(This is a modified version of the one publised by Zawlbuk.Net)
The
other day, I came across a web page where some Mizo brothers made fun of the
name (possibly the sound of the word) of a Mara village, Tôkalô, called “Tongkalong”
in Mizo. I had lived in Tôkalô as their pastor. I like the village. The people of Tôkalô are kind and hospitable.
And above all, Tôkalô is my beloved Mara village. So I was hurt.
It
seems that the sound of the word, Tongkalong, is a rather funny or terrifying
one in the ears of the Mizo (Duhlian) speaking people, thanks to the
Mizonization of its Mara name, Tôkalô. This brings us to the whole question of
the Mizonization (read Mizo translation or transliteration) of the names of Mara
towns, villages, mountains, hills, rivers, valleys, lakes, etc. Let us examine a
few examples.
- The capital of
Maraland, Siaha (elephant tooth) is translated into Saiha in Mizo.
- A village called
Tôkalô in Mara (meaning a place
where the sound of thunder is frequently heard) has become racial and regional
stereotypical name called Tongkalong
in Mizo.
- A river called Kaochao in Mara (meaning a river
that makes gorge) became Kawlchaw
in Mizo.
- A village called
Lôbô in Mara (meaning a place
where a memorial stone was erected) has lost its meaning in Lungbun in Mizo.
- A village called
Mawhro in Mara (meaning a place
where bamboos are always green, that is, they do not flower and die) has
become meaningless in Mawhre in
Mizo.
- A village called
Châhkhei in Mara (following the
mountain called Châhkhei) is transliterated into Chakhang in Mizo
- A village called
Zyhno in Mara (?) has become a
totally different and strange name in ita Mizo name, Zawngling.
From
the above few illustrations, we could see that many of the Mizo (Duhlian) translations
or transliterations of Mara names result in the loss of its Mara meaning. One
wonders, if the Mara language were used as the lingua franca of the Mizoram State and so Lunglei is called Lôlei;
Aizawl, Aizaw; Serchhip, Siachhi, etc, would the Mizo (Duhlian) speaking people
tolerate? No, they shouldn’t. Names in native languages should never be
changed. Aizawl should rightfully be called Aizawl, not Aijal or Aizwal.
The
Mara Thyutlia Py (Mara Youth Organization) and the Mara Student Organization in
more than one occasions, if I remember correctly, had passed resolutions to
petition the Mizoram Government to change all the Mara names from its Mizo (Duhlian)
translated or transliterated ones to its original Mara names. The Mara
Autonomous District Council too had the same in its agenda. In the same way the
name “Aijal” was changed back to its Mizo original name “Aizawl,” the Mizo (Duhlian)
translated or transliterated Mara names must be changed back to their its original
Mara names?
Meanwhile,
Tongkalong remains Tongkalong, and this beloved village name of Maraland
continues to “entertain” some of our Northern brothers and sisters. What a tragedy!
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