No.H.11014/6/2014–2015/DCS–MADC
DISTRICT COUNCIL SECRETARIAT
MARA AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT COUNCIL
SIAHA

Dated Siaha, the 29th August, 2014.

To,

The Under Secretary to the Government of Mizoram
District Council Affairs Department
Aizawl.

Subject: Official Resolution passed by the House of Mara Autonomous
District Council.

Ref: No.A.13012/2/2010/DCA (M) dt. 03.06.2014.

Madam,

With reference to your letter number quoted above, I am directed to make clarification in connection with the Official Resolution passed by the House of Mara Autonomous District Council on 31.07.2013 as follows:-

1. It is axiomatic that the Resolution is particularly in the interest of the people living in the area of the Mara Autonomous District Council and also in the interest of the other two Autonomous District Councils in general. It is firmly believed that preservation of original names of villages, places and rivers in the area covered under the Mara Autonomous District Council would also be the interest of the state of Mizoram and the country as a whole. In recent times, certain names of cities and places have been changed due to several reasons and at the same time keeping largely in mind the sentiments of the natives. For instances, Bombay was changed to Mumbai, Calcutta to Kolkata, Madras to Chennai and even in the state of Mizoram, Chawngte ‘C’ covering the area of Chakma Autonomous District Council was changed to Kamalanagar, Lokicherra to Zawlnuam, etc. Such changes do not hinder developmental activities or security preparations of the country. Hence, it is strongly conceived that the Resolution for proposal of changing names in the official records of Mizoram state would neither obstruct any developmental works being undertaken by the state or central government nor cause any problem to security arrangements of the nation.

2. The Resolution for proposal of changing names of villages, places and rivers in the official record of the state government is not a sudden or hasty initiative taken by the Mara Autonomous District Council. Indeed, the proposed names for change are original and have been known to the natives in such names for several decades. Besides, such names have been used by the Mara Autonomous District Council in its official records and correspondence with the state and central governments since its inception.

3. It should be remembered that the original names of villages, places and rivers have a close and deep connection with the language, culture and tradition of the Maras. The original names were literally translated into the then Lushai language and subsequently recorded as their official names by the state government. Such translation of names was wrong or inappropriate and in certain cases there occurred embarrassing names. The use of separate and different names of villages, places and rivers situated under the territorial jurisdiction of the Mara Autonomous District Council by the state government and District Council obviously leads to confusion in the mind of the people. To be more precise, the Resolution is mainly intended to change the names of villages, places and rivers as officially recorded and used by the Mizoram government to their original names and as known to the natives since several generations. There has been no intention to rename the villages, places and rivers or to make sudden changes of such names. Thus, it is obvious that having common name, i.e. original name, both by the state government and District Council in their respective records will prevent confusion relating to names of villages, places and rivers located under the area of Mara Autonomous District Council.

4. According to Paragraph 15 (1) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, the Governor is empowered to annul or suspend an act or resolution of a District Council which is likely to endanger the safety of India or is likely to be prejudicial to public order. It is certain that annulment of resolution passed by the House of the District Council can only be exercised by the Governor and no authority else is empowered with such powers. Therefore, the matter may kindly be brought to the notice of the Governor for such action as he considered necessary.

Yours faithfully,

(PACHI HLYCHHO)

Secretary to the
District Council Secretariat
Mara Autonomous District Council
Siaha.

No.H.11014/6/2014–2015/DCS–MADC : Dated Siaha, the 29th August, 2014.

Copy to:
1. The Secretary to Governor, Mizoram, Aizawl for information and necessary action.
2. PS to Chief Minister, Mizoram, Aizawl for information and necessary action.

Secretary to the
District Council Secretariat
Mara Autonomous District Council
Siaha.