The author is editor of an English
language daily paper based in Aizawl, Mizoram, India
and IS part of the community known as Mizos some of
whom believe they are descendents of one of the lost
tribe of Israel.
At present, there is an ongoing feud between the church
people and members of the Chhinlung Israel Peoples'
Convention who are staunch in their belief that Mizos
are descended from if not Ephraim, then his brother
Maneshe, sons of Biblical Joseph of Egypt and Dr P.C.
Biaksiama, a former government employee-turned-scholar
who takes the stand that Mizos can never be descendents
of any Israel tribe.
There have been many televised debate about the
identity crisis and war of words in local daily
vernacular papers. Despite the claims that forensics
have proven the identity of the Mizos, who are part of
the Kuki-Chin clan, beyond doubt, the church, the
largest denomination of which is the Presbyterian
Church of Mizoram with about 70-80 percent of the
890,000 population (Census 2001) as its members. The
church gives full support to Dr P.C. Biaksiama as it
feels the establishment of an Israeli identity would
turn the Mizo people en masse towards Judaism.
Aizawl, Oct 24: Dr PC Biaksiama has armoured himself
with a new book in his ongoing war with the Chhinlung
Israel People's Convention (CIPC) on the controversial
Mizo-Israel identity crisis.
Introducing his just released book, "Mizo Nge Israel?"
(Mizo or Israel), the renowned Christian scholar says,
"This book tells us our real identity, the identity
with which we are recognised by God and the world. I
hope it (the book) will bring back all those who are
lost in the Mizo-Israel identity crisis."
The 220-page book contradicts the CIPC's claim of
Mizo-Israel biological connection which the CIPC said
has been proved by DNA test results conducted by Israel
scientists recently.
Dr Biaksiama does not agree. According to the test
results of 300 DNA samples randomly collected from
various Mizo tribes in Mizoram and Manipur, no
similarities have been found in the DNAs of Mizos and
Israel. The genetic test, conducted by the Jewish
Genetic Project Laboratory, Haifa Technion, has proved
that Cohen Modal Haplotype, which is found in every
Jewish male's DNA was not found in neither Y chromosome
nor mitochondrial DNAs of Mizos, PC Biaksiama says.
Lalchhanhima Sailo, president of the CIPC, has said on
many occasions that Mizoram would gain its independence
from India only if there is a nation. Following this
dictum, he has, for the past ten years, tried to prove
that Mizos are part of the ancient Israel nation which
became scattered and lost since 730 BC when the
Assyrian King Shalmaneser took them into captivity.
The CIPC had pronounced the Mizos to be a nation back
in 2002 to pave the way for the United Nations to step
in. His only trouble now is stiff opposition from the
church and an abysmally slow action from the UN.
The above is a story that appeared in Newslink's
Monday (October 25) issue. It was kindly submitted by its author.
See also: Descendents Of Lost Tribe Of Israel Found In India
© 2004 David M. Thangliana
