the history of Chin people

The history of the Chin people briefly. The Chins are the original inhibiters in the present Chinland and we were always independent and sovereign nation before we were defeated by the British colonial power. It was ruled in many principalities by the Chin native aristocratic rulers in hereditary Chieftainship system. Though it was ruled in many principalities,those rulers were all united and formed alliances with one another against their common enemies outside their common frontiers especially against the British invasion. During British rules, the Chin territory was divided into three territories under three different countries of Burma , India and Bangladesh .

The Chin territory on Burma side joined other ethnic nationalities such as Burman, Kachin, Shan, etc. to build a federal Union , and signed Panglong Agreement. The Union of Burma declared independence on 4th January1948 as a new country under Panglong Agreement. To decide the future administration system of Chin state, Chin Hills Enquiry Commission was formed with three members on 5 February 1948 . The Commission recommended the introduction of the rule of democratic system in lieu of hereditary feudal system of administration and to grant compensation to the chiefs and headmen. A special conference was held in Falam from 19 to 22 February, 1948 with 5000 strong delegates from all over Chin state. On this day “20 February” at Falam conference, the Chin native aristocratic ruling class and their subjects in
great unity adopted a resolution that people’s representatives elected by the
Chin population would run at every level of the administration in the Chin
territory. It is landmark in the history of Chin Hills because it was the first
time that all the Chins were able to hold the general meeting and achieves
national unity and solidarity among them.
On 9 October 1950 , the Chin Affairs Council decided officially to honour 20th
Feb as Chin National Day. The first Chin National Day was celebrated in Mindat,
on grand scale on 20 Feb 1951 . Messages of congratulations were received from
the President and many Ministers of the States of the Union of Burma. U Nu,
Prime Minister of UB attended the celebration of Chin National Day personally
and he also read the message of the President of the Union of Burma. Today Chin
National Day becomes one of the most celebrated traditional festivals for the
Chin people, wherever they are.
My fellow Chins,
During the past fifty years successive military and dictatorial governments in
Burma attempted several times to abolish the political significance of our
National Day by changing it into Chin State Day. Chin State has come into
existence under section 30(B) of the Constitution of the Union of Burma which
was adopted only on 3 January 1974 . If one wants to celebrate Chin State Day,
he/she is free to do so and celebrate on 3rd January, which has no political
significance and thus meaningless for the Chin people. Celebrating Chin National
Day symbolise the fact that we are the people with a Nation. That’s why the
Burmese military government did not allow the people in Chin state to hold the
national day as the “Chin National Day” and instead told them to call it the
“Chin State Day”. For instance, in Haka, capital of Chin state, 61st Chin
National Day celebration organizers were told to call “Chin Culture Day”. It is
ashamed and ridiculous to learn that Chin students at various Universities in
Burma celebrate our National Day as “Freshers Welcome Party”.
In the midst of such hostile environments, the Chin people have been united to
stand together against the political assault on our people. It is therefore, the
national duty of all Chins to safeguard its National Day, to preserve and
maintain its culture, language and literature if we would like to keep our Chin
identity among the family of nations. Today, the unity, solidarity and the
patriotism of the Chin people has been shown by the fact that the Chins in
Chinland as well as outside Chinland are celebrating our Chin National Day at
this very moment.
Our aim and object to celebrate the Chin National Day festival as our tradition
in our diasporas countries everywhere around the world is thus to strengthen
unity among Chin people in all aspects and to gather support from all the
democratic and justice loving people of the world in our struggle for democracy
and self determination in federalism against the Burmese militarism. By
celebrating Chin National Day, the new generation can witness not only the
traditional and cultural events of their roots, but also meet with other people
of the same roots from all walks of life, increasing the desire in them to
appreciate their identity with their roots. Children of Chin parents abroad
become proud of their roots as Chins people; they began to identify themselves
firmly in their roots from where they came in relation to their Diasporas
countries.
My fellow Chins,
Today we are living in post modern era. In this post modern era, if we would
like to see development in our Chinland, if we would like to witness Chin people
being respected among other nationalities, if we wish to see democracy, freedom
and equality flourish in our motherland, we should and we must strive to acquire
knowledge, advanced technology, technical know-how, to help build our Chinland,
to develop human capacity among Chin people that will help us achieve greater
development, to stand tall among nations.
On this auspicious occasion of the 62nd anniversary of Chin National Day, I
would like to urge my fellow Chins to assume our respective roles in working
together for:
(a) the promotion of Chin National unity
the promotion of Chin National dignity
the freedom of the Chin people
to strive for greater National and human developmen