PUPU ZOU - A SIMPLE MAN
Born to Sojourn
I first saw this challenging world on 14 April 1977 at Behiang Village while my dad was posted as a Pastor by the Jou Christian Association. Behiang is a Zou village situated at the border area of India and Myanmar. This village snakes for about 2 km along the Tedim road. I am the youngest son of Late Rev. T. Kamzakhup Zou and Mrs. Niengzadim among the six siblings. For your information, my father was the founder secretary of the Jou Christian Association in 1954 which was the first Christian denomination of the Zou language speakers in India. Tungnung Zamlunmang Zou is my good name.
I first saw this challenging world on 14 April 1977 at Behiang Village while my dad was posted as a Pastor by the Jou Christian Association. Behiang is a Zou village situated at the border area of India and Myanmar. This village snakes for about 2 km along the Tedim road. I am the youngest son of Late Rev. T. Kamzakhup Zou and Mrs. Niengzadim among the six siblings. For your information, my father was the founder secretary of the Jou Christian Association in 1954 which was the first Christian denomination of the Zou language speakers in India. Tungnung Zamlunmang Zou is my good name.
Brought up in Daijang Village (Daijang – The Bethlehem of the Zo people where Zomi National Congress, Jou Christian Association and several other Zo related associations were established. In this village, Zomi Holy Bible was translated for almost a decade in the 1970s, The word Zomi was first publicly proclaimed by Pu T. Gougin (The Zos father) and Pu Thangkhangin Ngaihte in this souvenir hamlet). This village is the place where the great long-march of the Zomi starts. The Long march lasts till Champhai in Mizoram).
I am one among the deprived children who did not have the chance to grow up in the bosom of his father. My dad left for his heavenly home when I was almost 2 years old. This gives me a special bond with my mother, who single-handedly cared me up to this stage. My story is revealed in this song which I wrote by myself.
ZUOPA MEL MUKHALOU
1. Senpan momnou Zuopa mel mukha lou,
I am one among the deprived children who did not have the chance to grow up in the bosom of his father. My dad left for his heavenly home when I was almost 2 years old. This gives me a special bond with my mother, who single-handedly cared me up to this stage. My story is revealed in this song which I wrote by myself.
ZUOPA MEL MUKHALOU
1. Senpan momnou Zuopa mel mukha lou,
Tuunnu anglai ah kilbang ka khang khie;
Zuopa anglai a khatveibe buolkhalou,
Kumsawt lungtai theilou kana'n kamang;
Sahmel tongkup theilou ka velvel zong,
Kei di'n lunghel kaan sange.
Chorus
Chorus
Zuopa'n tuong nei nuosie munmuong theising,
Vangkhuo limlien sausuon daidam ta e;
Tunnnu toh tuonglam sa bang kavaimaw uh,
Zuopa anglai ah khatveibe buolleng aw.
2. Zuopa ang a buolte ka enman in,
2. Zuopa ang a buolte ka enman in,
Lunggu ah luonhi luong la ka banglou;
Ka kaa awgin la koima'n hole chilou,
Thuoptu neilou khankhuo liangvai na'ng e;
Kum khuo kihei zel zong ka Zuopa'n la,
Lai valeng vang chizong lunga gellou.
3. Sienmang iitna saang in hoina lawm e,
3. Sienmang iitna saang in hoina lawm e,
Guol toh tanbang kim in aw ahing siem;
Saulim nunnuom ah chiin-le-tuoi, senkawi toh,
Tuunnu vang lim lien ah naubang nui in,
Zuopa tung guolzawlna tuibang luong in;
Kei tung azong hing luong e.
Kei tung azong hing luong e.
School time - Fun Time:
Due to the absence of documents, the exact year in which I started my school day was not known. I study nursery to class III from Daijang Mission English School but in a local medium. High School & Higher Secondary at Bethany Christian High School, Churachandpur (the second biggest town in Manipur and also it is called the land mosaic of tribes, where the Zo descendants were given different nomenclature by the British Empire). College life at St. Anthony's College (Shillong) did accountancy in Bachelor of Commerce and CCpur Govt College (Lamka) as a Modern Historian. University life at Martin Luther Christian University life in Shillong (The Switzerland of East India). There was ten years gap between graduation and postgraduate.
Due to the absence of documents, the exact year in which I started my school day was not known. I study nursery to class III from Daijang Mission English School but in a local medium. High School & Higher Secondary at Bethany Christian High School, Churachandpur (the second biggest town in Manipur and also it is called the land mosaic of tribes, where the Zo descendants were given different nomenclature by the British Empire). College life at St. Anthony's College (Shillong) did accountancy in Bachelor of Commerce and CCpur Govt College (Lamka) as a Modern Historian. University life at Martin Luther Christian University life in Shillong (The Switzerland of East India). There was ten years gap between graduation and postgraduate.
Self Style Writer
I know am not born to be a good writer. I know I don't have the talent to become a famous writer like Chetan Bhagat, nor do I have the ability to produce a fictitious book like that of 1998 Man Booker Prize winner Suzanna Arundhati Roy nor a good novelist and poet like Bankim Chandra Chatterjee who composed the national song of India called Vande Mataram. I am not born a writer who has the ability to provoke a community like that of Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses (1988). I may not be one of the great Indian writers which India has produced and have influenced a whole generation and continue to inspire the coming generations with their writings.
But, with the intention of uplifting the Zo literature and aiming to seed the love of reading books and cultivating the habit of writing, I humbly started writing an article from 1998 A.D., after spending more than a week on one topic, I could hardly manage to produce 5 pages article. For the correction of spelling and English grammar, it took me another one week, and at last, I could manage to send it to one regional daily newspaper for publication. It was rightly rejected and the editor of that newspaper said, "the motive of your article is very good, but the English writing needs to be improved". After spending two complete weeks on one article and was rejected! Hahaha....... that was the first impression after the rejection of my 14 days of hard work. Later on, it was published after several corrections were made.
Without losing the zeal to become a good writer, I continued writing short stories and articles in any kind of publications, especially in Zou students' journals. In 1999, I started a weekly newsletter called Zoheisa in Shillong which was followed by the monthly magazine - popularly known as “TONGSHAAN” in the Zou dialect in the year 2002. After three years, upgraded Delhi Zou student's monthly newsletter - Zokuomthawn into a weekly publication in 2005 and become a regular article contributor to several magazines and newspapers. Even after writing numerous articles, I know, I am still a bad writer!!!!!! Babareeee!
First Foot outside Manipur (A sweet and bitter memory)
Right after the result of class XII was announced by the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur, I was sent to Guwahati for further studies by one of my relatives (Tungnung Khamkhopau, a Special Contractor). It was my first experienced setting my foot outside my native state. The journey itself was a bitter, but sweet memory now.
It was May 1998 - a rainy season. I was loaded on one tourist bus with just Rs 2000 and bedding. It was raining cats and dogs which caused the bus to leak a drop of rain inside the bus. Unfortunately, it was my place where the heavy leakage took place. I did not sleep for my entire journey. The next morning, I landed in Guwahati safe and sound, Till now, I could not recall where did I get down from the bus. Without wasting time, I stop one rickshaw and asked him to drop me at my destination i.e. RBI Quarters where Pu P. Lianlal was staying with Sir Soia. I was told it is just a 15-20 minutes ride from the bus stop, but after loitering around for more than 40 minutes, the rickshaw puller told me those buildings are RBI quarter and I realized we have circled 2/3 times. Had I known Hindi at that time, I would have eaten him with words. I was supposed to pay only Rs 20, but Rs 100 was demanded by that bastard rickshaw puller.
Since I don't have any other relatives and friends in Guwahati, going to college from such a far place will be a problem, So, I decided to move to Shillong and start my journey the very next day again by start transport bus. The entire journey was spending in inhaling the distinct armpit aroma of my fellow passengers. No word fits to describe how I felt during that entire journey.
Travel to Shillong - Where I See Things!
It was May 21, 1998 afternoon, with Rs. 1600 in my pocket I landed in Shillong, I think it was in polo ground we were unloaded from the bus. Since it was my very first time, I opted to travel alone by auto-rickshaw (later on I learned that I was the first to travel by auto-rickshaw in Shillong among my friend circle). The auto-rickshaw took a good number of minutes and even crossed the heart of the city, I even thought might be I was supposed to be kidnapped by the driver. When we reached my destination area, the driver told me "this is the area, if you don't know the exact address go and ask someone", I get out of the auto and ask one person nearby, with beyond expectation, he told me "the person you are looking for stays right below us". I was filled with joy at that very moment.
I thank the driver and pay for the fare. Went down the steps and saw U Sanjeev Phiamphu and his wife U Chingkang, their son Lianzamang and daughters Nikita and Jessica. I was so happy and felt like I have reach my hometown.
But, with the intention of uplifting the Zo literature and aiming to seed the love of reading books and cultivating the habit of writing, I humbly started writing an article from 1998 A.D., after spending more than a week on one topic, I could hardly manage to produce 5 pages article. For the correction of spelling and English grammar, it took me another one week, and at last, I could manage to send it to one regional daily newspaper for publication. It was rightly rejected and the editor of that newspaper said, "the motive of your article is very good, but the English writing needs to be improved". After spending two complete weeks on one article and was rejected! Hahaha....... that was the first impression after the rejection of my 14 days of hard work. Later on, it was published after several corrections were made.
Without losing the zeal to become a good writer, I continued writing short stories and articles in any kind of publications, especially in Zou students' journals. In 1999, I started a weekly newsletter called Zoheisa in Shillong which was followed by the monthly magazine - popularly known as “TONGSHAAN” in the Zou dialect in the year 2002. After three years, upgraded Delhi Zou student's monthly newsletter - Zokuomthawn into a weekly publication in 2005 and become a regular article contributor to several magazines and newspapers. Even after writing numerous articles, I know, I am still a bad writer!!!!!! Babareeee!
First Foot outside Manipur (A sweet and bitter memory)
Right after the result of class XII was announced by the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur, I was sent to Guwahati for further studies by one of my relatives (Tungnung Khamkhopau, a Special Contractor). It was my first experienced setting my foot outside my native state. The journey itself was a bitter, but sweet memory now.
It was May 1998 - a rainy season. I was loaded on one tourist bus with just Rs 2000 and bedding. It was raining cats and dogs which caused the bus to leak a drop of rain inside the bus. Unfortunately, it was my place where the heavy leakage took place. I did not sleep for my entire journey. The next morning, I landed in Guwahati safe and sound, Till now, I could not recall where did I get down from the bus. Without wasting time, I stop one rickshaw and asked him to drop me at my destination i.e. RBI Quarters where Pu P. Lianlal was staying with Sir Soia. I was told it is just a 15-20 minutes ride from the bus stop, but after loitering around for more than 40 minutes, the rickshaw puller told me those buildings are RBI quarter and I realized we have circled 2/3 times. Had I known Hindi at that time, I would have eaten him with words. I was supposed to pay only Rs 20, but Rs 100 was demanded by that bastard rickshaw puller.
Since I don't have any other relatives and friends in Guwahati, going to college from such a far place will be a problem, So, I decided to move to Shillong and start my journey the very next day again by start transport bus. The entire journey was spending in inhaling the distinct armpit aroma of my fellow passengers. No word fits to describe how I felt during that entire journey.
Travel to Shillong - Where I See Things!
It was May 21, 1998 afternoon, with Rs. 1600 in my pocket I landed in Shillong, I think it was in polo ground we were unloaded from the bus. Since it was my very first time, I opted to travel alone by auto-rickshaw (later on I learned that I was the first to travel by auto-rickshaw in Shillong among my friend circle). The auto-rickshaw took a good number of minutes and even crossed the heart of the city, I even thought might be I was supposed to be kidnapped by the driver. When we reached my destination area, the driver told me "this is the area, if you don't know the exact address go and ask someone", I get out of the auto and ask one person nearby, with beyond expectation, he told me "the person you are looking for stays right below us". I was filled with joy at that very moment.
I thank the driver and pay for the fare. Went down the steps and saw U Sanjeev Phiamphu and his wife U Chingkang, their son Lianzamang and daughters Nikita and Jessica. I was so happy and felt like I have reach my hometown.
Shillong Life - A Shameful Life
My life in Shillong is not a bed of roses, it is full of shame and bitter experiences. From the day I landed in Shillong till the day I left, I was sent less than ten thousand rupees from home, the rest I somehow managed by myself. I shifted from one place to another whom I will not forget till the end of my life. First I stay at Pu Sanjeev's house for a short span of time, then shifted to my aunty Ni Ngai m/o T. Sawmkholal, again shifted to (L) Pu Gouchinlian's residence, and finally at Pa Daikhanthang h/o Nu Nuam, where I stayed till I left Shillong.
Shillong College Life and How I Survived
to be written ......
Work Experiences
1. St. Terresa's High School
4. NEICORD - North East India Committee on Regional Development
6. Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM)
Delhi Sojourn and the Social Media
1. St. Terresa's High School
- Assistant teacher ·
- 1 March 2001 to 16 December 2001 · Churachandpur, Manipur, India
- Teaching Maths and Science
- Editor ·
- 1 October 1999 to 31 March 2002 · Churachandpur, Manipur, India
- TONGSANN is a monthly bi-lingual magazine published in Zou language and English.
- Content Manager/Editor ·
- 13 August 2003 to 31 October 2010 · New Delhi, India
- Create, develop and manage content for organization’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 Program Director NEICORD
- Focal Point for in and out communication
- Provide necessary information to partners, government, other organizations and stakeholders
- Administration: To coordinate field office functions and systems
- To collect quantitative information of project activities
- To compile field documents and consolidated monthly project activities report
- Responsible for publication and advertisement as instructed by immediate supervisors’
- Maintained correspondence registers, files
- Scrutinize staff travel expenses for 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.
- 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 of 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)
- District Mission Manager ·
- 26 October 2019 to present · Imphal
Migrated to New Delhi looking for a greener pasture for making a better life in 2004.
While working in a private company in - IT sector, founded a microblogging mobile news called ZOLENGTHE powered by SMSgupshp.com on 27 October 2007, it can be viewed at http://smsgupshup.com/groups/zolengthe. It was initially named as “The Harbinger, Connecting the Zo people”. It was renamed 'ZOLENGTHE - Connecting the Zo people' on 27 November 2007. It was initially used as a communication channel within Delhi and NCR only. On 27 December 2007 the first mobile SMS/news was sent to Lia Teresa Zou who was in Mumbai at that time, Since then, it was popularly known all over India. Zolengthe microblogging brings light to the Zo hills and valleys.
In the same year, a website to connect the Zo people - Zolengthe.net was started and it become one of the most popular websites of the Zo people all over the world. Hunting for better social networking on the internet world, I started opening my individual Facebook account on December 1, 2007 which was followed by creating a group with the name Zolengthe after a few months, it was not active for almost 11 months since there were no friends of mine who have a Facebook account at that time. Most of the Facebook users whom I come across are from the Mizo community who are staying in the United States of America. The Facebook group of ZOLENGTHE started playing an active role by your year 2009 and the activeness of Zolengthe.net diminished day after day at last, it ceased to function in 2010,
The first ZOLENGTHE group was created on WhatsApp in 2011 for only chosen members among my friend circle. It was enlarged on 15.02.2015 for mass news circulation. Now it is actively feeding news to its readers through 43 groups with 11008 members and it is still expanding by public demand.
Nearer to Native Place
While working in a private company in - IT sector, founded a microblogging mobile news called ZOLENGTHE powered by SMSgupshp.com on 27 October 2007, it can be viewed at http://smsgupshup.com/groups/zolengthe. It was initially named as “The Harbinger, Connecting the Zo people”. It was renamed 'ZOLENGTHE - Connecting the Zo people' on 27 November 2007. It was initially used as a communication channel within Delhi and NCR only. On 27 December 2007 the first mobile SMS/news was sent to Lia Teresa Zou who was in Mumbai at that time, Since then, it was popularly known all over India. Zolengthe microblogging brings light to the Zo hills and valleys.
In the same year, a website to connect the Zo people - Zolengthe.net was started and it become one of the most popular websites of the Zo people all over the world. Hunting for better social networking on the internet world, I started opening my individual Facebook account on December 1, 2007 which was followed by creating a group with the name Zolengthe after a few months, it was not active for almost 11 months since there were no friends of mine who have a Facebook account at that time. Most of the Facebook users whom I come across are from the Mizo community who are staying in the United States of America. The Facebook group of ZOLENGTHE started playing an active role by your year 2009 and the activeness of Zolengthe.net diminished day after day at last, it ceased to function in 2010,
The first ZOLENGTHE group was created on WhatsApp in 2011 for only chosen members among my friend circle. It was enlarged on 15.02.2015 for mass news circulation. Now it is actively feeding news to its readers through 43 groups with 11008 members and it is still expanding by public demand.
Nearer to Native Place
One fine day planning to move to ZOGAM to renovate the Zoland.
I shall be back to Behiang village, the border village of India and Myanmar where I was born.
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