P. Thirumal - Modern Mizoram: History, Culture, Poetics

This book is a study of the life of colonial and contemporary Mizo culture. There are so many people who contributed perceptibly and imperceptibly to the making of this work. Several versions of the manuscript were read and critically commented upon by colleagues and friends. Sasheej, Srivats, Shilpa, Dickens and Narmada require special mention. We think their comments have enlivened the chapters and helped it to acquire intellectual weight and moral aesthetic direction. We have been extremely lucky to have met several important Mizo academics, intellectuals and critics who were generous with their time and shared the deep insights of their land and culture. We would like to make special mention of Lalthangfala Sailo, Lalthangliana, R. L. Thanmawia, Rev. Lawmsanga, Rev. Vanlalchhuanawma, C. Lalkhawliana, Margaret Zama, Laltuangliana Khiangte and Lalrinawmi. Our friend Lalringliana was most hospitable whenever we visited Aizawl. James Khamliansawm, the young artist whose work is the basis for the writing of the last chapter, was extremely gracious to share his artistic and political concerns. To those friends and near ones like Raghuram Raju, Manju, Christy, Shruthi Bala, Amma, Anu, Ratna Mala and innumerable others, who have constantly urged and encouraged us to bring forth this volume, we owe our work in the deepest sense possible. We were lucky to have friends like Sharmila, Jenson, Ranjit and Harini who accompanied us on our various field trips to Mizoram and helped us with our work. We received editorial support from Chitralekha, Prabha Zachariah, Shiv Trishul, Himabindu and Jampa; it was wonderful working with them. Special thanks to Mikey for her conscientious absorption in our work and providing such endearing warmth.

We presented drafts of these chapters at various places including University of Tubingen, IIT Mumbai, University of Hyderabad and at Anveshi. We acknowledge the assistance given to us by institutions such as the Synod Archive, Aizawl, Mizoram State Archive, Aizawl Theological College, Mizoram University and United Theological College, Bengaluru. We are thankful to Routledge for publishing this volume. We thank Dilip Menon and Sunil Kumar from IESHR for granting us permission to republish another version of our piece which originally appeared in that journal.

The book has taken a sufficiently long time for its arrival. In a way, we think that we witnessed the making of its own time, a time of Modern Mizoram: History, Culture, Poetics.

First published 2019

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2019 P. Thirumal, Laldinpuii and C. Lalrozami

The right of P. Thirumal, Laldinpuii and C. Lalrozami to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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