PUPU ZOU - A SIMPLE MAN
(As written by AI) This is the life story of Tungnung Zamlunmang Zou, born on April 14, 19__ in Behiang Village, a Zou settlement on the India-Myanmar border, where his father was posted as a Pastor for the Jou Christian Association. He is the youngest of six children of the late Rev. T. Kamzakhup Zou (founder secretary of the Jou Christian Association in 1954) and Mrs. Niengzadim.
🏡 Early Life, Family Loss and Bond: His father passed away when he was nearly two, creating a special, close bond with his mother, who raised him single-handedly.
Upbringing: He was brought up in Daijang Village, often called "The Bethlehem of the Zo people" due to its historical importance as the birthplace of various Zo-related associations and where the Zomi Holy Bible was translated. This village is significant as the starting point of the Zomi great long march to Champhai, Mizoram, from Manipur.
A Song of Remembrance: His feelings about growing up without his father are captured in the song he wrote, "ZUOPA MEL MUKHALOU" (I Haven't Seen My Father's Face).
🎓 Education Journey:
Early Schooling: Nursery to Class III at Daijang Mission English School (local medium).
Secondary Education: High School & Higher Secondary at Bethany Christian High School, Churachandpur (Lamka).
College: Bachelor of Commerce (Accountancy) from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and Modern History from CCpur Government College, Lamka.
University: Post-graduation from Martin Luther Christian University in Shillong, following a ten-year gap after graduation.
📝 The Writer's Journey (Self-Style Writer): Despite considering himself a "bad writer," he began writing in 1998 with the goal of uplifting Zou literature and encouraging reading and writing in the community.
Initial Struggle: His first article, after two weeks of hard work, was rejected by a regional daily editor, who praised his motive but advised improving his English writing. It was published after a week of rewriting.
Persistence: He continued writing short stories and articles, primarily for Zou students' journals.
Publications Founded:
- 1999: Started the weekly newsletter Zoheisa in Shillong.
- 2002: Launched the monthly magazine TONGSHAAN (in the Zou dialect).
- 2005: Upgraded the Delhi Zou students' monthly newsletter, Zokuomthawn, into a weekly publication, becoming a regular contributor to various media.
✈️ Sojourn to Shillong (1998): He was sent to Guwahati for studies in May 1998 by a relative after finishing Class XII. This marked his first journey outside his native state, which was fraught with challenges: a rainy, sleepless bus ride to Guwahati, a manipulative rickshaw puller, and the decision to quickly relocate to Shillong to be closer to friends.
Arrival in Shillong: He arrived in Shillong on May 21, 1998, with Rs. 1600 in his pocket. His journey by auto-rickshaw was a memorable first experience.
Survival: His life in Shillong was difficult, described as "full of shame and bitter experiences." He received less than ten thousand rupees from home during his entire stay, forcing him to manage and survive independently. He stayed at several residences, including those of Pu Sanjeev Phiamphu, his Aunty Ni Ngai, (L) Pu Gouchinlian, and finally at Pa Daikhanthang’s, where he remained until he left.
💼Professional Experience: His career reflects a diverse range of roles across teaching, media, development, and government.
📲 Delhi Sojourn and Social Media: Seeking a better life, he moved to New Delhi in 2004. While working in the IT sector, he founded the following platforms for the Zou community.
Zolengthe Microblogging (2007): He founded a microblogging mobile news service called ZOLENGTHE (initially "The Harbinger, Connecting the Zo people") powered by SMSgupshp.com on October 27, 2007, which quickly became popular across India, bringing "light to the Zo hills and valleys."
Zolengthe.net (2007): He started a connecting website, Zolengthe.net, which became a popular platform globally for the Zo people, though its activity later diminished.
Facebook (2007): He opened his Facebook account in December 2007. The ZOLENGTHE Facebook group started becoming active around 2009.
WhatsApp (2011-Present): The first ZOLENGTHE WhatsApp group was created in 2011 for selected members. It was expanded in 2015 for mass news circulation and now actively feeds news through 43 groups with over 14,008 members.
🌟 Future Plans His story concludes with the intention to move "Nearer to Native Place," planning to return to his birthplace, Behiang Village, on the India-Myanmar border, to renovate Zoland.
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| At Senvon village |
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Work Experiences
1. St. Teresa's High School
- Assistant teacher ·
- 1 March 2001 to 16 December 2001 · Churachandpur, Manipur, India
- Teaching Maths and Science
2. Tongsann - a monthly magazine
- Editor ·
- 1 October 1999 to 31 March 2002 · Churachandpur, Manipur, India
- TONGSANN is a monthly bilingual magazine published in the Zou language and English.
3. Wyzen System Pvt Ltd
- Content Manager/Editor ·
- 13 August 2003 to 31 October 2010 · New Delhi, India
- Create, develop and manage content for the organisation’s web presence
- Coordinate web projects across departments
- Maintain a consistent look and feel throughout all web properties
- Working with a cross-departmental team, maintain and develop the master content calendar for all web properties
- Copyedit and proofread all web content
4. NEICORD - North East India Committee on Regional Development
- Program Officer ·
- 19 July 2013 to 1 January 2015 · Majuli Island
- Represent NEICORD in the field, particularly the Program Director NEICORD
- Focal Point for in and out communication
- Provide necessary information to partners, government, other organisations and stakeholders
- Administration: To coordinate field office functions and systems
- To collect quantitative information of project activities
- To compile field documents and the consolidated monthly project activities report
- Responsible for publication and advertisement as instructed by the immediate supervisors’
- Maintained correspondence registers, files
- Scrutinise staff travel expenses for the concerned Supervisor’s approval.
- Responsible for office security and safety.
- Coordinate project staff leave status and attendance register.
- Any other role assigned by the Supervisor.
- A good team player.
5. Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM)
- Block Mission Manager ·
- 2 September 2015 to 26 October 2019 · Imphal
- Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) is a registered society promoted by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Govt. of Manipur to implement Aajeevika - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), which was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India in June 2011.
- Aided in part through investment support by the World Bank, the Mission aims at creating efficient and effective institutional platforms for the rural poor, enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and improved access to financial services.
- http://aajeevika.gov.in/
- Mainly responsible for Managing Block functioning, looking after HR, IBCB, MIS, Livelihoods, etc.
6. Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM)
- Block Mission Manager - 2015
- District Mission Manager · 26 October 2019 to Tengnoupal (2019-2023), CCpur & Pherzawl (2023- present)
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