The name Chin is at present our international name with which we have been recognized widely around the world as a people with a definite boundary of territory. Chin people in India use their international name “Mizo” which is also one of the tribes in Chin. The Chins in Bangladesh called their name “Bawm”.
Chinland is our own territory which no one can claim as their territory except by us, the Chin people, according to the UN principles” DPI/1316-03025 November 1992-9M, recognized that the Chin people are living in three countries such India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The boundary of our Chin territory according to the Chin Hills Regulation 1896 included even what is today Nagaland as Naga Hills District then and, Mizoram as Lushai Hills District then, Assam hilly parts, Manipur Hilly parts and Tripura Hilly parts all now in India; Chin Hills District then and it is now Chin State, Singkaling Khamti Naga Hills District today both in Burma, the Chittagong Hills tract in Bangladesh which was once in British India and today in Bangladesh.
On 2001 July 15, Chin was accepted as a member of “Unpresented Nation and People Organization”.
The Chin people in Myanmar comprised of eight major group of tribes such as Zomi, Kuki, Laimi, Asho, K’Cho, Khumi, Lushei and other different sub-tribes.
According to 2014 Consensus, Chin population is 478,690. They estimated that the overall Chin’s population will be 10 million around the world.
What is Chin National Day and why so important for The Chins?
Every nation and every race has its own national symbol and remarkable or respected historical day and event. February (20) is designated as Chin national day. On this day, great Chin history changes had happened 70 years ago.
On 1947 February 12, Pu Hlur Hmung, Pu Thawng Za Khup and Pu Kio Mang attended Panglong Conference. The Union of Burma was formed by Shan, Kachin, Chin, and Burma on 12 February 1947.
As a result, in 1948 January 04, Union of Burma became an independent country.
In 1948 February 5 Chin Hill Enquiry Commission was formed. In 1948 February (19-22) Chin Special Division Conference was held at Falam town, Chin State. Over 5000 of Chin people attended the conference. At the conference, they successfully abolished the feudal system and established new independent and democratic society in Chinland.
In 1950 October 09, Chin Affair Council designated Chin National Day on 1948 February 20.
The first celebration of Chin National Day (the 4th Anniversary) was held on 1951 February 20 at Mindat town. The Prime Minister of Union of Burma U Nu himself attended, and Union of Burma government recognized February 20 as Chin National Holiday. Chin National Conference at Falam on 1948 February 20 brought us a huge radical change in history, and it also shows that we, the Chins are distinct people in the Union of Myanmar.
February 20 is special and distinctive day along Chin history.
On 1918 February 20, Chin National Education Development Organization was formed at Maymyo.
On 1928 February 20, Chin Hill Union Organization was formed at Hlingzung (Mah Tung Nu Village) Mindat township.
On 1938 February 20, the Organization submitted nine petitions to the British government, on 17 December 1937, was accepted. The proposals were as follows:
1. to grant equal rights in the administration to Chins similar to other foreign national;
2. to administer Chin Hills according to the rules and regulations adopted by the Chins in cooperation with the Government;
3. to make reformations for the improvement in education system in Chin Hills and
4. to allow the teaching of Myanmar [sig- Burmese language] in addition to English;
5. to permit freedom of religions;
6. to construct roads as soon as possible for the improvement of transport and communications in Chin Hills;
7. to grant free access to travel to Myanmar;
8. to allow Chins to have freedom of relationship with any nationality;
9. to grant independence to Chins simultaneously with Myanmar.
But the discussion was not succeeded. Soon after the British government declared Chin Hill Union Organization as an illegal organization. The Chins were very angry with the one-sided act of the government and as a result, a demonstration against the British government took place in various part of Kanpetlet.
Pu Lal Denga, leader of Mizo National Front signed the Mizo Accord with India government on 1986 June 30. Although they had made an agreement to become Mizoram as a State, Pu Lal Denga postponed to the next year 1987 February 20 in order to be the same historic date with Chin in Myanmar, which National Day was designated on February 20.
On 1987 February 20, Mizoram had become 23rd State in India.
It is very important for all Chin people around the world to celebrate and acknowledge our forefather historic achievement.
Reforming one governance system is not an easy work. But the Chin people made a radical change, Feudal to Democracy.
To abandon power and wealth is not an easy thing either. But all the chiefs in Chin abandoned their power and wealth and abolished the feudal system which benefited them and chose a democratic system in order to make a unified Chinland and Chin people, for the betterment of Chinland.
Chin National Education Development Organization (20.02.1918), Chin Hill Union Organization (20.02.1928) and Demonstration Against Colony British Government (20.02.1938) and Mizoram State day (20.02.1987) in India, all these national movements and historic dates fall on 20 February. It may be a coincidence but the Chins should know: how meaningful Chin National Day is! How meaningful February 20 is!
Today, we celebrate “70th Anniversary Chin National Day”. Our national duty is not over yet. We have to work for self-determination and federal state. Our forefathers were united under the roof of CHIN and they achieved the great thing. That’s why we come here and celebrate our Chin National Day!
How blessed we are!
Conclusion
All Chin fellows, my brothers, and sisters let’s unite in Chin. We may be called ourselves Lai, Zo, K’cho, Khumi, Kuki or have other different names. But we have to unite in Chin as our ancestor/ forefather had done as an example so that we can achieve the great thing for our nation and people. So that we can uplift the dignity of Chin as well as our sincerity. Chin people are well known as sincere, trustworthy people in Myanmar. Let’s maintain our sincerity and dignity. We don’t need to fight people. We need to fight the system. A system that makes us a slave to poverty. That’s the essence of Chin National Day, to unite all Chin people as one in Chin. To fight for a system that steals our self-determination and make us cynical. We have our own literature, culture and land territory which need to be preserved and to be improved for a better literature, culture and a better place of Chinland. Chinland is our home, your home and my home where our umbilical cord was buried. We Chin people are not ethnic people. We are indigenous people in Chinland.
References:
(1) Robert Siang Lian, The Significance of Chin National Day, Chin Magazine (1973-1974), published by Chin literature and culture Committee, Universities of Yangon, Yangon, 1973-74.
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrepresented_Nations_and_Peoples_Organization
(3) http://www.norwaychin.no/?p=57
(4) http://chinstatemyanmar.blogspot.sg/2012/11/home.html
(5) https://www.scribd.com/doc/27432823/Chin-National-Day-Background-History
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