and liberty enjoyed by each and every community in the country whose principles has been laid by the founding fathers of Indian democracy. I would like to place on record that, it was the same spirit that drove together thousands of Zomi Leaders for a historic Zomi Convention at Falam(Burma) on February 20, 1948. There, it was unanimously decided to reject autocratic rule and chose for ourselves a democratic system of governance. Since then, the 20th of February is celebrated by the Zomi as the Day of Deliverance; the Day they started to walk the path of self-governance and taste the beauty of democracy and its concomitant Principles. It is the fundamental principles of freedom and liberty adopted on this Day, 65 long years ago, which we continue to cherish, celebrate and build our dreams upon.

Indeed, it is a very fulfilling occasion to see for ourselves the successful implementation of such principles in a country like India, yet we also share the sufferings of our brethrens who still hold on to their dreams, patiently waiting for the dawn of their freedom.
 
For some people, the name Zomi could be something new. In fact, “Zomi”, meaning, “Zo People”, is a generic name. In the past they were little known by this racial nomenclature. Initially, the British recorded them under borrowed names like Chin, Kuki or Lushai, despite the fact that, they called themselves Zomi(descendent of Zo or Zo Suante or Zo-fate or Zo People). In this regard, let me quote what Sir J.George Scott, had said,

 “The names like Kuki and Chin are not national, and have been given to them by their neighbours. Like others, the people do not accept the name given by the Burmese and ourselves; they do not call themselves Chins, and they equally flout the name of Kuki which their Assamese neighbours use. They call themselves Zhou or Shu and in other parts Yo, Zo or Lai..”

The misfortunes of the Zo people do not end in their naming problems.  They become a minority community when the British divided their ancestral land and appended them into three different sovereign states simply to suit their administrative convenience and continue their subjugation. Even in the post-colonial era, they continue to be marginalised and are pushed to the peripheral corners on many counts. Because of these and many more disadvantages they endured, the Zomi cannot help but often compare their lesser degree of socio-economic and political level of development to that of other communities in the world. It is, therefore, natural that the Zo people started striving for self-determination, a space to grow, an opportunity to develop according to their genius and led a dignified life.

On this auspicious occasion, I take the liberty of suggesting that the problems of the Zomi and other minority communities is being addressed by those people in power, taking into consideration the urgency and merit of the problems. For which, I truly belief that, best Time has come for us all in India, particularly in Manipur to MOVE FORWARD, build peace and give a new impetus to our efforts for upliftment of the disadvantage community. The time has also come to earnestly strive for a durable socio-political solution so that we all see the dawn of durable peace and development in the remote corners of the country.

As we move forward for our collective yet inclusive better tomorrow, it is also important to remember the manner in which the Gospel changed the Zomi worldview and how decolonisation process and subsequent establishment of democratic system in Asian sub-continent has awakened our political consciousness. In as much as the love of God transforms our spiritual being, it is equally important to work out that Love for the collective benefit of our fellow beings. In the fast changing post-modern period, the Zo people cannot effort to continue living in self-pity, self-denial mode; we should rather set aside our minor differences and work hand in hand for the betterment of our tomorrow. I, therefore, beseech each and every Zomi gathered today to soul-search and ask: what can I do for my fellow Zomi? What can I do for the upliftment and posterity of our children’s children?

In local dialects…..Tunin kuapeuh kingaithuah ni: I pianna khua-le-tui taisan in, a nuam, a haksa thuak in Delhi leh mundang tampi ah, a sing-a-sim Zomite I khosa ua  Pasian hoihna hang ahi. A lehlamtaka gen in, I kipatna gam haksatman, kivaihawmna kichuuplouh man bang, khantouhna omlouh man banga I gam loihsan hizaw maithei I hi. Tuni’n I gam loihsanna munte kuan juun leh chi I hia? I hun nanung leh damsa luang puaktung naangkia a koihta I hiam? Pasian hehpihna toh Heutute’n khantouhna buching omtheihna ding leh kivaihawmna kuitungzaw omtheihna ding in pan honglata ua, hih banga panlaakna ah kuapeuh I pankhawm kisam ahi. Than-le-zung, sum-le-pai, pilna-siamna siitlou in, theihtopsuaha panlakthak ding in I kihaanthawn hi.
 Tu hun pen kigensiat hun,kiphunsan hun, kituambawl hun, kigeentuam hun, kikautuahna hun hinawnlou a, Pankhawm, Sepkhawm hun ahi. Gamdang/mundang a I omcia I Minam hihna leh poimohnateng manghilha, mahni angsung, innsung, behsung, chibing-te kia buaipiha Minam khantouhna ding lunggeelkha hetlou I hihkhak ding lauhhuai kasa mahmah hi. Huaiziakin, lungsim ngaihsutna leh I nnasepziate liansak semsema, khangtou semsem ding maw, ahihkeileh, chip dedeuha manthatlam manoh ding I hiam chih kuapeuh I kingaihsut thak poimoh kasa hi. Tunin nang seemkei lechin kuan seem ding, nang zuunkei lechin kuan zuun ding hiam?

Finally, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Nam Ni Celebration Committee Members and the ZYA Delhi Region leadership for their focused and untiring services to make the Celebration a success.

Long Live Zomi Nam Ni Festival.
 
Zomi Nam Ni Damsawt hen.

Thank You. Ka kipak.