Draft:Lungleng Lal In
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| Lungleng Lal In | |
|---|---|
General information | |
| Type | Residential; heritage site |
Architectural style | Traditional Mizo |
| Location | Lungleng village, Aizawl district, Mizoram, India |
Completed | 1918 |
| Owner | Government of Mizoram |
Lungleng Lal In (Lushai: Residence of the Ruler of Lungleng) is a heritage building in Lungleng village, Aizawl district, Mizoram, India. It was the residence of Khamliana Sailo, a Sailo chief who is recognised as the first literate Mizo chief.[1] The building is listed as a State Protected Monument of Mizoram (designation S-MZ-21).[1][2]
History
[edit]The house was built in 1918 by Chief Khamliana Sailo at Lungleng, one of six villages over which he was granted authority by the British colonial administration for his cooperation during the pacification of the Lushai Hills.[1] It was the first building in Mizoram to have a tin roof, replacing the traditional thatch roofing used in Mizo construction.[2] The residence is situated approximately 30 kilometres from Aizawl on the road to Hmuifang village, surrounded by open grassy clearings.[2]
Khamliana Sailo used Lungleng as his seat of chieftainship, from where he introduced progressive agricultural practices including the cultivation of potato in Mizoram and various horticultural ventures aimed at making the village economy self-sufficient.[1] He was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind Medal in 1923 by the British government for his administration.[1]
Heritage status
[edit]The building is protected under the Archaeological Survey of India's state list for Mizoram and is maintained as a heritage site by the Art and Culture Department of the Government of Mizoram.[1][2] Some structural repairs have been carried out to prevent collapse from deterioration, while preserving the original form of the building.[2]
The backyard of the residence contains inscriptions recording Chief Khamliana's achievements.[1] The site is used for heritage walks, cultural festivals, seminars, and workshops, and also serves as a public picnic spot for local residents.[1][2]
Archival records
[edit]The original paper records of Khamliana Sailo's chieftainship, covering the period 1897 to 1944, were digitised as part of the British Library's Endangered Archives Programme (project EAP454).[3] The collection includes monetary receipts, correspondence with British officials, boundary dispute records, personal letters, and what is considered the earliest letter written by a Mizo person, a letter in Mizo from Khamliana to Queen Victoria dated 16 June 1897.[3][4] The original documents are held by Khamliana's descendant, Laldingliana Sailo.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Lungleng Lal In: The Residence of Mizo Chief, Khamliana Sailo". Indian Culture. Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Lungleng Lal In". Mizoram Tourism. Government of Mizoram. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Paper records of Khamliana Sailo Lal [1897-1944]". Endangered Archives Programme. British Library. Retrieved 13 July 2026.
- ↑ Jackson, Kyle (November 2014). "A Chief and his Wheelbarrow: Digitisation and history in India's Northeast". Endangered Archives Blog. British Library. Retrieved 13 July 2026.