MNF pays tribute to Laldenga

Aizawl, July 8: The Mizo National Front leadership led by president and former chief minister Zoramthanga paid tribute to their founder president and legendary leader at his tomb at the War Memorial here Saturday morning on the occasion of his 28th death anniversary.
Zoramthanga and Laldenga's widow Lalbiakdiki and other MNF leaders laid wreaths on his tomb.
Laldenga died in London on July 7, 1990 while returning from New York where he underwent treatment for terminal cancer.
Speaking on the occasion, Zoramthanga said Laldenga planted the seed of nationalism among the Mizos.
“God gave the Mizos a nation, a religion and land. Then Laldenga gave us a sense of nationalism to safeguard what God had given to us. The nationalism that Laldenga instilled in our minds is so great,” he said.
“Every nation and tribe wishes to have a leader like Laldenga. But one cannot have everything he wants. We are lucky that we have such a great leader,” he added.
Zoramthanga went on to say Laldenga was the one who brought the Mizo people to the national and international limelight. “The seed of nationalism that he planted many years ago bears fruits among the younger generations, and it will continue to do so. As our knowledge about politics increases so does our admires for Laldenga. He will not be forgotten as long as Mizos live,” he said.
Zoramthanga, who had been the chief minister of Mizoram for 10 years (1998-2008), was not just secretary to the legendary Laldenga who launched the movement for a sovereign Mizoram in 1966, but also remained Number 2 to him throughout the armed struggle till it came to a close in 1986.
Laldenga’s widow Lalbiakdiki, said that even though 28 years have passed since his husband died he has never faded from the memory of her and the MNF fraternity.
“The memories of those difficult times my family and the MNF cadres have gone through under his leadership are still fresh in my mind,” she said. Expressing joy that the MNF his husband had founded is now turning 57 years, Lalbiakdiki said she has trust in the MNF led by Zoramthanga. 
Born on July 11, 1927 at south Mizoram's Pukpui village in Lunglei district, Laldenga joined the British Indian Army in 1944 and formed the Mizo National Famine Front in 1959 while Mizoram was reeling under a great famine called 'Mautam' caused by gregarious bamboo flowering which resulted in population explosion of rodents in the late 1950s. In 1961, he transformed it into a political outfit and re-christened it Mizo National Front that waged war against India from March 1966.
Laldenga’s demands for separation from India were fueled by the great famine of the late 1950s triggered by the cyclic bamboo flowering known as Mautam. The Assam’s alleged failure to rush the needed supplies in time to its eastern most district added salt to the wounds.
The MNF declared independence on March one 1966 plunging Mizoram into a disturbed state for 20 years before signing peace accord on June 30, 1986 and Mizoram became a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987. 
Laldenga became the first chief minister after MNF won the 1987 Assembly polls, but after 19 months, President's Rule imposed in the state. 
Suffering from lung cancer, he was treated at a cancer institute in New York and he died in London while returning home on July 7, 1990. His funeral in Aizawl was said to be the greatest funeral that Mizoram has ever witnessed.

- NEWSLINK