Sit-in protests naming of Chivu park as Chandrakirti park
Source: Chronicle News Service

CCpur, October 13 2022: Research & Preservation of the Zo Identities (RPZ1) on Thursday staged a sit-in protest denouncing naming of a park in Chivu as Chandrakirti memorial park.

Leaders of RPZI including chairman Ginzavualzong and secretary Chinkhenpau along with other tribal leaders spoke in connection with the protest.

They maintained that they don't oppose any type of development work in the vicinity of Chivu Park but the name Chandrakirti memorial should be erased forever as it deeply hurt the sentiment of the Zo people all over the world.

They appealed to CM, MP and MLAs to understand the people's sentiment and reconsider the name in favour of rectifying it as Chivu Park.

Later, leaders of the RPZI submitted a memorandum to the chief minister through Churachandpur DC Sharath Arroyu appealing to the CM not to inaugurate the park at Chivu without correcting the name as it 'distorted history' written in the Chivu Stone inscriptions.

The memorandum also pointed out that Chivu stone inscription contains the wrong portrayal of Chandrakirti as being victorious over Lushai chiefs and the subjugation of 112 villages while there were not 112 villages during 1872.There was no record of Chandrakirti being victorious over the Lushai nor had he ever set foot in the said areas.

The only record that stands out in Chivu during 1872 was the treacherous capture of the tribal head/chief Raja Goukhothang by the Manipur contingent of the Lushai expedition who later died in the hands of Chandrakirti in Imphal jail, it said.

It cautioned that the name Chandrakirti would open up old wounds and hurt the sentiments of Zo people across the world.

Moreover, Archaeological Survey of India, (ASI) had communicated to Art and Culture Department regarding the issue and also sent reminders for giving response, the memorandum added.

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