No.453/2020-2021 

 Vice-President of India Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu had virtually released Governor Pillai’s  125^th book titled ‘Oh, Mizoram’ - a collection of English poems published by the Indus Scrolls Press, from Hyderabad, yesterday evening.  The book releasing function was held formally at the India International Centre, New Delhi on yesterday at 4 pm. The function was presided over by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State i/c PMO wherein Pu Zoramthanga, Chief Minister of Mizoram was the notable speaker among other luminaries.

Virtually releasing the book ‘OH Mizoram’ written by Governor of Mizoram, Shri P S Sreedharan Pillai, the Vice President,  praised the region for its pristine natural beauty and said that Mizoram’s colorful festivals, folk music, and energetic dance make Mizo society truly unique. Often called as "Songbird of the East", the Mizos are blessed with a natural talent for music, he added.

The Vice-President said the whole of North-East region presents a mosaic of diverse Indian culture with its more than 220 ethnic groups and an equal number of dialects.

Referring to a poem on ‘Diabetes’,  Shri Naidu  observed that a large number of Indians are in the grip of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity due to sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy food habits.

In this regard, the North-Eastern people, who live harmoniously with nature and eat natural diet, can show the way to the rest of India in adopting a healthy lifestyle. He expressed happiness that the north-east is showing the way in organic farming and cited the example of Sikkim, which has become India’s first organic state in 2016.

The Vice-President also commended the people of Mizoram for recording great social indicators in literacy (with over 91 percent) and child sex ratio. Mizoram also holds the highest child sex ratio with 971 females against 1000 males according to the 2011 Census, he noted.

In his keynote address, Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga had recalled that when Shri P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, known more popularly as the multifaceted talent with a well known background in law and politics was to become the Governor of Mizoram, the poetic side of the latter was the one he missed out initially.

He had congratulated Governor Pillai on his achievement of having written 125 books on the subjects ranging from poetry to history finance to politics, law to social commentary and satire, etc. These achievements, the Chief Minister believed, had spoken volumes about the literary prowess and caliber of a man whom we have come to respect and admire as our Governor.

Commenting further on how well the Governor connected emotionally with the state he serves the Chief Minister also added, “By Composing of this anthology of such delightful poetry, that too named after the State in which he serves, so soon after taking up the job he had won over the hearts and minds of many Mizos, myself included, by this delightful yet sobering poetry”. He further invited everyone to get a hold of this particular work – a work inspired by the State of Mizoram and its people; a State that has had its fair share of ups and downs over the past years. The Chief Minister also expressed his appreciation of Governor Pillai’s credentials as a leader who has succeeded in establishing a warm and vibrant relationship with the people of Mizoram and a rapport with its leaders.

During this pandemic period of about 10 months, Shri P.S.Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Mizoram, a prolific writer himself has authored 18 books on various subjects, including two collections of poems in Malayalam, and one collection of poems in English. His works are of the subjects - ranging across history, law, political science, economy, social, travelogues, poetry, satire, literature, etc. In this book release function Shri VP Joy, IAS, Secretary, Coordination & Security, Cabinet Secretariat and Shri Prafulla Ketkar, Editor, Organiser had also delivered their speeches. The event was attended by the Governor of Mizoram, Shri P S Sreedharan Pillai, among other dignitaries.