"Chakmas are indigenous residents of the western part of Mizoram": CNCI
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Aizawl, September 01 2014: State Level Organizing Committee of Chakma National Council of India (CNCI) in its release declared that the Chakmas in Mizoram are indigenous residents of the western part of the State of Mizoram.

"As per Chakma 'Bijok' (chronicle) and the record maintained in 'Chakma Rajnama' the western belt of present state of Mizoram, where the Chakmas have been residing from time immemorial was a part and parcel of Chakma Kingdom "Chadigang' (Chittagong Hill Tracts)", CNCI claimed.

In pursuance of resolution adopted in Silchar Convention of the 26th and the 27th July, 2014, the State Level Organizing Committee of Chakma National Council of India (CNCI) convened a two days meeting at Art and Culture Hall, Kamalanagar on the 30th and 31st August, 2014 for constitution of Mizoram State Unit Executive Committee of CNCI.

A total of 493 delegates representing political parties, NGOs, Village councils and intellectuals from different part of the state participated in the meeting.

The meeting declared that the Chakmas in Mizoram are indigenous residents of the western part of the State of Mizoram.

The habitation of the western belt of present state of Mizoram by Chakmas has taken place since Pre-British rule and the western part of present state of Mizoram where Chakmas are living is infact a part of Pre-British Chakma kingdom, "Chadi-gang" , the fact of which is corroborates with a range of British India government records in the form of official correspondences, Imperial/Provincial Gazetteers, Books written by the British Officials and Scholars, etc, the meeting observed.

According to the State Level Organizing Committee of CNCI, the existence of the Chakmas on the bank of Karnafulee, Tuichawng and Thega was appeared in the written record of British in 1763 A.D.when the East India Company demarcated Chakma territory".

It also held that the Bengal Government demarcated the boundaries of CHT (Chakma Kingdom) in 1873 based on the surveys made in 1872-1873 by Captain Badely and Cooke.

However, the boundaries of CHT along with Lushai Hills was revised in 1891 and the area which is having Chakma concentration in present Mizoram State were transferred and annexed to the erstwhile South Lushai Hills.

The meeting also observed that before the advent of British rule, the tribes in North East India and CHT having distinct Ethnic Identity, Culture and Tradition, enjoyed sovereignty through evolving a sort of administrative system to rule their respective kingdom according to their own genius.

The British India Government also had recognized the fact, and therefore, had introduced a separate system of administration from that of mainland India by adopting terms-Backwards Tract, Excluded Area, Partially Excluded Area, etc.

In Independent India those very Areas and the people living therein are allowed to enjoy 'Autonomy' though in various degrees except the Chakmas in Lunglei District and Mamit District in the State of Mizoram.

It is the expressed opinion of the meeting that the non-inclussion of the Chakma villages in Lunglei and Mamit district while creating Chakma Autonomous District Council in 1972 is against the principle of Natural Justice.

The meeting strongly condemned the unjust Sir Cyrill Redcliff award of Bengal Boundary Commission which awarded the CHT to Pakistan with more than 97 percent Non-Muslims against the principle on which the Boundary Commission was set up.

"Unknown to many the eight sisters of the North-East India is languishing today in Bangladesh because of the unjust Sir Cyrill Redcliff award which made the Chakmas one of the worst victim of Partition" .

The State level meeting of CNCI also elaborately sensitized the delegates on the burning issue of infiltration of foreign nationals.

It unanimously resolved to launch extensive programme to sensitize the people on the issue, if felt necessary, in course of time, it is also proposed to form village level committee for the purpose.

The meeting CNCI State Level meeting also discussed at length on the other socio-economic related problems such as Chakma Customary Law, imparting education in mother-tongue (Changmha) in all schools of Chakma villages' up to elementary stage.

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