The Mizoram state legislative assembly unanimously adopted an official resolution on Monday, moved by State Education Minister Vanlalthlana, seeking the inclusion of the Mizo language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
Participating in the discussion, Chief Minister Lalduhoma expressed gratitude to the Mizo Language Development Board (MLDB) for initiating the official resolution after holding consultations with all stakeholders in the state regarding the inclusion of the Mizo language in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution of India.
Addressing concerns expressed by some members that the inclusion of the Mizo language in the 8th Schedule might adversely affect the Scheduled Tribe status of the Mizos, Lalduhoma stated that the Mizos are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe under the Schedule Tribe Order of 1950, and this status remains unchanged. However, he suggested that all political parties should unite to designate the entire state as a scheduled area under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, as has been done in the case of Meghalaya.
"The Mizo language can be studied up to the doctorate level at the Mizoram University, and is being studied at various levels in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Manipur," the Chief Minister stated.
He also mentioned that a private resolution seeking the inclusion of the Mizo language in the 8th Schedule had already been unanimously adopted by the state legislature in 1991, and he expressed confidence that the adoption of a similar resolution would send a stronger message. He added that the Mizo language is recognized as a regional language by the Sahitya Akademi, and is used by approximately 2.3 million people worldwide.
He further stated that a commission has been constituted by the President of India under Article 344 of the Constitution, and that 38 applications have already been submitted to the commission. He added that the leaders of the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA), who had raised the issue with the Union Home Secretary, had been advised by the latter to submit their application expeditiously, as the Commission would soon refer the matter to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Moving the official resolution, Vanlalthlana stated that the Mizo language was recognized and accepted as an official language in Mizoram through the Mizoram Official Language Act of 1974, which was officially confirmed again in 1987.
Vanlalthlana said that a Task Force formed under the MLDB, along with the state government, would pursue the resolution to ensure its acceptance by the appropriate authorities.
Meanwhile, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the apex Mizo students' body, stated on Monday that while it did not outright oppose the official resolution, the MZP and its affiliated sub-tribal student associations had not expressed agreement with the inclusion of the Mizo language in the 8th Schedule to the Constitution of India. "We have not expressed our agreement on this matter during discussions with the Eight Schedule Study Group formed under the MLDB," the MZP leaders told media persons in Aizawl.
The MZP leaders stated that they have been patiently waiting for the time when the Lushai language, the main language spoken by the Mizo people, will converge with other dialects of different communities within the ethnic Mizos, and evolve into a stronger and more encompassing language.