Nghilhlohna Par - Ventea pualin

Engtiklai atang khan nge kan lo inkawmngeih em em a, nu hmunlo – pa hrangte kha phuarkhawma kan lo awm le? Pan lai, khawvel lungkhamna pawlh buai hma a ni ngei ang le. Kumkhat chhuak threthraw ang maia thukhat vua khan kan leng za thin. Khiangawilovin tar thlenga, tar chawmna in mawi ho turte khan thu kan thlung tak asin!

Tuan tul vangin tuanna tlang a lo dang a, thenna ram khawvelah kan inthen leh thin. Thansan ngai tam tak vui liamin, a then khiang awia chhungkua dinin kan hmanhlel a, nunhluite khan kir zai reng an rel silo.

Khuahmunloah awm thin mah ila khawvela kan cham chhung chuan intawnni a herchhuak leh ang tiin kan inhnem thin kha ania. Mahse...tunah chuan inhnemna tur a awm ta si lo. Vawikhat chauh tal chaw eiho tura ruahmanna kan siamte kha a thamral ta. Vente... i hmunruak hi tunge luah ta ang le?

Nula leh tlangval ang pawha in enlo, a thlum a al eiza, Bete-i te chhuatlai mawia kan riah tlar dul hunlaite kha mitthlain a chhuikir a - Baby Love, Dance Dance, Grease 1 leh 2, Vai Tarzan...video cassette kan neih kha chuan tlaivar kan huam mai thin anih kha le. Mart-i chow-artui-tomato kan pawlh nena chawhpawlh ngei khan kan hrawk a fahin kan tlai tlang thin asin! Sehhmeh dang reng kan ngailo, nihawichi chipin kan tlingtla mai thin. Midangte pawh khan telve an chak nain min chimloh khan kan hlim viau zel ani.

Ka awmbo chhunga Ventea te inbul hmawng hnuaia ziah thaikawibawm lo thlengte kha ka hrereng mai... Thian hmangaihna chelh dingtu a ni si a. Inkhelh thiam avanga eizawnna thar Vente-a’n a hmuh tuma, a training-na thuam kan sam zante kha o. Fiamthu nen kan hlim tlang teh e. Kan sirah ketlite-a thingpui thlit tur a phanloh chhung chu kan nui za thin.

Kohhran lamah lah a-lai-lum luahtu ang hrimin kan awmkhawmna tawh phawt chu a hulumlai ber a ni zel a, kan vela mite pawh kha an hlim ve phah viau turah kan ngai thin anih kha. Engkim mai phur takin kan hma-ho a, lungrualna nen kan tlingtla thin asin. Awmho kha kan khamlo thin teh e o… chhungte’n ‘kasam paida’ min lo play khum hlau chung chung khan zanrei kan thleng leh nge nge thin.

Mihring hneh rualloh tibuaitu che khan I lei taksa tawihral tir hial mahsela, chatuan daih I thlarau humhim saktu hnena tlu luta, khamlo tak leh theilo chung pawha, A rawng I bawlsaka chuan hlim taka kuangkuahin, A ramah a lo lawmlut ngei ang che tih hriatna hian, I kalsan tak I thiante hi min hnem tak zet a ni.

I ruang thlahnaa I hraichawiin I chungchang thu a sawite khan min tilawm takzet a, Siamtu duh ang ngeia thlah tha tak hnutchhiah theia malsawmna changtu ini hi kan lawmpui takzet che a ni. Van ropuina tem hmasa turin min liamsan ta a, minlo hmuak ngei ang lallukhum mawi sinin…kan lo thlen kim hunah chuan pan lai duhthusam aia tha changho in – tar lovin kan la cheng za ngei ang le…mangtha…

Jean Ralte

The Piano Accordion

As I rummaged through old photographs in search of evidence to write my Corps History, I came across this old photograph which I later learned from others the identity of our pioneer officers. After flipping through few books of history (which I hate as a young student) and having a conversation with few people I began to form the puzzle of this photograph which happens to tell me a wider story than I could ever imagined.

One important person in this photograph is Colonel Joseph Dahya who was also present in the group photos of Commissioners & Territorial Commander/ Regional Commander with The General and Chief of the Staff during the Centenary Celebrations of the Salvation Army in 1965 at London. He came to Lushai Hills Division in 1958, he was appointed as the Territorial Commander of Eastern Territory in July 1956 with headquarters at Kolkotta. Colonel Joseph Dahya has brought greetings from Mr. Robert Pierce, Founder of World Vision International in the form of a Piano-Accordion for the Lushai Hills Division. Bob Pierce's World Vision had together with the Salvation Army a leading role in the development of the evangelical social action movie. 

The piano as seen in the photo was handled and played by Captain Chianghnuna who was the Divisional Youth Officer at that time. Captain Chianghnuna was the first Mizo Officer to attain the rank of Commissioner. He was also the official translator during the World Vision organized Pastor’s Conference at Guwahati in 1963 where Mr. Robert Pierce was the speaker. Translator of different language used to stand in a line and translate the speaker’s message to their mother tongue without a microphone. The Mizos got the clearest message due to the clear and loud voice of Captain Chianghnuna. This Piano Accordion was later in the custody of the soldiers of Central Corps, which was the first Corps in Aizawl.

Senior Captain & Mrs. James Kennedy accompanied the Territorial Commander. They are also newly appointed as the Divisional Officer of Lushai Hills Division, taking up their appointment in November 1957. Major Kennedy was a good musician and had a Concertina which he used to play during meetings and carols. He also introduced staff notation to the young people of Baktawng Corps and they are the first Band to play in Staff Notation. Major used to teach the Assam Rifles Baaja as well during his service in Mizoram. The couples are seen in this photo witnessing the proud moment of Chaltlang Salvationists.

Of course, our mighty pioneer officer, Lieut-Colonel Kawlkhuma OF is seen in the photo with his wife Lieut.Colonel Khuangi. He seems to have a deep connection with the Salvationists of Chaltlang. He has retired from active service but even attended their celebrations on 31^st March 1968 on attaining a Corps position. Chaltlang is the place where Mr.Chiangdailova – earliest member of ‘True Believers’ have resided since 1923 and completed his wandering years from Venghnuai to Sawleng, and was Promoted to Glory on April 15, 1930 at Chaltlang. Mrs.Ngochhuni w/o Chiangdailova was also Promoted to Glory on September 5, 1955 and both have rested their earthly bodies at Chaltlang. Maybe, these instances have instilled and pull him closer keeping in mind the earlier ties he has with the family of Mr.Chiangdailova. 

Captain Thansiama, the then, Commanding Officer of Bazar Corps is also present, as he happen to take charge of Chaltlang Society which comes under his command area during those days. It must have been a proud moment for him too, to have a new hall ready to be opened on 15 June 1958 coinciding with the visit of the Territorial Commander. He has marked this day in his bio-data for "Warriors for Christ".

Many faithful early Officers, Local Officers and Salvationists are present and to name a few – Major Saidawla, Major Thansanga, Major Lalthansanga, Brigadier Sapliana, Brigadier Vaikhuma, Major Khumtea, Lt.Colonel K.Khara, Major Lalchhawna, Mr.C.Thangkima CSM OF, Mr. H.T.Muankima CSM, Mr.Hmangaiha CSM and the list could go on. The earliest commissioned Local Officers of Chaltlang Society – Sergeant Major- Mr.Ngursailova, Recruiting Sergeant- Mr. Pema, Treasurer- Mr.Saia, Y.P.Sergeant- Mr.Vula, Home League Treasurer- Mrs.Selzingi and Home League Sergeant- Mrs.Rohnuni definitely make a presence on this auspicious occasion. They were commissioned on November 16, 1958.

Mr.Singula, one of the prestigious early businessmen of Chaltlang has purchased the hall site for Salvationists of Chaltlang from Mr.Papuia. Immediately they built a hall and get it ready in time for the Territorial Commander to open it during his visits to Aizawl. Colonel Joseph Dahya, thus, opened the new prayer hall on 15 June 1958 and gave them a Society status. The Territorial Commander presented them a Lock & Key for their new hall.

This Prayer Hall was used by the Salvationists of Chaltlang to conduct meetings and other services till 1973 when they built an Assam type Hall with additional land purchased from the Soldiers contributions, and used the old hall as Young People Corps Hall.

Jean Ralte