https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=James_DokhumaJames Dokhuma - Revision history2026-07-30T12:06:52ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=James_Dokhuma&diff=505495&oldid=prevNeeraj Singh Creator at 09:04, 30 May 20252025-05-30T09:04:28Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Mizo author and insurgent}}<br />
{{Mizo name|Dokhuma}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| honorific_prefix = [[Doctor (title)|Dr]]<br />
| name = James Dokhuma<br />
| image = Dr. James Dokhuma.png<br />
| caption = Dr. James Dokhuma [[Padma Shri]] portrait<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1932|06|15|df=y}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Sialsuk]]<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2007|03|10|1932|06|15|df=y}}<br />
| death_place = <br />
| criminal_charges = [[Indian Penal Code|IPC]] Section 121 (Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the [[Government of India]], state & etc.)<br />
| criminal_penalty = Life imprisonment( he later got pardoned because of the [[Mizoram Peace Accord]])<br />
| spouse = Chhuanthangpuii(married 1960–death)<br />
| children = 6<br />
| mother = Kâpkûngi<br />
| father = Hrangchina Chhakchhuak<br />
| relatives = Dokhama(brother), Darawti(sister), Romani(sister), Lalṭanpuia(brother)<br />
| awards = Academy Award(Mizo academy of Letters)<br />
| honours = {{bulleted list |[[Padma Shri]] |[[Sahitya Akademi Award#Bhasha Samman|Bhasha Samman]] |<br />
}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''James Dokhuma''' (15 June 1932 to 10 March 2007)<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Chhakchhuak |first=James Dokhuma |title=Tawng Un Hrilhfiahna |publisher=Published by R.Lalrawna and Printed by him at Gilzom Offset |edition=6th |language=Mizo}}</ref> was a [[Mizo language|Mizo]] poet, writer and insurgent<ref name=IWI>{{cite book |last=Guptā|first= Ramaṇikā|date=2006 |title=Indigenous Writers of India: North-East India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FWCiWWeRCU4C&dq=James+Dokhuma&pg=PA158 |location=New Delhi |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |pages=158–159 |isbn=81-8069-299-X}}</ref> who was awarded [[Padma Shri|Padmashri]] for his literary contributions.<br />
<br />
== Early life and education ==<br />
Dokhuma was born on 15 June 1932 in [[Sialsuk]] village. At the age of 15, he joined the [[Indian Army]] and served from 1947-1952.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=1983 — James Dokhuma – Mizo Academy of Letters |url=https://mizoacademyofletters.com/mizo-academy-award/1984-james-dokhuma/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |language=Mizo}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Padma Shri James Dokhuma |url=https://www.oknortheast.com/2010/09/padma-shri-james-dokhuma.html |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=www.oknortheast.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |last=Lalthasanga |first=Hrangte |date= |title=Representation of Mizo Identity in James Dokhuma's works |url=https://www.academia.edu/15554388 |degree=History|publisher=Academia Edu|access-date=11 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lalmalsawmi |first1=V. |date=2022 |title=Situating Identity in James Dokhuma |url=https://www.rjoe.org.in/Files/v7i4/25.RJOE-V.Lalmalsawmi(226-234).pdf |journal=Research Journal of English |volume=7 |issue=4 |doi=10.36993/RJOE.2022.7.4.2 |issn=2456-2696 |access-date=11 November 2024}}</ref><br />
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== Career ==<br />
After serving in the army, he become a teacher in the Hualtu Middle School.<ref name=":1" /> With the contribution of his book Ṭawng Un Hrilhfiahna, in 1971 the government of [[Mizoram]] bestowed the title "Father of [[Mizoram|Mizo]] [[Lexicography]]"<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=CFR>{{cite journal |last1=Pachuau |first1=Margaret L |last2=Lalrinfeli |first2=C |date=2022 |title=Concept of Freedom in James Dokhuma's Rinawmin |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370927924 |journal=Gauhati University Institute of North East India Studies |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=65–75 |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref><br />
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== Imprisonment ==<br />
Dokhuma was a participant in the [[Mizo National Front]] and was jailed. Books such as Rinawmin contribute to a unique genre in Mizo literature known as Rambuai, which details the events of the [[Mizo National Front uprising|Mizo Insurgency of 1966-1986]]. After the MNF uprising of 1966, Dokhuma joined the movement as the MNF block president of Tlungvel Circle. Other notable roles include Deputy Speaker and member of Parliament to the MNF underground movement. Dokhuma was captured and sent to Nowgong Special Jail before being transferred to [[Guwahati Central Jail]] and released in 1971.<ref name=CFR/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pachuau |first1=Margaret L.|date=2022 |title=Siting Memory in Select Mizo Narratives |url=https://www.rjoe.org.in/Files/v7i3/40.RJOE-Margaret(278-288)%20(2).pdf |journal=Research Journal of English |volume=7 |issue=3|access-date=11 November 2024|issn=2456-2696}}</ref> Due to his activities as an insurgent, Dokhuma's right arm was impaired. In a confrontation with the Indian army, his arm was hit by a bullet while two hit his torso and one hit his leg.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lalmalsawmi |first=V.|editor1-last=Pachuau|editor1-first=Margaret L.|editor2-last=Daimari|editor2-first=Anjali|date=2024 |title=Interpreting Literature from Northeast India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qSMmEQAAQBAJ |location=New Delhi |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing India |page= |isbn=978-93-56408-99-9|chapter=Mizo Nationalism in the works of James Dokhuma}}</ref> In the post-accord Mizoram, Dokhuma settled as a preacher working for the Salvation Army Evangelical mission.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bannerjee |first=Ruben |date=15 January 1993 |title=Former Mizo Insurgents trade in their guns for the Bible |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/religion/story/19930115-former-mizo-insurgents-trade-in-their-guns-for-bible-810545-1993-01-14 |work=India Today|access-date=24 September 2024}}</ref><br />
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== Achievements ==<br />
For his contributions he received [[Sahitya Akademi Award#Bhasha Samman|Bhasha Samman]], [[Padmashri|Padma shri]] and the Mizo Academy Awards. Dokhuma secured the Mizo Academy Award for Best Writer of the Year five times in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991 and 1996.<ref name="IWI" /><br />
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== Works ==<br />
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=== Poetry ===<br />
* Mi zâwn inchuh (Textbook for Class- XI MBSE Mizo)<br />
* Pûm (Textbook for Class-XII MBSE Mizo)<br />
* A tak chu khawiah nge? (B.A)<br />
* Siamtu Khuarêl (M.A)<br />
* Thu rêng ka nei si lo (M.A)<br />
* Pi Pu sûlhnu (M.A)<br />
<br />
===Prose===<br />
<br />
* Ka thuhretu (Textbook for Class-VII)<br />
* Lungawina (Textbook for Class-IX)<br />
* Zân (Textbook for Class-X)<br />
* Serh leh sâng (Textbook fork for Class-XI (Core))<br />
* Fam ta lo chu (Textbook for Class-XI (Elective))<br />
* Sawifiahna Ṭawngauchheh (B.A)<br />
<br />
=== Novels ===<br />
<br />
* Irrawaddy Lui Kamah (Textbook for Class-IX)<br />
* Tumpang Chal nge Saithangpuii (B.A)<br />
* Thla Hleinga Zan (B.A)<br />
* Khawhar In (M.A)<br />
<br />
=== Books ===<br />
<br />
* Rinawmin (1970)<br />
* Khawhar In (1970)<br />
* Thla Hleinga Zan (1970)<br />
* Zoram Kohhran Tualṭo Chanchin (1975)<br />
*Tumna Chu a Hlawhtling ṭhin (1976)<br />
*Kawtlang Inzirna (1976)<br />
*Ni leh Thla kara leng (1978)<br />
*Hmasawnna (1978)<br />
*Arsi Thawnthu (1979)<br />
*Hausak aiin hrisel a hlu zawk (1979)<br />
*Finna Hmahruai (1980)<br />
*Ṭawng Un Hrilhfiahna (1981)<br />
*Tumpangchal nge Saithangpuii? (1981)<br />
*Chawngkhum dân tlang huat loh (1981)<br />
*Ka Inpuanna (1982)<br />
*Chawngkhum dan tlang huat loh Bu-2-na (1982)<br />
*Hmangaihna Thuchah (1982)<br />
*Irrawaddy Lui Kamah (1982)<br />
*Good Bye, Lushai Brigade (1983)<br />
*Notes on Mizo Idioms & Phrases (1983)<br />
*Kimoto Syonora (1984)<br />
*Nunna bua hming chuangte (1986)<br />
*Gabbatha (1989)<br />
*Chhungkua(Sipai Inkhawm Thupui) (1990)<br />
*Lonesome Cowbow (1990)<br />
*Hmeichhia leh mipa indona (1992)<br />
*Hmanlai Mizo Kalphung (1992)<br />
*Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (1993)<br />
*Mak leh Mak (1995)<br />
*An va hlu êm<br />
*Enthlatute (Sex Spy & War Spy)<br />
*Silaimu Ngaihawm<br />
*Ka Thinlung Luang Liam<br />
*Rilru Far Chhuak<br />
*Zokhaw Nun<br />
*Thla Hleinga Zan II<br />
*Ch. Chhunga Chanchin<br />
*Thisen leh Mei (Self Denial Thupui)<br />
*Lamsuaka<br />
*Singapore-a Mizo Saltangte<br />
*Kham Kâr Senhri (True Story)<br />
*Mizo Ṭawng Kalphung<br />
<br />
== Death ==<br />
In February 2007 he had a sudden violent fit of shivers. According to tests results, his blood sugar completely destroyed his kidneys, eyes, lungs and heart. He also developed a [[urinary tract infection]]. He died on 27 March 2007.<ref name=":0" /> <br />
<br />
==Facts==<br />
* He received a Doctorate Degree from the International University of California.<br />
* One of his works, Gabbatha, is believed to be the first Mizo fiction to be translated in English<br />
* Many of his works are used by schools<br />
* He was pronounced dead at birth, but found breathing at the last second, when he was being lowered down<br />
* His writing career started when he was imprisoned at Nowgong Special Jail<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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<br />
[[Category:1932 births]]<br />
[[Category:2007 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Indian poets]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature and education]]</div>Neeraj Singh Creator