•        Prof. Dibakar Chandra Deka, Vice Chancellor, Mizoram University

•        Prof. Laltluangliana Khiangte, Senior Professor, Mizoram University

•        Dignitaries, Invitees, Dear friends

As we come to the end of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, I am very happy that today, we are releasing three books by Prof. Khiangte in three languages. I am particularly delighted that the book in Hindi is about the famous Mizo Chieftess Ropuiliani, who fought against the British colonial rule.

At the very outset, I congratulate Prof. Khiangte on this happy occasion.

I have learnt that he is an extremely accomplished Mizo academician, and that his long list of awards and honours include the prestigious Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar.

I convey my sincere appreciation to Prof. Khiangte for his tremendous hard work, and I encourage him to continue with his prolific and valuable writings.

Nowadays, Ropuiliani has become fairly well known even in mainland India.

Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu ji, Former Vice President of India, brought wide publicity by posting about her on his Facebook page in 2020 while he was still the Vice President.   Since then, her portrait has been projected on the walls of the Red Fort at last year’s Independence Day.

Her statue has also been installed in Guwahati.

I am proud to say that all these recognitions have come about largely due to Prof. Khiangte, because it was his book on Ropuiliani in the early 1990s which popularized her story to the general public.

I am fascinated to learn that Chieftess Ropuiliani was a brave female hero in a highly patriarchal society.

She resolutely opposed British colonial rule, and she advised her son and other chiefs to do the same.

She was imprisoned by the British, where she even refused to eat their food. Ultimately, she died in prison, where she remained loyal to her land till her last breath.

It is my desire that the bravery of Ropuiliani should continue to be celebrated by the people of this land.

Her story inspires us to become even more patriotic and loyal to our land.

I also place on record my appreciation to the author for publishing three books in English, Hindi and Mizo.

I have noted that the people of Mizoram generally speak English.

But as we all know, Hindi is an important link language in India. Knowledge of Hindi, and for that matter any other language, will ultimately be for our own benefit. At the same time, focus on the mother tongue and the regional language is also one important feature of the National Education Policy 2020.

Therefore, I appreciate that English, Hindi and Mizo books are being released today.

Once again, I congratulate Prof. Khiangte for releasing these three interesting books in English, Hindi and Mizo.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate his Department – the Department of Mizo, Mizoram University, on their Silver Jubilee.

Thank you.

Jai Hind.