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List of superintendents of Mizoram

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The Superintendent of the Lushai Hills (later Superintendent of Mizo District) was the central administrative authority of the Lushai Hills in India from 1889 to 1952. The superintendent would serve under the Chief Commissioner of Assam.

Powers and functions

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The administration of the Lushai Hills district was within the power of the Chief Commissioner of Assam, the superintendent and the assistants of the superintendent. The superintendent upheld the authority of the chiefs who ruled over their people in a policy of indirect rule. Chiefs would report to the superintendent of any serious crimes such as murder, rape and serious accidents under their jurisdiction. The superintendent held the power to regulate the succession of chiefs and the inheritance rights of villages after the death of a chief. If a minor chief inherited a chiefdom, the superintendent would be authorised to appoint guardians. The superintendent also held the power to partition villages and establish new ones, with the choice of headmen and any number of houses to be assigned. Boundaries of the chiefs would be enforced so that the jurisdiction of disputes was clear.[1]

The control of the police in the district was vested in the superintendent.[1] In criminal justice, the superintendent had the freedom to decide on a death sentence, deportation/transportation and imprisonment with permission from the chief commissioner. All proceedings are summoned to the superintendent with rules on ability to appeal to the Chief Commissioner.[2] In civil matters the superintendent considered traditional Lushai customs.[2]

Leaders of the Lushai Hills

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Number Name Term of Office Notes
Political Officers of the North Lushai Hills[3]
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 Zahrawka and Lianphunga 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.[4] As a result, Brown was killed 6 September 1890.[5] Browne's weapons were looted and he was brought to Changsil post fifteen minutes later where he died. After his death, Khalkama was emboldened to raid Fort Aijal.[6]
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.[7]
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.[7]
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.[8]
5 A.W Davis 1893 1894
6 Alexander 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.[8]
7 Major John Shakespear 1897 1898 The North and South Lushai Hills were merged. Shakespear continued as Superintendent.
Superintendents of the South Lushai Hills[9]
1 C.S. Murray 1 April 1891 16 April 1891 Captain 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[10] 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.[11]
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.[12] Led the expedition and capture of Ropuiliani and her son Lalthuama, the central resistance to British rule.[13]
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.[14] 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.[14][15] After torturing the women of Zakapa's clan, Hutchinson failed to attain his whereabouts and capture him.[16] Hutchinson was later reassigned to his original office of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.[17]
Superintendents of the Lushai Hills District[9]
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 disturbances 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.[18]
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.[18]
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.[19]
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. [19]
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.[20]
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.[21]
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.[21]
14 Walter Lawrence 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.[21]
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.[22]
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.[23]
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 [a] 1947 1949
26 Satyen Barkataki 1947 1953 Established a voluntary road construction project between Aizawl and Lunglei of 128 miles.[24]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Peters remained as superintendent after Indian Independence.

References

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  1. ^ a b Lalrimawia 1995, p. 57.
  2. ^ a b Lalrimawia 1995, p. 58.
  3. ^ Reid, Sir Robert (1978) [1942]. The Lushai Hills: Culled from the History of the Frontier Areas Bordering on Assam from 1883-1941. Calcutta: Firma KLM Private Limited. p. 68.
  4. ^ Chatterjee, Suhas (1990). Mizo Encyclopedia. Bombay: Jaico Publishing House. p. 131.
  5. ^ Reid 1978, p. 68.
  6. ^ Chatterjee 1990, p. 132, Volume 1.
  7. ^ a b Samuelson 1985, p. 18.
  8. ^ a b Samuelson 1985, p. 19.
  9. ^ a b Reid 1978, p. 67.
  10. ^ Chatterjee 1990, p. 620, Volume 3.
  11. ^ Nag, Sajal; Lalsangpuii, R. (February 2024). "Reversing of Gender: Anti-Colonial Resistance by Women Warriors in Northeast India". In Singh, Lata; Sinha, Shshank Shekhar (eds.). Gender in Modern India: History, Culture, Marginality. oxford: Oxford University press. p. 86. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198900788.001.0001. ISBN 9780198900818.
  12. ^ Nag & Lalsangpuii 2024, p. 86.
  13. ^ Robin, K (June 2008). "Imperial Hegemony and Subaltern Resistance in Mizoram" (PDF). International Journal of South Asian Studies. 2 (1): 170–176. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b Chatterjee 1990, p. 395, Volume 2.
  15. ^ Chatterjee, Suhas (1985). Mizoram under British Rule. Delhi: Mittal Publications. p. 116.
  16. ^ Chatterjee, Suhas (1995). Mizo Chiefs and the Chiefdom. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. ISBN 81-85880-72-7.
  17. ^ Hutchinson, R.H Sneyd (1906). An Account Of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Calcutta: Bengal Secreteriat Book Depot. p. I.
  18. ^ a b Samuelson 1985, p. 20.
  19. ^ a b Samuelson 1985, p. 21.
  20. ^ Nag 2008, p. 71-73.
  21. ^ a b c Samuelson 1985, p. 22.
  22. ^ Samuelson 1985, p. 23.
  23. ^ Samuelson 1985, p. 24.
  24. ^ Barkataki 1969, p. 88.

Sources

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  • Samuelson, Ramchuani Sena (1985). Love Mizoram. Imphal: Goodwill Press.
  • Lalrimawia (1995). Mizoram History and Cultural Identity (1890-1947). Guwahati: Spectrum Publications.
  • Barkataki, Satyen (1969). Assam. Assam: National Book Trust. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
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