LAI MANGSAKTE

(THE LOST SCRIPTS)

BY

SUTZALIAN TONSING

December 28, 1997

Khangthusut leh laigelhmi tempite’n malai Zomite’n lai a nei uh chih pom vek uhi. Dr.
Tualchin Neihsial in hichi’n na gelh hi:

Zangpitam leh Luika khomite’n lai gelhthoh na nei ua, a masa pen savun a
gelh ahi a, a nanung pen singhawng a gelh ahi. 1

N. Khamtuang in Zomi pu-pate’ thugen hichin’n na chiamteh hi:

Hon suangtute unau pasal nih ahi ua, a pa un a upa zaw kiang ah “Savun
Laizial” a pia a, a naupa kiang ah “Singhawnglai” a pia. 2

Himahleh hiai laite tu in muhphak hi nawn lou hi. A mang dan uh tungtang ah
khangthusut leh laigelhmi te kikalh simsim uhi. N. Khamtuang in upate’ thugen hichi’n
na chiamteh nawn hi:

Nidang lai in Savunlaizial I nei ua, zu I neek kal un, ui in honna tuahsak.3

T.C. Tiankham in hichi’n na gelh hi:

…sum-munah, sum tunga a kawih ua leh, ui (dog) in ana tuahmangsak a,

huchintuh alaimaltuh amu zo nawn kei uh a, amang denta…4

C. Thang Za Tuan in hichi’n na gelh hi:

Bangci bangin ki-at/gelh cih I ngaihsut zawh loh hangin nidang lai-in savun
tungah a ki-at lai nei ngei-in, tua savun bicing ah a zep uh a kiat the innliim
buannawi lak tu in malh ahih manin ui-in hong tuah mangsak-a kipan Lai
kinei nawn lo hi ci-in khangluite in na ciamteh uh hi. 5

Dr. Tualchin Neihsial in hichi’n na gelh hi:

…vangsiathuai takin savun lai tuh ui gilkial in ana negai a singhawng a gelh
lai pen mei ah kangtum hi. 6

L.B. Naylor in 1925 a a laibu gelh, Practical Handbook of the Chins, sung a “Legend of
the Siyin” 7 ah hichi’n na gelh hi:
 Zangpitam a tengte’n Kalemyo apan a puaktouh uh savun laibu anei uhi.
Tua laibu tuh ui in a ne gai hi. Huchi in a upa’n Kalemyo a teng a naupa sam
in lai simdan leh gelhdan ki hilh sak a sawm hi.

Huai hunlai in Zangpitam khomite’n Tavak ah “Zo” lou a bawl/khou uhi.

Tua loute ah water clapper, leh haichi/buh te venna ding in vasa leh zusa
thaang a kam uhi. Kalemyo apan anaupa hong kuan in tua water clapper leh
vasa leh zusa thaangte a muh in “Hiai khawng bawldan thei ahih uleh, lai
gelhdan mangngilh kei unteh” chi in Kalemyo ah a kik hi. Huchi in Zomite’n
a lai uh a mangsak uhi. 8

Hiai laite amang hun ah khangthusut leh laigelhmi te kikalh nawn uhi. Dr. Khuplam
Milui Lenthang sui dan in 214 BC- 700 AD kikal, huai tuh China a I pipute’ omlai pek in
a mang ta hi. 9. Himahleh Dr. Tualchin Neihsial 10 leh L.B. Taylor 11 gelhna te I et leh,
pipute Burma a tun un kem lai uh chih chiang hi. Huaibanah L.B. Taylor gelhna ah savun
tung a kigelh pen mang masa zaw Zangpitam khua a tenlai a mang ahi chih chiang nawn
hi. 12. Huchi hileh 1400 AD – 1600 AD kikal a mang hiding hi. 13

Tunai zek in hiai lai mangte muhsuah nawn sawm in Zomite’n panlakna pan uhi. T.
Gougin in hichi’n na gelh hi:

Zomite’n amau aa lai a ki-neih ua, a pai vialvial na uah a mangsak uhi, kichi
hi. Tua lai mang pen tu’n Siahzathang, Lamka, Manipur in gelhkhe nawn a,
hoihtak a etchet leh puahphat in om lel hi. 14

Siahzathang in a lai bawl Zolai chi a consonant 28 – jem liante leh jem neuter (capital
and small letters); a kaihuayte (vowels) 18 leh nambat te (numbers) 1-10 nei hi. 15

Dr. Khuplam Milui Lenthang, Saikul, Sadar Hills, Manipur in zong 1949 apan hiai lai
mang zonsuah sawm in pan la a, a thesis work taktak bel 1967 in pan hi. 16

Hahtak a apan nung in, leh Yahweh (God) kiang a hahtak a a thum nung in
laimal leh nambatte melpuak didan bawl khe thei khong hi. Laisiangthou thu
ngaituah a a omlai a mengmuh lamdang tak mai in Chikimte’ lai mang
diktak musuah sak hi. 17

Dr. Khuplam in a lai muhsuah “Bulpizem” chi a laimal – a lian leh a neu 32; nambat 1-10
nei hi. 18
Hiai Bulpizem Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla in Mizoram Research Institute ah
a thu suibeh ding in pelut hi. 19

Hiai Siahzathang’ lai bawl “Zolai” leh Dr. Khuplam’ lai bawl “Bulpizem” te malai Zomi
pipute sukmang pen ahi taktak na chih chetna omlou hi. Huai ban-ah, a koi pen – savun
tung a pen hia singhawng a pen chih – gen lou uhi. Amau ngaihtuahna ahih keileh a
mitkha ua amuh dan uh gelhkhia hilel zaw ding uh hi.
NOTES:

1. “The Paite And Its Literature”, in Siamsinte’ Thu Manpha Vol I, 1995 p. 29,
hereafter cited as, “Paite and Literature”.
2. Kua Suante Ihi Ua? (1993), p. 7, hereafter cited as, Kua Suante
3. Ibid, p. 8. N. Khamtuang in Zomite suangtu Israel nam sung a Mannasi ahi chi’n
sui khia a “…ui in honna tuahsak” chih pen upate’ gendan in gentile (namdang)
te’n hon guksak uh, chih a muhdan ahi.
4. “Paite Laimal, Paite Hihna (Identity Kepbit Kul”, in The Paite Academy of
Letters , Vol I No. 1, Oct, 1994, p. 18, hereafter cited as “Paite Laimal”
5. “Zomite’ Sang Lai Pilna Masawnna Zia”, in ZOLUS Journal, No. 2, 1997. p. 28,
hereafter cited as “Zomite’ Sang Lai”
6. “Paite and Literature”, p. 29
7. Tualchin Neihsial, India-Burma Gamgi Bul A Singtangmite’ Dinmun (1988),
hereafter cited as, India-Burma.
8. Translated from an extract by L.B. Naylor in Singkhawkhai, The Cultural
Meaning of the Racial Name “Zomi” (1984) p. 9, hereafter cited as, extract
9. Jamkhogin Lhungdim, “Research Odyssey on Chikims’ Lost Script” in Eastern
Panorama Vol. V, No. 11. Sept, 1997. p. 53, hereafter cited as “Research
Odyssey”
10. “Paite and Literature” p. 29. Zangpitam leh Luika, Burma gam a Zomite pipute’
tenna khua ahi uh.
11. Zangpitam, Kalemyo leh Tavak tuh Burma ah om ahi.
12. extract, p. 9
13. Ava kumpi thunuai a om zoulou in Zomi pipute AD 1400 vel in Kale-Kabow
phaizang leh Myitha Luiphai apan na taizak uhi. Pawlkhat in Kawl khua, Yazagyo
zuan ua, tu’n Tedim gam mal-suah lam ah teng lel uhi. Pawl khatte Kale phaizang
apan tumlam Sihzang gam a Thuklai kho sak a Zangpitam ah teng uhi. Anung in
Sukte uk sung a Saizang kho kiang Ciimnuai ah kisuan uhi. (Tualchin Neihsial,
Guite Kual A Luutna (1986), hereafter cited as Guite Kual). Hiai Ciimnuai khua
kisat hun 1500 AD – 1600 AD kikal ahi. (Singkhawkhai, Zo People and Their
Culture (1995), pp. 71-73, hereafter cited as Zo People). Huaiziak in Zomi pipute
Zangpitam a ten hun uh 1400 AD – 1600 AD kikal ahi chih chiang hi.
14. Discovery of Zoland (1980), p. 1, hereafter cited as Discovery
15. T. Gougin, Discovery Siahzathang lim leh a laibawl Zolai Appendix I leh II ah
muhtheih ding, T. Gougin, Discovery of Zoland (1980) ah zong en in.
16. Jamkhogin Lhungdim, “Research Odyssey”, p. 53
17. Ibid, p. 53. Chikim tuh Chin-Kuki-Mizo teng kigawmkhawmna min dia pawlkhat
in a phuah uh ahi.
18. Ibid, p. 53. Dr. Khuplam laibawl Bulpizem Appendix III ah muhtheih ding.
Jamkhogin Lhungdim, “Research Odyssey on Chikim’s Lost Script,” Eastern
Panorama, Vol V. No. 11, Sept, 1997, p. 53 ah zong a tangthu toh en in.
19. A letter written by LalThanhawla to Dr. Khuplam Milui Lenthang, dated Aizawl,
the 12th Feb, ’93 reproduced in “Research Odyssey”, p. 53. Hiai laithon Appendix
 IV ah muhtheih ding. Jamkhogin Lhungdim, “Research Odyssey on Chikim’s
Lost Script” Eastern Panorama, Vol V. No. 11, Sept, 1997 p. 53 ah zong en in.

BIBLOGRAPHY/ LAIBU ET TE:

1. Dr. Tualchin Neihsial, The Paite And It’s Literature”, in Siamsinte Thumanpha
Vol. I, 1995, SSPP Diphu Branch edited by J.H. Ginmung Guite, L&R Printing
Press, Lamka.

2. Tualchin Neihsial, India – Burma Gamgi Bul A Singtangmite’ Dinmun (1988),

published by Tualchin Neihsial, Convention Press, Lamka.

3. Tualchin Neihsial, Guite Kual A Luutna (1986), Convention Press, Lamka.

4. N. Khamtuang, Kua Suante Ihi Ua? (1993) published by L. Paupi Ngaihte

(cyclostyled) Lamka.

5. T.C. Tiankham, Paite Laimal, Paite Hihna (Identity) Kepbit Kul”, in The Paite
Academy of Letters Vol I, No1, Oct, 1994 edited by Dr. K.P. Guite, Padma
Printers, Paona Bazar, Imphal.

6. L.B. Naylor, an extract in Sing Khaw Khai, The Cultural Meaning of the Racial
Name Zomi (1984), Zogam News Research Publications, (Research Series I),
edited by Tualchin Neihsial, Thangkhai – Lengpau Printing Press, Hill Town,
Lamka.

7. Sing Khaw Khai, Zo People And Their Culture (1995), published by Khampu
Hatzaw, BCPW, 85-PDA Complex, Lamphelpat, Imphal.

8. C. Thang Za Tuan, “Zomite Sang Lai Pilna Masawnna Zia”, in ZOLUS Journal,
No.2, 1997, Zomi Literature Uplift Society, edited by C. Thang Za Tuan, CLC
Computer, Rangoon.

9. T. Gougin, Discovery of Zoland (1980).

10. Jamkhogin Lhungdim, “Research Odyssey on Chikim’s Lost Script”, in Eastern

Panorama, Vol V, No. 11, Sept, 1997, edited by Dr. K. K. Jhunjhunwala, Hill
Publications (P), Ltd., Saraighat Offset Press, Guwahati.
 APPENDICES

I. Siahzathang’ Lim

[T. Gougin, Discovery]

[Picture lost]

II. Zolai

[T. Gougin, Discovery]

[Picture lost]

III. Bulpizem

[Jamkhogin Lhungdim, “Research Odyssey”, p53]

IV. Letter written by Lalthanhawla to Dr. Khuplam

[Jamkhogin Lhungdim, “Research Odyssey”, p53]