# British rule in the Lushai Hills

British rule in the Lushai Hills, spanning from the late 1889 to the 1947, commenced with the Chin-Lushai Expedition of 1889-90 leading to the formal establishment of the two administrative districts (North Lushai Hills, South Lushai Hills) in 1889 and continued through the integration of the regions into the province of Assam with both districts being merged as the Lushai Hills until India gained independence in 1947.
After the Chin-Lushai Expedition of 1889-90, South Lushai Hills was occupied in 1889, and the following year, it was formally annexed, becoming part of Bengal Presidency. North Lushai Hills was also occupied in 1889, and became part of British Assam. On 1889, the two districts merged and continued to be part of British Assam. On 1912, it was put into British India's Assam Province.

## Etymology

The Lushai hills are named after the Lushei clan. The name of the tribes became a colonial misnomer which applied to all of the Mizo tribes. The earliest recorded documentation was in 1862 which described Lhooshai Kukis living on the border of Cachar. The spelling of Lushai became standardized with the Progressive Colloq. Exercises in Lushai Dial. 3 by Thomas Herbert Lewin. Lewin claimed that Lu denotes head and sha or shat denotes cutting, which would imply the tribe is named as decapitators, a title supportive of the fact that the tribes had a reputation for headhunting. This view was rebuked by John Shakespeare who argued the name Lushai to be an eponym of a chief or ancestor of the Lushai clans. It is also argued that the name is a purely Lushai language word, that Lu means head and shei means long, as a reference to how the hair knot makes the head appear elongated. Theories have also proposed that the name is Burmese derived and means people ten. The name Lushai continued as the name of the district past Indian independence before becoming changed into the Mizo District with the political efforts of the Mizo Union in the Lushai Hills District (Change of Name) Act, 1954.

## British discovery of the Lushai Hills

The Lushai people and the British colonial area started to engage in war in September 1826. About ten miles south of Tlawng river, traveled a Mizo village leader named Buangtheuva (known to the British as "Bungteya") and his troops, who then invaded the Sylhet forest's timber. In addition to taking some slaves home, they slaughtered an unknown number of people. Thus, the British came to perceive the Lushais (then known as Looshais) as a vicious and barbaric tribe as a result of this event.

## Background

After the annexation of Cachar in 1832, the British became close in proximity to several Lushai tribes and clans. Reports of the time show a friendly relationship between Lushai and Cacharis, who pursued trade and other exchanges. However, the individual choices of select chiefs, such as Lalsuthlaha, to raid villages deteriorated relations. It was thought that the British invaded the Lushai Hills not because of any commercial desire but due to a series of Mizo invasions to the plains.
The Lushai chiefs relentlessly and viciously invaded Chittagong, Cachar, Tripura, Sylhet, and Manipur between the end of 1870 and the beginning of 1871. Up to 20 invasions were said to have occurred during this time.
The raid of Katlichhera and Alexandrapur by Sailam chief Bengkhuaia appeared to be the most important of all Lushai chief invasions, having a tremendous influence on the lives and future of the Lushai people. James Winchester, the tea owner of Alexandrapur, was killed, and the Mizos kidnapped his daughter Mary Winchester (Mizo: Zolûti). The British retaliated by organising an expedition to rescue the hostages. The expedition turned out a success and the hill tribes agreed to negotiate peace terms. The peace lasted until 1888, when tribes resumed raiding British enterprises and settlements, which saw the Chin-Lushai Expedition establish the territories under British sovereignty.

## History

The outcome of the Chin-Lushai Expedition saw the region subdivided into two sections. The North Lushai hills were administered by a political officer stationed at Fort Aijal under the Assam Government. The South Lushai Hills were under the administration of a political officer stationed at Fort Treager. This political officer reported to the commissioner of Chittagong who was under the Bengal Government.

### Lushai Rising

Paramilitary units were established to pacify the recently conquered tribes effectively in unfamiliar terrain. The North Lushai battalion was founded for this reason, and by 1898, the strength of civil and military police in North and South Lushai came to about 1106 personnel. The British also began to invest into local infrastructure to improve the army and police's ability to curb insurgency and raiding. Roads between Sairang-Silchar were constructed and another connecting Aijal to Serchhip. Bridges across rivers were also constructed to improve mobility during monsoons and rainy reasons. The total expenditure for public works amounted to Rs 80,000.

### Early Institutions

The British administration set up schools imparting literacy to both sepoys and young individuals of both genders from the Lushai tribes. By 1900, there were three government schools and one mission school. These schools operated with the Lushai language and taught arithmetic, Hindi and English. 45 villages out of 93 in Aizawl had the light of literacy with British support. Initial intentions for education was to instruct in Bengali but this proposal was deflected by Welsh missionaries who saw the parallels of Bengali imposition in Lushai Hills to English imposition in Wales.
Medical infrastructure was also established to maintain the health of soldiers. This service extended to the civilian population with free medical provisions that affected the image of the Raj in the tribes. In 1896, the British constructed a big hospital in Aizawl and medicines were distributed freely to the chiefs. The conduct of the British in the Lushai hills functioned parallel to a welfare state.

### Chin-Lushai Conference

The beginnings of British rule over the Lushai Hills had proposals of amalgamating the Chin-Lushai tribes into a single administrative unit rather than maintaining a division between Chin Hills and (North and South) Lushai Hills. The conference was held at Fort Williams, Calcutta on the 25–29 January 1892. It was under the presidency of Charles Alfred Elliott who was the governor of Bengal. Five resolutions were adopted as a result of the conference. The first resolution stated a majority opinion supported the idea of a single administrative unit of the Chin Hills and Lushai Hills preferably under the Chief Commissioner of Assam. The second resolution delayed the urgency of the creation of a single Chin-Lushai District on the opposition of the Chief Commissioner of Burma Alexander Mackenzie, stating it should not be taken immediately.
The recommendation ultimately reached the Viceroy Landsdowne. While Landsdowne favoured the recommendation, the council was evenly split. The opposition of the former Chief Commissioner of Burma Charles Crosthwaite with knowledge of the Chin-Lushai tracts worded a strong argument against the district's creation. A decision was made on 2 August 1892 in a telegraph to the Chief Commissioner of Rangoon, stating that the Chin Hills would remain under Burma. The legacy of this decision was finalized in the 1937 split of Burma and India under the Government of India Act 1935, which established an international boundary between the two countries, splitting the Chin-Lushai tribes.

### Construction of Aizawl

Fort Aijal was founded in 1890 on an abandoned village site. It functioned as a barracks for two columns of the forces from the Chin Lushai Expeidition with fortifications improvised from locally harvested teak trees. The Fort grew with the relocation of the Silchar Police Battalion. Local resources such as quarried stone led to installing of bungalows and barracks. Commandant of the Military Police, Captain Granville Henry Loch, with a Khasi contractor, expanded the settlement. Loch was a soldier but possessed experience as an engineer. Loch trained his own men in quarrying and shaping stone. He used sepoys in greater numbers and instructed them in masonry, carpentry and roadmaking. This initiative lent his battalion a reputation as a pioneer instead of an ordinary infantry unit. Within the span of a few years, Loch had removed the improvised structures and abandoned village remnants into a station of well-constructed stone houses with corrugated iron roofs, proper doors and windows.

### Christianity

On 11 January 1894, the first missionaries entered the Lushai Hills, known as James H. Lorrain and Frederick W. Savidge. It took both missionaries five years to baptise their first two converts. The meagre gain from their efforts convinced Robert Arthington, the patron of the Arthington Aborigines Mission, to move to the next hill tribe. Before the departure of Lorrain and Savidge, D. E Jones, a missionary under the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist mission, joined them. Jones struggled with obtaining results from his efforts, and many of his converts would be expelled shortly after being received into communion. His later converts would also leave on their own volition in 1904–1905. In seven years, the 1901 census recorded 45 Christians amid a population of 82,000, and only five were baptized church members.

### Merging of the Hills

The North Lushai Hills and the South Lushai Hills were merged in 1898. The Northern administration absorbed the South Lushai Hills, and its South Lushai Battalion was amalgamated on 13 April 1989 and renamed the Lushai Hills Military Police Battalion. The merger also saw the political headquarters of the South Lushai Hills, Fort Treagor, decommissioned due to water scarcity. Lieutenant Colonial John Shakespear functioned as the first superintendent of the Lushai Hills district. By 1900, several forts were decommissioned, and military police unit numbers were reduced with a reduction of resistance among the tribes. This achievement was partly attributed to the efforts of missionaries.

### Circle system

The Lushai Hills district was originally divided into two subdivisions, North and South. In 1901-1902, the circle system was introduced to the Lushai Hills. The circle districts would comprise several villages. There were 18 circle districts established, 12 in Aizawl subdivision and 6 in the Lungleh subdivision. Each circle consisted of an interpreter placed in charge who would tour and be emissaries between the British and the chiefs. In 1908 the policy was changed so that circle interpreters were made to stay in Aizawl as to curb their influence of individual agendas concerning the chiefs. In the society of Mizo chiefdoms, the British introduced the Khawchhiar, a village writer. The khawchhiar would maintain statistics and other reports on the settlements and villages. The British considered the chiefs to be representatives of the concerns of their subjects and hence did not interact with commoners but only heard their concerns via their chiefs. Around the same time, 23 chiefs were further taken to Sylhet to meet with the Viceroy, George Curzon.

### Mautam Famine

The mautam famine struck the Lushai Hills in 1911, which was approximately 30 years after the previous mautam famine in 1882. The harvests of 1909-1910 were exceptional due to well-distributed rainfall and benefitted Aizawl the most. However, in 1911, the Bamboo flowered, and rats began to proliferate in population as early as March. By June 1912, crops such as maize and millet were destroyed by rats shortly before ripening. The lack of infrastructure, such as a railway to transport rice aid, and the lack of markets in the Lushai Hills meant access to rice would take a journey of a few days, provided one could afford to do so.
The British government in the Lushai Hills employed two policies to combat the onset of the Mautam famine. The first policy aimed at reducing the invasive rat population by announcing incentives for killing rats. Up to 179,015 rat tails were produced for the government as a result. The second policy was to distribute food relief. This was decided as the Lushai Hills lacked any local markets to purchase rice from. The government allocated 585,000 rupees and ordered rice from independent merchants and shopkeepers to transport them from Sairang to Aizawl and Demagiri to Lunglei.
Food grains were issued to the needy on the condition of repayment with interest. This was difficult due to the lack of monetization of the economy at the time. To deal with this phenomenon, the British resorted to forced labour. Labourers were pooled from several villages to work on expanding Aizawl as a city by building roads, bungalows, offices and water storage tanks to combat water scarcity. Even if an individual had not taken a loan personally for food relief, they would become obligated to participate in forced labour to pay off another's debt. In retaliation, some villages and chiefs moved out of the Lushai Hills. Dokhuma Sailo moved his village to Tripura, and Hrangvunga Sailo also moved 200 families under him out of the territory to Tripura.
Famine relief also saw missionaries and the early church volunteering to distribute aid and food relief from stockade depots. Missionaries would also help sign loan papers as guarantors so individuals could receive the rice aid. The fallout of the famine saw the church take on the role of medical relief for the cholera outbreaks, taking in orphans and the destitute. The operations were funded by the Lushai Famine Funds mission directors and other donors. The efforts of the missionaries also saw the growth of Chrisitanity. In 1912, up to 80 villages had churches and 1,800 converts in total.

### World War One

The outbreak of World War One saw few Mizo men take the initiative to enlist, with numbers of enlistment increasing with the despisement of those who wouldn't volunteer by courtships and belles of the villages. In April 1917, 2100 Lushai Men marched out in the 27th Indian Labour Corps under four companies. Other entitlements such as a lifetime exemption from an annual housing tax, coolie labour quotas and an ability to tour abroad also proved popular for Lushai manpower. Missionary and government publications also propagandized the opportunity to fight abroad. Further recruitment initiatives were halted due to the Kuki Uprising in the bordering regions against continued recruitment.
The Corps was deployed in Marseilles as La Valentine camp. The camp was built up with a canteen and a cinema over time. Labour Corps were also often accompanied by missionaries, for the Lushai Labour Corps, Reverend James Herbert Lorrain accompanied them. The contracts to the Labour Corps personnel were made under one-year contracts, which timed out before the end of the war. Attempts to extend the term of contractual obligations were unsuccessful and led to many returning home. In the end, 2029 men of the original 2,100 returned. Deaths were attributed to the novelty of a sea journey to mainland Europe, disease, casualties from bombings and grenades in the course of labour work and ammunition handling. Lushai Labour Corps personnel were also active in Arras for demolition work, even deployed to regions such as Mesopotamia, Greece, Lucknow and the Ottoman vilayet of Basra.
Returning from the war encouraged veterans to join the Assam Rifles, Assam Regiment and Indian Army Hospital Corps. In Aizawl, a memorial was constructed shortly after the war to commemorate the deaths of 71 Labour Corps volunteers. Exposure to foreign cultures in the course of the war redeployments also began to bring home new ideas of westernization and modernization. Some of these developments were the introduction of short hair and European dress. Articles such as those by Lalsailova in Mizo leh Vai suggested that rural readers consider moving to Aijal for the purpose of progress (hmasawnna). Mizo labourers also brought back crop seeds such as mustard, which changed traditional Mizo cuisine to French fusion in the post-war era.

### First political movements

The first forms of organized politics in the Lushai Hills began in 1925 under the leadership of the Telela (Darchhingpuia), a pharmacist of the Ralte tribe in Kulikawn suburb of Aizawl. Telela formed a group with his friends Thuama, Saikunga and Thanzuala who were shopkeepers. Chawngbuia a church elder was also included along with two tailors, C.Z. Biaka and Chawngdailova. The group sent a memorandum to Parry protesting against compulsory labour such as construction of the chief's house, zawlbuk, village schools and coolie work. Parry was furious at the prospect. He threatened the group with imprisonment if they did not desist. The group persisted and requested the Governor for the concessions of forced labour and for representation in the reformed provincial council. Telela was a romantic poet who continued to creatively express his ideals of freedom and the Christian millennium. Chawngbawia another prominent group member was a school teacher and church elder who believed in state participation like the Khasis. Rev. J.J.M. Nichola Roy, a khasi leader met with Telela and Chawngbawia in Shillong to discuss the lack of political representation. Nichols Roy stated that no political representation can be granted to the Lushai until they leave the excluded zone. He went on the advise steps in mobilising public support for administrative change and representation. The group under Telela began to deliver lectures at Aizawl upon their return. On account fo this and the governor's redirection of the memorandum to the superintendent, Parry issued an arrest for the group and placed them in Aizawl police station. They were released the next day but this had stifled political movements until post world war two.

### Neville Edward Parry

N.E Parry was suprtinedent of the Lushai Hills from 1924-1928. In 1926, the villagers of Chhinchhip complained to Parry about the oppression of their chief Hmingliana and the khawchhiar (village writer) Hrangchhuma. They requested for the dismissal of the two individuals. However Parry punished the complaints by fining every family ₹3 while a fine was imposed on Hmingliana of a mithun. Similarly a complaint by villagers in Reiek and Tuahzawl had lodged complaints against their chiefs in connection with village inscriptions which was sought to be pocketed by the chiefs.
Parry functioned on a basis of empowering the chiefs and the institution of chieftainship. Parry attempt to bring back the institution of the zawlbuk. The Zawlbuk was in its decline and not used with the onset of Christianity and modernization. Zorema argues that the institutions was a symbol of traditionalism and autocratic rule by chiefs. The Christian parents preferred to keep their sons home on account of the conditions being better for education. Parry would order that all villages larger 25 houses should maintain a zawlbuk. Parry also stopped the tradition of subdividing the land of the chiefs to disempower more chiefs and restrain the influence of petty headsmen. Complaints had also risen on the conduct of circle interpreters who demanded eggs, fowls, and goats through the chiefs who would tax the subjects. Parry put an end to this by requiring the circle interpreters to pay for what they received on tour through an order on 13 November 1926. Parry codified hnatlan which was voluntary labour for the chiefs in constructing their houses or private works. Furthermore Parry codified upas and ramhuals to follow the chief on journeys as a customary law.
The judicial power of chiefs were also being undermined with kohran upas who would hold cases and settle disputes between individuals. Parry codified another policy that upas have no authority to hold or settle cases and that the authority is only granted to chiefs and the courts in Aizawl and Lungleh. Parry also refused to grant review to the decisions made by chiefs in the settlement of customary courts when individuals appealed to him as superintdent.

### Excluded Areas and Inner Line Regulation

In 1925, the Inner Line Regulation was amended to protect the Lushai Hills district. It was derived initially after the Lushai Expedition under section 2 of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873. It was an attempt to exercise political control over the Lushai Hills and chiefdoms. The rationale was to prevent traders, merchants, farmers and subjects from crossing into Lushai territory and deteriorating relations with the chiefdoms. This would also allow for the British to guarantee boundaries of their dominion and assure security of their subjects and possessions. As the border was too informal with the chiefdoms, the British declared a unilateral declaration with the inner line. One of the objectives of this regulation is to prevent the holding of land and assimilation of their culture and tradition beyond this inner line by 'strangers'. The Inner Line has, for this reason, protected the Lushai Hills from commercial exploitation of land and forest resources from merchants, traders and other tribes.

### Academic Development

The middle schools in Aizawl and Lungleh had begun to fail to satisfy the Lushais in pursuit of higher education. The demand emerged shortly after World War One but was not acted upon by superintendents who felt it lacked justification despite the encouragement of the Welsh Mission. In 1929 the Welsh Mission sent an official request to the superintendent for a high school which was refused by the administration. In 1931 the chiefs submitted a joint representation the Commsioner of Surma Valley, Hezlett. Hezlett was of the opinion that a high school would produce more educated Lushais than jobs can be distributed in the Lushai Hills. As a result higher education was not prioritised until A.R.H MacDonald would become superintendent.
As a result of this decision, the wealthy Lushai families sent their children outside the district to pursue higher studies. The exposure to other organizations led to the need for a Lushai organisation to pressure the government on various areas of improvement. In October 1924, the Lushai Student's Association was founded in Shillong with branches in Calcutta and Gauhati. The Lushai Students Association held a conference at Shillong in the same month where Bucchawna was assigned the dual post of general secretary and treasurer. The Calcutta branch consisted of Dahrawka, Kailuia Sailo and Sangkunga. The Gauhati branch consited of Durra, Chongthu and Buchhawna Khiangte. The Shillong branch was the largest with the most notable member being Thanglura.

### McCall's Developments of the Lushai Hills

Superintendent McCall was the administrator of the Lushai Hills district from 1933 to 1943. His administration saw four major innovations in the Lushai Hills. These were the Ten Point Code, the Welfare System under the aegis of the Red Cross, the Lushai Hills Cottage Industries and the inauguration of the Chief's Durbar. These innovations were introduced to unify the Lushai identity and to support Governor of Assam Robert Reid's vision of transforming the excluded tribal zones into a separate Crown Colony. Reid's plan received considerable political interest but was dropped at the onset of World War Two.
The Ten Point Code was established and taught in schools to children. The purpose was to cultivate Lushai identity for potential nationhood and preservation of Mizo culture and customs. The code was also implemented into choirs, poetry and song. The welfare committees in villages also recite two points of the code every monthly meeting. The code was also intended to remedy traits of Lushai culture that were backward and incohesive for a national identity.
Ten Point Code :
| Point | Code |
| 1 | We desire to maintain a wholesome respect for all that is best in our indigenous culture, which bears the stamp of the hardly learned experience of our brave forefathers over time immemorial. |
| 2 | We desire to inspire in our people an ambition to maintain a true sense of proportion as to what wants and desires are reasonable in relation to our own natural resources and industry. |
| 3 | We desire to maintain strict loyalty to our Chief in all things lawful, and in all his efforts on behalf of his people, in return for which the Chief will serve the interests of his people so that he may continue to rule. |
| 4 | We desire to inculcate into one and all that we should display the same sense of loyalty to our whole village community as we desire to practise towards our own families. |
| 5 | We desire to do all in our power to foster the indigenous spirit of Tlawmngaihna in our midst. |
| 6 | We desire to integrate into our daily lives, within the indigenous framework of our social systems, what modern science and knowledge have discovered, by strengthening and safeguarding our characters, health, home, crops, industry and possession. |
| 7 | We desire to seek all useful channel for the greater use of our leisure time so they by industry we may bring advtange to our families and villages and relieve our womenfolk of harder work. |
| 8 | We desire to unite all in contesting our common tendency to be Mi hlem hle while retaining pride in the sincere achievement of all manly and courageous feats, especially those undertaken for the protection of our community. |
| 9 | Those of us who are Christians agree to recognise that we should bow to the authority of those who introduced us to it, and that we shall be disloyal if we do not submit to discipline. |
| 10 | We desire to inculcate into our community the need for self-control and avoidance of excesses, to cultivate true spirit in willing service and discipline into young men who are the nation of the future. |
The rationale for implementing the Village Welfare System was twofold. The first reason was that it was an egalitarian way of bringing people together socially on the subject of health. The second reason was to encourage the Chiefs to cooperate on an uncontroversial matter. The stipulation held legitimacy by allowing the villages to join the welfare system voluntarily but being obligated to follow the rules upon joining.
Village welfare was introduced due to the fact that only 3% of the Lushai population had access to permanent contact to amenities. The civil surgeon was in charge of the village welfare system, who oversaw all matters of public health and living conditions for the benefit of the villagers. The village welfare committees function under the guidance of the Red Cross district committee in Aizawl. All committee decision-making was unanimous and implemented by the villagers in religious, social, and technical harmony. All welfare committees have the village chief as president, leaders of the church and school, pensioners, and two village women and two village men in membership.
The Lushai Hills Cotton Industry initiative was too risky for government funds and was privately financed by McCall and his wife, who formed as a joint organizer and managing director of the venture to cultivate craftsmanship and broader market opportunities to export loom products.
The British policy of diminishing chieftain power by granting chieftain rights to collaborators and other individuals increased the number of chiefs from 60 to 400 in the 1890s to the 1930s. The large number of chiefs required a system of coordination and consultation. This led to the creation of the District Chief's Durbar. Each Chief will ascend to the durbar by signing a document affirming loyalty to the British Crown and the Lushai people. The durbar was designed for chiefs to become responsible for studying the conditions and lives of people under their jurisdiction and to unify the Chiefs in looking after the wellbeing of the Lushai people in general. The Durbar was assigned to meet twice yearly at a convenient meeting place for all chief circles. It would last seven to ten days and, in an advisory capacity, make decisions offered to the superintendent.
October 1940 Chief's Durbar elections :
| Circle | name | clan | village |
| Aizawl subdivision ||||
| Circle I | Lalsailova | Sailo | Kelseih |
| Circle I | Kamlaiana | Sailo | Tachhip |
| Circle II | Khawkunga | Chenkual | Pukpui |
| Circle II | Ngurliana | Sailo | Kolasib |
| Circle III | Hrangtinaia | Hmar | Vaitin |
| Circle III | Laltinkhuma | Sailo | Lailak |
| Circle IV | Awksarala | Sailo | Phullen |
| Circle IV | Hrangchhuma | Sailo | Khawdungsei |
| Circle V | Thlahthiauva | Hualngo | Khuangleng |
| Circle V | Thanglianga | Sailo | Tlangsam |
| Circle VI | Thangchuanga | Sailo | Biate |
| Circle VII | Lalzuala | Sailo | Baktawng |
| Circle VIII | Saihnuna | Sailo | Mualcheng |
| Circle IX | Ngurchhina | Sailo | Thenzawl |
| Circle X | Lalbuanga | Sailo | Kanghmun |
| Circle XI | Lalluaia | Sailo | Reiek |
| Lunglei Subdivision ||||
| Circle XII | Laldula | Sailo | Buarpui |
| Circle XIII | Thanzama | Sailo | Thiltlang |
| Circle XIV | Sena | Sailo | Sekhum |
| Circle XIV | Taikhuma | Ralte | Pukpui |
| Circle XV | Khuahupa | Pawi | Cheural |
| Circle XV | Lalsailova | Fanai | Lungleng |
| Circle XVI | Achhuma | Fanai | Tawipui |
| Circle XVII | Chungmunga | Lakher | Serkawr |
| Circle XVIII | Lianhnuna | Palian | Tiante |

### Young Lushai Association

The liberal and progressive nature of A.G McCall led to the development of Lushai community organizations. The increase in education and the influence of the Young Men's Buddhist Association in Burma led to the creation of the Young Lushai Organization on 4 June 1935. The YLA was not a political organization but a cultural one. It was originally consisting of the sons of chiefs before becoming populated with commoners. The organization developed a view against the institution of Lushai chieftainship which would influence its members who would go on to found the Mizo Union on the same policy and ideology such as Vanlawma.

### World War Two

In April 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army had occupied much of Colony of Burma and pushed the British back into the Northeastern Regions of India. Superintendent of the Lushai Hills, Major Anthony Gilchrist McCall, brought 300 tribal chiefs and asked them to join in a voluntary bond with the British Crown and to sign a promise to join in a "Total Defence Scheme" (TDS) of the area. McCall was recalled under protest by the Governor of Assam Andrew Clow in May 1943, his position being transferred to Shillong instead. However, in his absence, the Total Defence Scheme was held throughout the war. McCall argued that without loyalty to the British, the TDS would collapse and that the Lushai Hills would not resist Japanese occupation if the British military were to retreat as they did in British Malaya, Singapore and Colony of Brunei.
The Total Defence Scheme involved guerilla warfare, strategic abandonment of villages, scorched earth tactics with denial of food and water, booby traps, destruction of bridges and exclusive information supplied to British authorities. McCall explicitly states to Chiefs to arm the bravest with guns and rifles and not directly confront enemies but to rely on knowledge of the terrain for effective ambush tactics. The Total Defence Scheme functioned on an asymmetrical warfare doctrine as a result. McCall's scheme was made in mind that tribal people did not possess up-to-date arms, were not professionally trained in military affairs and lacked vital air support and reconnaissance in comparison with the Japanese. The Lushai tribesmen were trained by Australian military personnel, such as Colonel Percival Augustus Parsons, in guerilla warfare. The scheme was successful as the Japanese retreated from the borderlands of India in late 1944.
The Japanese had occupied the villages of Darkhai, Khuangpah and Teikhang on the Lushai border in Burma. This prompted the settlements of Champhai, Biate,Darzo, Hnahlan, Khuangpah, Pawlrang, Samthang, Sawleng, Tipaimukh, Thingsai,Tuisenhnar and Vanlaipai to establish Pasalṭha pawl. Corps of the Lushai Scouts known as Biate Sipai were raised to support this with 300 raised in Biate alone. In total, 3000 youths had joined the military forces. The importance of the Lushai Hills as a frontier for the Japanese invasion of India led to military investments. As a result, Aizawl, Kolasib, Lunglei and Tlabung became vital supply bases. Zorema also argues that the exposure to foreign troops and the investments in military infrastructure opened up the Lushais to a politically conscious future.
Lushai volunteer distribution across units :
| Unit | Lushai volunteers |
| Assam Regiment | 1272 |
| Indian Army Medical Corps | 772 |
| Burma Army | 581 |
| Assam Rifles | 340 |
| Lushai Scout Group | 309 |
| Other unit corps | 168 |
| Airforce | 52 |
| Navy | 27 |
| W.A.C | 20 |
| Auxilliary Nursing | 10 |
| Total: 3551 ||

### District Council

Alexander Ranald Hume MacDonald as superintendent of the Lushai Hills supported the crown colony scheme formulated by Professor Coupland. MacDonald built upon McCall's chief's durbar by introducing representatives who were commoners in equal number to the chiefs. This was done to pacify the people as a reward for their services in the total defence scheme and the war effort contribution. The district council would mark the official beginning of political participation for the Lushai people.
The district council consisted of 20 representatives elected by chiefs in their circles and another 20 representatives elected by the commoners. Two electoral colleges were established to allocate voting and seats for each. The Electoral College of the Commoners was constituted of ten houses that would nominate one elector who would then vote for a commoner to represent them.

### First District Council Elections

District Council Results January 1946 :
| Circle | Chiefs | Village | Commoners | Village |
| 1. | Lalsailova | Kelsih | Dr. Dahrawka | Aijal |
| 2. | Khhawkunga | Bukpui | Kapthianga Clerk | Chaltang |
| 3.A. | Lamlira | Hmuizawl | Thangzika | Sawleng |
| 3.B. | Lalindia | Khawruhlian | Khenkhama | Phuaibuang |
| 4.A. | Awksarala | Phullen | Ranga | Saitual |
| 4.B. | Lalzidinga | Ngopa | Vaitlia | Khawdungsei |
| 5. | Vanhnuaithanga | Kelkang | Manliana | Zotlang |
| 6. | Suakhnuna | Lungpho | Lalchhawnzova | Chalrang |
| 7. | Tlanglianchhuma | Hualtu | Liantudaia C.I. | Baktawng |
| 8. | Saihnuna | Mualcheng | P. Saitawna | North Vanlaiphai |
| 9. | Lalthawvenga | Sailam | Lalzuia | Sialsuk |
| 10. | Ngurchhinna | Khawrihnim | Lalbuaia | Lungleng |
| 11. | Lalbuanga | Tukkalh | Zahlira Pastor | Tukkalh |
| 12. | Lalthangdula | Buarpui | Rokawnga | Vanhne |
| 13. | Lalbuana | Thingsai | Khuanga Pastor | Thitlang |
| 14. | Taikhuma | Pukpui | R. Dengthuama | Pukpui |
| 15. | Thangkunga | Lungtian | Aithura | Muallianpui |
| 16. | Aichhuma | Tawipui | Ch. Saprawnga | Theiriat |
| 17. | Suakhnuna | Serte | Rohmingliana | Tlabung |
| 18. | Chhungmunga | Serkawr | Laithuama | Tuipang |

### Political movements

The growth of the Young Lushai Association saw a radical faction forming who wished to participate in politics. On 12 April 1946, the Lushai Commoner's Union inspired by the Burmese organization, the General Council of Buddhists Association was formed. On April 9, 1946, Vanlawma took permission of the superintendent A.R.H MacDonald in Aizawl to organize a meeting of the commoners. As a result, Vanlawma, Dahrawka and H.P Sailo organised a commoners meeting. Vanlawma was a member of the Young Lushai Association and the first matriculate of the Lushai Hills. Another group led by an individual known as Saprawnga was not granted permission to do so in Lunglei. Saprawnga was not granted due to MacDonald's concerns over his strong following and the lack of political control outside of Aizawl. Saprawnga would subsequently become the chief executive member of the district council of the Mizo district. Other prominent leaders would include C. Chhunga the first chief minister of the Union Territory of Mizoram, Khawtin Kuma and Bawichuaka.
The party operated under a democratic constitution and functioned through elected representatives. In every big village there were units and branches of the party established. Members would deposit payment and donations to the party fund. The Young Lushai Association on 8 February 1945, shortly before the formation of the Lushai Commoner Union sent a delegate to the superintendent A.R.H MacDonald demanding that village elders be elected rather than appointed by chieftain privilege. Accompanying demands included an end to forced labour, and outdated imperial levies. Superintendent MacDonald agreed to the terms and arranged a forum to address the political matters. On 14 January 1946 the Lushai Commoner's Union and the chiefs elected 24 representatives and convened a district conference.
The general meeting of the party in 1946 convened and they formally changed the name of the Lushai commoner's party to the Mizo Commoner's party before shortening into the Mizo Union. This decision had been credited with the popularisation of the term Mizo over the anglicised misnomer of Lushai. The policy of opposing chieftainship alienated many chiefs who initially participated in the Mizo Union and led to Superintendent MacDonald pushing back on a perception of radicalisation and destabilisation of the system of indirect rule.
On the 25–26 April 1946, a conference and election was made for the party. Pachhunga became president, Lalhlema became vice-president, Vanlawma was general secretary, Lalbuiaia was assistant secretary and Thanga was treasurer. The meeting also saw the objective of the party outlined:
* To guide and lead the Mizo people and ultimately to attain an independent Mizoram.
* To bridge the gap between the ordinary Mizo chiefs and their ministers.
* To create better understanding among all the Mizo regardless of localities.
* To improve the Mizo language so that the Mizo culture might be better understood and continued.
* To established a press in order to publish papers and other materials beneficial to all the Mizo people.
The initial activities of the Mizo Union were originally localised in Aizawl. The party spread their influence through hla (songs or poetry), consisting of slogans of their policies and aims. A draft constitution known as Rorel Khawl which was rejected by the Governor of Assam for being too ambitious. The Mizo Union also brought attention to the Lushai Hills. Vanlawma was invited by Reverend J.J Nichols Roy to Shillong. At Shillong Vanlawma was approached by S.B. Choudhuri, an editor of the Shillong Times who asked elementary questions on the Mizos as they were unknown to the rest of India even to Shillong. Vanlawma received a front page news article on the creation of the Mizo Union in the Shillong Times which Choudary described as a 'political feat'. Vanlawma became a special correspondent to the Shillong Times and the Hindustan Standard in Calcutta. During this time Vanlawma met with the Assam Communists at his hostel after being invited by them. Vanlawma would also meet with the Khasi leaders under direction of Superintendent Macdonald to write a constitution of a relationship between the tribes. However, the Khasi leaders did not cooperate by citing that the Khasi hill people were more progressed with wealth and education but that they were willing to lead the Mizos to unite. The meeting with the leaders was fruitless as they did not write a constitution or follow through which disappointed Vanlawma.

### Meeting with Bordoloi

The partition of India became a contentious topic for the future of the hill tribes. The Assam State Chief Minister Gopinath Bordoloi began to cooperate with the Khasi, Garo, Mizo and Naga on the direction of their political future. Vanlawma met with Bordoloi in Shillong to talk of the desire of the Mizo people. The question of independence had not been broached at this time, but Vanlawma decided to provide Bordoloi with the answer that the Mizos would ascend to India rather than Pakistan. Vanlawma argued that this arrangement would mean the Mizo people would desire significant autonomy to protect themselves from Indian dominance and exploitation. Bordoloi agreed to Vanlawma's proposal.

### Developments of the Mizo Union

The first general assembly of the Mizo Union was summoned on 24 September 1946 with two representatives from each sector of the Lushai Hills district. There were 700 representatives at the first General election. Internal problems also began to plague the Mizo Union. The first president of the Mizo Union, Pachhunga was criticed for not being well educated to hold the position of President. An intellectual group within the Mizo Union led by Saprawnga and college graduates had formed and this faction of the Mizo Union criticized the leadership of the party for being uneducated. Pachhunga attempted to resign from the complaints but was persuaded to preside over the first general meeting. Vanlawma, Dahrawka, and Sailo's meeting was held at Thankthing M.E School, and there was a large attendance. Superintendnt A.R.H. Macdonald attended the meeting. MacDonald spotted the pamphlet of the Mizo Union, which discussed abolishing the ramhual class of Mizo chieftainship. Macdonald became alarmed at the Mizo Union challenging the status quo and the status of chieftainship. As a result, the meeting was kicked out of the school. It was argued that allowing the meeting to take place in the government school building would make the chiefs believe the views of the Mizo Union were sanctioned by the government, hence provoking the response MacDonald gave. The meeting was subsequently continued in a nearby Zawlbuk. Public opinion on Lushai chieftainship had begun to sour, and tolerance decayed for chiefs using power and authority on behalf of the British, which appeared increasingly autocratic. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Sakhrie, the secretary to the Naga National Council. The Nagas originally kept contact with the Mizo politicians for an opportunity to fight for independence as a common cause for their people.
The results of the meeting elected the Mizo Union Party councillors. Pacchunga, the president of the Mizo Union, K.T Dawla, Zairema from Dawrpui Veng, Reverend Chhuahkhama from Mission Veng, Thangliankhama from Kulikawn Veng, Ranga from Saitual, Vanlalbuka from Sihphir, R.B. Chawnga from Tuahzawl and Vankeuva from Sialsuk. While the Mizo Union began to establish itself, A.R.H. MacDonald convened a meeting for the district council on 7–8 November 1946. The meeting intended to form a constitution of Vantlang Rorel Khawl. MacDonald claimed that through the constitution the crown colony can protect Mizoram from falling under the Indian government. MacDonald stated: "I am afraid that Mizoram is going to vanish unless the Mizoram learn the democratic system while the British are here. Therefore, we the British must teach the democratic system to the Mizo leaders".
MacDonald also established the MacDonald scheme or Rorelkhawl. This was a constitution manging the executive, legislature, judiciary institutions for a fully fledged government. The scheme consisted of a legislature of chiefs and commoners to make laws and levy taxes. The executive would consist of an auditor, a minister and three councillors. The three councillors would be the head of a ministry in either the Department of Agriculture, Arts, Industries, Trade, Forest and Fisheries, Department of Public Works and Communications and Department of Education and Health. There would be a 33 member council and "historian" to act as its secretary. A governor with direct responsibility of judiciary would be head of state holding office for 16 years as a term. The auditor and minister for 4 years and the councillors for a term of 3 years. Lastly a public service commission would be established for the recruitment of public personnel with the auditor as chairman and two retired public servants as members. The first meeting of the District Council was on 18 January 1946 where MacDonald instated himself as president. However, before MacDonald could secure a unanimous approval on the constitution, the commoners opposed the draft as not agreeing to equal seats as chiefs. The outcome of the conference led to the establishment of an advisory council known as Hnawhchhuah Ngaituah Pawl in every village. The responsibility of the council was to advise the chief in matters of expulsion of undesirable individuals from the villages. The meeting also concluded that all families are obligated to pay the fathang (paddy tax) except government workers, teacher, pastors and salvation army personnel. The tax would be ₹2 for those that didn't cultivate crops. MacDonald had also deposed five chiefs. Three of these chiefs were deposed due to their collaboration with the Japanese and treated as traitors, and two chiefs had become too old to lead their villages. The removal of chiefs led many individuals to advocate for MacDonald to pursue political reforms. Hualzakham was branded a traitor and jailed, as well as being deposed.
The proposals failed to gain agreement. The meeting lacked many of the Mizo leaders at the time, and many of them, such as Khawtinkhuma, president of the Mizo Union, were openly against the institution of chieftainship. Saprawnga attempted to negotiate with MacDonald by stating that if the commoners outnumbered the chiefs by having twice the representation, an agreement on the proposal could be reached. In return, MacDonald blamed the Mizo leaders for their agendas and for abandoning the welfare of the Mizo people. He argued that most Mizos aren't able to disagree with the current political intelligentsia. A second election was held for the Mizo Union, with Khawtinkhuma remaining president. The vice president would be an ex-Burmese military officer named Lalbiakthanga. Vanlawma tried to withdraw his name from the ballot box when Saprawnga nominated Vanthuama for the general secretary role. Equal votes were cast between both until Lalhlema the chairman cast his vote for Vanthuama.

### Lushai Chiefs Council

The chiefs continued their meeting after the District Council meeting and established the Lushai Chiefs Council. The council was formed to defend the institution of Mizo chieftainship. The motto was "Heaven's Light our Guide" and held three objectives. These were to maintain the integrity and cooperation of chiefs, maintain cordial relationship between the government and the people, to safeguard customary Lushai laws and to maintain hereditary rights of chiefs and consider the general interest of all individuals. The following members consistuted the council:
* Chairmain: Lalsailova Sailo, Chief of Kelsih
* Deputy Chairman: Awksarala Sailo, Chief of Phullen
* Secretary: Ngura Chongthu,. Chief of Durtlang
* Joint Secretary: Hrawva Khiangte, Chief of Aizawl
* Treasurer: Lalluia Sailo BEM, CHief of Reiek
* Finance Secretary: Khakhunga Chenkual, Chief of Bukpui
* Ex-officio members:
** Lalkailuia Sailo, B.A. Assistant to the Superintendent
** Hranglura Sailo, Sub Inspector of Police
** Dr. Saichhunga Sailo, Assam Regiment
** Captain Ṭhenphunga Sailo, Assam Regiment
** Captain lalrinthanga Sailo, Assam Regiment.

### Mizo Union Lakhipur Conference

A conference was arranged under H.K. Bawichhuaka in Lakhipur in Cachar. The purpose was to discuss the September conference on the district council of the Lushai Hills. Two resolutions were passed as a result. The territorial unity and solidarity of the whole Lushai population occupying the Lushai Hills, a part of Cachar, Manipur, and Chittagong Hill Tracts be maintained. The second resolution concerned that the Lushai Hills shall have full autonomy and self-determination with the province of Assam.

### Bordoloi Committee

Gopinath Bordoloi requested Vanlawma to attend a meeting of all the representatives in Assam State to determine whether they preferred to join India or Pakistan. The meeting was held in Gauhati. Vanlawma and Khawtinkhuma would arrive in February 1947 as co-opted representatives of the Lushai Hills district. The invitation from Bordoloi infuriated Vanlawma who felt that Bordoloi no longer wished to give the Mizo Union full membership on thee Assam Advisory Sub-Committee. Vanlawma would ask Khawtinkhuma not to accept the co-opted membership but request full membership. However a second invitation arrived from Assam which replaced Vanlawma with Saprawnga as co-opted members. As a result Khawtinkhuma and Saprawnga accepted co-opted membership in the Assam Advisory Sub-Committee to represent the Mizo people.

### Vanlawma's public speech and debate

As a result, Vanlawma held a public meeting supporting the independence of the Mizo people. The speech also criticised Bordoloi for not allowing full representation of the Mizo people. Vanthuama began to debate Vanlawma on the possibility of independence as a small nation, and fighting a rebellion would be fruitless and destructive while stifling resources for economic growth. The sharp disagreement saw Mizo Union leaders side with Vanthuama. The southern localities of Aizawl were in agreement with Vanthuama against independence and the northern localities in Aizawl supported Vanlawma in independence. The meeting introduced the concept of the question of independence for Mizoram.

### Divergence of ideology in the Mizo Union

Pachhunga convened a meeting of the Mizo Union under the assistant superintendent Sainghinga in the Bengali Theater Hall in Aizawl. The question of meeting discussed the issue of independence. Church leaders, teachers and other individuals participated in the meeting, totalling 200. Pachhunga, Dahrawka and Hmartawnphunga argued on the premise that union with India would see a dominant culture absorb their identity and way of life. As a result they encouraged a serious commitment to MacDonald's proposed constitution as a Crown Colony of the British as they believed this would protect the Mizo people and their land.
Superintendent MacDonald wanted a second election for the calendar year 1947. The second annual election saw Khawtinkhuma and Vanluama both nominated for the role of president by the party. Some members encouraged Vanlawma to withdraw so that MacDonald would see the Mizo Union as one accord. However this idea became unpopular with the independence approving supporters of Vanlawma and preferred an election instead. In March 1947 a Mizo newspaper run by unionists reported that councillors must resign at the end of the calendar year which was December 1946. Vanlawma who was elected in January 1947 was forced to resign which caused controversy among the Mizo Union party.
The Mizo Union councillors who had been forced to resign met at Pachhunga's home on 24 March with vice president Zairema and other leaders. A consensus was reached that the forced resignations were unlawful and against the party constitution. A decision was taken to strip Khawtinkhuma, Zairema, Vanthuama and Lalbuaia of their positions on 25 March 1947. From the date onwards a interim group would lead the party until a general election was called which was headed by Pachhunga and Vanlawma as president and general secretary. As a result the Mizo Union under Pacchunga became pro-independent while the party under Khawtinkhuma became pro-India during the political campaigning period.
Superintendent A.R.H. MacDonald was about to leave Mizoram on account of the expiration of his term. Before this, the Constitution's subadvisory committee was visiting Aizawl. The Committee consisted of Gopinath Bordoloi, N.V. Thakar, B.N. Rae, Mr. Ramadhyani, Reverend Nichols Roy, Mr Temjemaliba Ao with Khawtinkhuma and Saprawnga. The two Mizo factions were preparing memorandums for the Bordoloi committee. The faction under Pacchunga argued for independence due to the differences of Mizos and Indians and lack of history. Khawtinkhuma's faction submitted a memorandum hoping for a union with India and a request for a district council. A clause was inserted to revisit the decision in 10 years and opt out of the Indian Union.
The meeting was held in Kulikawn in southern Aizawl. B.N. Rao and Nichols Roy were the main speakers. Roy spoke on the future of the Mizos. He used his experience as a minister of public works in Assam to explain of the benefits of union with India. During question time Nichols Roy entertained a question from Sena. Sena asked about the Mizo's choice to be independent in which Roy reluctantly agreed to the prospect to respect the decision if taken. The meeting did not make any decisions. The Bordoloi Committee met in Shillong to make a final decision and agreement. Khawtinkhuma and Saprawnga on behalf of the Mizo people signed the agreement of becoming a union with India. However, Tenjemaliba Ao of the Nagas disagreed to become a union with India and left the meeting. A.Z. Phizo would visit the Mizos in Aizawl as he intended to work with them to secure independence for both. The visit was not significant as the Mizo Union leaders had already committed to a union with India. This stopped all opportunity of cooperation between the Nagas and Mizos and the Nagas arguably launched their independence movement in 1949.

### MacDonald's departure

Due to the failure of gaining consensus and approval for his proposals from the district conference, MacDonald began to cooperate with the Mizo Union right wing. A public meeting was held on 21 February 1947 in Aizawl. It was chaired by Sainghinga the assistant superintendent along with Dahrawka and Hmartawnphunga with 200 Lushai leaders who were from the church or various school. The resolution of the meeting argued for independence to maintain their ethnic and cultural identity. An argument was made on the basis that the departure of the British would not protect the hill tribes from the influx of the Indians if the excluded areas were removed. The meeting declared that "the British Government is great refuse for the Mizos. Noone can tell the fate to which we could have been reduced had the British not helped in maintaining our identity."
MacDonald attempted to revive the District Council Conference. It had become functionally inactive after the Mizo Union had refused to cooperate with it from November 1946. As Superintendent he ordered that every ten houses in the village shall elect one representative who were then to elect the members of the District Council. The election dates to nominate members of the conference would be 6 February 1947. The elections to the Second District Council were scheduled to be held on 9 April for the Lunleh subdivision and 14 April for the Aizawl subdivision. The Mizo Union who opposed this convened a Block Officer's Conference between 4 and 5 April at the village of Sialsuk. The Mizo Union decided to abstain from the elections. Dengthuama gave a speech stating that:
   "Our Superintendent has formed a District Conference which does not really represent the district because the number of seats is exactly equal for the commoners and the chiefs. Only 300 chiefs should have twenty seats and more than 1.5 laks people having the same number of seat is a definite injustice. So we cannot participate in that election. On 5 April we metand resolved that we cannot participate."
As a result of this declaration, the Mizo Union boycotted the second district council elections. There were no candidates from the Lunglei subdivision while 300 candidates from the Aizawl subdivision placed themselves on the ballot.

### Second District Council election

District Council Results April 1947 :
| Circle | Chiefs | Village | Commoners | Village |
| 1. | Lalsailova | Kelsih | R. Vanlawma | Thakthing |
| 2. | Khhawkunga | Bukpui | Zaia | Lungmuat |
| 3.A. | Lamlira | Hmuizawl | Lianthangpuia | Saizawl |
| 3.B. | Lalindia | Khawruhlian | Khenkhama | Phuaibuang |
| 4.A. | Awksarala | Phullen | Pastor Liangkhaia | Saitual |
| 4.B. | Lalzidinga | Khawdungsei | Laithuama | Tualcheng |
| 5. | Laltawna | Bungzung | Manliana | Zotlang |
| 6. | Lalthiama | Sialhawk | Chawlkhuma C.I. | Biate |
| 7. | Lalzuala | Baktawng | Lalhmuaka | Lenchim |
| 8. | Saihnuna | Mualcheng | Pastor Saitawna | Mualcheng |
| 9. | Lalthawvenga | Sailam | Thanbuka | Sailam |
| 10. | Vanhnuaithanga | Lungleng | Lalthangdula | Arte |
| 11. | Lalbuanga | Tukkalh | Sena | hmunpui |

### Chieftainship and the UMFO

Groups of volunteers were established to campaign for the Mizo Union and popular issue of independence. Vankhama, Lalrinliana went to Sialsuk, Vanlalliana and Challeta went to Champhai, Ngura went to the northeast while Thangridema Thantuma went to Baktawng. However the intention of spreading the idea of independence was ineffective as most rural inhabitants had little to no interest in the future of the Lushai Hills. The volunteers noticed that the issue of chieftainship had become a topic of rural individuals becoming tired of working under chiefs.

#### Mizo Union split

A majority of the Mizo Union supported union with India. However towards independence, a faction known as the right wing formed out of the party. They consisted of businessmen located in Aizawl with links to chiefs who preferred alternatives to rule under India. Polticial scientist, Prof Coupland's Crown Colony Scheme became the initial source of support for this minority of the Mizo Union. The scheme would oversaw Zo-Kuki-Chin areas placed under a unified colony under British rule. Saprawnga and L.B Thanga formulated a scheme to carve out a new party known as the Mizo Union Council. This party would become the precursor to the United Mizo Freedom Organization who would be influenced by Burmese Mizos. A Burmese ex-military officer Lalbiakthanga formed the UMFO on 5 July 1947. Lalmawia Khiangte a former King's Commission Emergency Officer during WW2 British government held the position of general secretary. However, the party was known as Zalen Pawl, which meant the party of the privileged. They failed to make serious political gains to offset assension to India.

### Report of the Bordoloi Sub-Committee

Report of the Bordoloi Sub-Committee was submitted on 28 July 1947. It recommended for the formation of an autonomous district council for the Lushai Hills District. The council would be between 20-40 members and elected on the basis of adult franchise. The council would be empowered to form and enforce their own laws within their jurisdiction. The council furthermore was granted oversight on the institutions of chieftainship such as inheritance, succession and customary laws. The report further supported the creation of the Pawi-Lakher Regional Council in the southern area of the Lushai Hills.

### L.L. Peters

After the departure of A.R.H. MacDonald, D.A. Penn became superintendent for a short period before Leonard Lamb Peters was assigned. Peters held a meeting on 14 August 1947 to discuss the options for the future of Lushai Hills, whether to remain with India, join Burma, or become independent. Amajority of the delegates at the meeting supported a union with India based on the belief that a guarantee can be maintained on the maintenance of existing safeguards on their customary laws and land rights. The meeting also oversaw a memorandum that allowed the Lushai Hills to opt out of the Indian Union in ten years based on a referendum. The assurance of the maintenance of the Chin Hills Regulation of 1896 and the Bengal Western Frontier Regulation of 1873 were maintained to preserve the Mizo identity.

### Indian Independence

Plans had been made for the independence parade. The Mizo Union sought to carry out a celebration but were opposed by dissidents who supported independence namely the Mizo Union under Pachhunga. The Mizo Union branch of Dawrpui strongly opposed the celebration. Vanlawma wrote a letter to Khawtinkhuma to cease plans for the procession. A further notice was sent by the faction to Peters to inform him not to hoist the tricolour flag. The Mizo Union Dawrpui branch held a meeting with Christian hymns and prayers and sang of mobilising weapons to march. The group opposed the idea of a Christian people becoming part of a Hindu majority nation. Guns, grenades were collected to prevent the procession from happening. The matter continued to escalate until the Mizo Union president, Khatinkhuma, threatened to resign if the procession continued. The Indian flag was not hoisted openly out of fear of conflict. Three volunteers were stationed outside Superintendent Peter's bungalow ready to take down the Indian flag if he hoisted it. However, Peters stated that there was no flag to hoist. On the other hand, a farewell to the British was given in Dawrpui in Aizawl which hosted a large crowd. The Lushai Hills was succeeded as the autonomous Lushai Hills district of Assam.

## Economy
### Lushai Hills Cotton Industries

The traditional Mizo tribes possessed talent in Mizo handicraft in cotton weaving. While the Bengal Home Industries Association of Calcutta attempted to leverage this talent, no agreement was reached. The District Officer took the initiative in commercializing and educating Mizo labourers in cotton production skills as a safeguard against the failure of rice crops. A cottage industries Organisation was financed privately by the district officer and his wife, who was personally versed in textiles. The decision to privately finance the cotton industry in the Lushai Hills stemmed from the central government's reluctance to invest in a venture and a need to curb Christian revivalism growing in communities.
In the months of leisure in the jhumming cycle, labourers would spend time producing a rug made of unspun, white, tufted, local cotton. The Lushai Hills Cotton Industries began to train and upskill Mizo labourers into looming craftmanship which as a domino effect led to craftsmen spreading these teachings to other villagers. Quality control of rug productions would see only 20% of rugs marketable and profitable. As a measure, rejections carried a guarantee of full market price if a second replacement rug of high quality could be submitted.
The Imperial Tobacco Company assisted with the enterprise of cotton industries under the resident manager in India, R.G Baker who offered to accept first grade rugs as gifts in the coupon system of the company. This eased the trouble of marketability and exportation in the hilly and rugged terrain of the Lushai Hills. The saleability of rugs increased from 20% and began to compete with substandard rugs in the broader market. The product was now considered higher quality under hand spun cotton, tightly stuffed and bound by the woof.
Lushai craftsmen in cotton industries were being sent to Calcutta to Dr. Boege, a general manager of a trading company, for training in synthetic saying. The growing industry prompted Governor of Assam Robert Reid and his spouse to become patrons with the construction of the Reid House to provide offices, workspace, stock rooms, packing and dyes. This supplied dyes for free with a specially trained dyer. The interests and influence of the Reid house promoted second cash bows to villages, improved employability and social status of women, employed the disabled and crippled, revival of Lushai hand-looming culture, and encouragement of research into the usage of natural resources of the Lushai hills into fields such as medicine, metalworking etc. Issues in the cotton industries were resolved with well off and influential individuals such as Chhuakhama, Pachhunga and Thanga who negotiated agreements with the Imperial Tobacco Company at their personal expense.

## Leaders of the Lushai Hills

| Number | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Notes |
| Political Officers of the North Lushai Hills |||||
| 1 | Captain H.R Browne | 1890 | 1890 | Captain Browne was assigned the first political officer of the North Lushai Hills. His headquarters were in Aizawl. Browne's chief responsibility as political officer was to disarm the Lushai tribes. Browne held a chief's conference on 13 June 1890 at Fort Aijal and declared the suspension of chieftainship for Jarok and Lengpunga for the Chengri Valley raid. A fine for 15 guns was additionally imposed. Browne did not enact harsh measures on Lengpunga as he did not wish to antagonize a prestigious and influential chief. On his way from Aizawl to Changsil post, Browne was ambushed by a western chief, Thonsuma. Outnumbered with only 16 soldiers all sepoys were killed and one escaped to relay the news. As a result, Brown was killed 6 September 1890. Browne's weapons were looted and he was brought to Changsil post fifteen minutes later where he died. Ater his death, Khalkama was emboldened to raid Fort Aijal. |
| 2 | R.B McCabe | 1890 | 1892 | R.B McCabe was the political officer to introduce taxes and the coolie system of quotas for Mizo youths at low wages. The coolie system and quotas would continue until abolishment in 1953. His administration saw Rev William Williams visit with the first influence of Christianity in the Lushai Hills. |
| 3 | A.W Davis | 1892 | 1894 | A.W Davis renounced Aizawl as the capital and renamed it Fort Aijal and staffed it with 100 soldiers. |
| 4 | Granville Henry Loch (Acting) | 1893 | 1894 | G.H Loch is responsible for the development of Aizawl into a city and the establishment of roads and infrastructure around the Lushai Hills. Loch was responsible for building the Lammual, a field for military drills. He is also known for giving a printing press to the Mizo Presbyterian Church, now known as the Loch Printing Press. |
| 5 | A.W Davis | 1893 | 1894 | |
| 6 | A. Porteous | 1894 | 1897 | A. Porteus built two outposts at Siallukawt and Serchhip villages. He is also known for presiding over the arrival of Frederick William Savidge and James Herbert Lorrain, who contributed to the creation of the Mizo alphabet and the official beginning of the Christianization of the Lushai Hills. |
| 7 | Major John Shakespear | 1897 | 1898 | The North and South Lushai Hills were merged. Shakespear continued as Superintendent. |
| Superintendents of the South Lushai Hills |||||
| 1 | C.S. Murray | 1 April 1891 | 16 April 1891 | Captian C.S Murray was a military officer in the Government of Bengal. He was assigned to the Lushai Hills on account of his achievements in subduing the Bhutias and Lepchas in Darjeeling and his participation in the Chin-Lushai Expedition. Murray held a chief's durbar on 3 April 1890 explaining the intentions of the British government Murray was sacked from his position after a court case by Zakapa. Murray attempted to demand women for sex and insulted Zakapa by threatening to take his wife upon refusal. Zakapa attacked Murray and managed to decapitate two sepoys before Murray burned the village. He was replaced by Shakespear, who stood by Zakapa in court. |
| 2 | Captain John Shakespear | 1891 | 1896 | Brokered a settlement with Chieftainess Darbilhi to allow the establishment of Fort Tregear.Became a foster brother to Darbilhi. Led the expedition and capture of Ropuiliani and her son Lalthuama, the central resistance to British rule. |
| 3 | R.H Sneyd Hutchinson | 1896 | 1898 | After Zakapa's rebellion on Murray's injudicious conduct, Hutchinson was assigned to quell the South Lushai rebellion of 1891 in February. Hutchinson failed to capture Zakapa but succeeded in capturing Zakapa's allies: Lalthuma, Dakopa, Kapchunga and Lemkam. Hutchinson was further assigned to conciliate the tribes of Vantura (Howlong) and Tonglion (Lakher). He undertook a risk and met with Vantura who had been shot by Tonglion's men and died in Hutchinson's arms. After torturing the women of Zakapa's clan, Hutchinson failed to attain his whereabouts and capture him. Hutchinson was later reassigned to his original office of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. |
| Superintendents of the Lushai Hills District |||||
| 1 | Major John Shakespear | 1898 | 1899 | |
| 2 | Captain H.W.G Cole | 1899 | 1900 | H.W.G Cole was responsible for abolishing the title of political officer and changing it to superintendent. Cole erected tombstones of Queen Victoria in every village in Mizoram and held a torch ceremony for the coronation of Edward VII. His rule saw harsh punishment on distrubances of the peace such as the hanging of three cutthroat robbers. He is also responsible for the circle system which limited and demarcated the jurisdiction of chiefs and their possible migrations for jhumming cycles. He embarked on a policy of limiting chief power by creating more chiefs and involving within the institution of Mizo chieftainship more deeply. He oversaw the first school in Mizoram opening in 1899. |
| 3 | Major John Shakespear | 1900 | 1903 | Shakespeare further contributed to the administration by creating 11 blocks in Northern Mizoram subdivision and 7 blocks in the Southern Mizoram subdivision. |
| 4 | L.O Clarke (Acting) | 1903 | 1904 | |
| 5 | Major John Shakespear | 1904 | 1905 | |
| 6 | Major John Campbell Arbuthnott | 1905 | 1905 | |
| 7 | Major Granville Henry Loch | 1905 | 1906 | |
| 8 | Major H.W.G Cole | 1905 | 1911 | H.W.G Cole is also credited with the encouragement of farming potatoes in Mizoram. He established a bazaar in Aizawl in 1909. Cole was also the superintdent during Peter Fraser's campaign against the Bawi system of the Lushai Hills. Cole deported Fraser, but Fraser managed to bring the issue to parliament with the help of Lloyd George and succeeded. Cole left the Lushai Hills as a result. |
| 9 | Major W. Kennedy | 1911 | 1912 | Kennedy oversaw the mautam famine of 1911. Kennedy took initiative in addressing the issue with an application for a loan of Rs. 800,000 from the British Raj government. |
| 10 | F.C Henniker | 1912 | 1912 | F.C Henniker worked with Mizo elders and scholars on researching the nature of the mautam famine. With assistance, he was the first administrator to map out the upcoming famines and realize their cyclical nature as an ecological phenomenon. |
| 11 | Major Granville Henry Loch | 1912 | 1913 | |
| 12 | J Hezlett | 1913 | 1917 | J Hezlett worked towards repaying the debts of responding to the mautam famine under Kennedy. He oversaw Lushai volunteers for World War One to fight against Germany. |
| 13 | H.A.C Colguhoun | 1917 | 1919 | Colguhun oversaw the Spanish flu's influence in Mizoram. Lushai volunteers from World War One had developed immunity and were in charge of digging graves for the victims. |
| 14 | W.L Scott | 1919 | 1921 | W.L Scott opened the Assam Rifles to Mizo volunteers. He is also credited with defending Tripura's claims to Mizo territory. |
| 15 | S.N Mackenzie | 1921 | 1922 | |
| 16 | W.L Scott | 1922 | 1923 | |
| 17 | S.N Mackenzie | 1923 | 1924 | |
| 18 | N.E Parry | 1924 | 1928 | Parry oversaw the development of changes in the Lushai Hills in his four-year administration, which concerned the preservation of indigenous culture and codification of customary law. |
| 19 | G.G.G Heime | 1928 | 1932 | Presided over a period of intense rainfall which led to logistical issues and stoppage of services such as mail and food. This period is known as Minpui Kum. Helme tried to control the population of Aizawl and began a program of deporting excess dwellers into outlying villages. Exemptions were provided to government workers, missionaries and vulnerable individuals. |
| 20 | Major Anthony Gilchrist McCall | 1931 | 1943 | |
| 21 | A.R.H MacDonald | 1943 | 1945 | |
| 22 | J. Dumbreck | 1945 | 1945 | |
| 23 | A.I Bowman | 1945 | 1946 |
| 24 | Captain D.A Penn | 1946 | 1947 | |
| 25 | Leonard Lamb Peters | 1947 | 1949 | |

## Notelist

* ↑ Lungleh was the capital only for the South Lushai Hills.
* ↑ Peters remained as superintendent after Indian Independence.