Ropuiliani: The first recorded female chief in Mizo history

Book released on the Mizo history and great chiefs of Sailo

IH News Desk

REGIONAL, January 04, 2025: Chief Minister Lalduhoma Saturday released a book titled "Mizo History and the Great Chiefs of Sailo: Vandula & Ropuiliani" at Aijal Club.

The book, written by four researchers from Mizoram University and published by the Dr Selbuanga Foundation delves into the rich history of the Sailo chiefs, with a particular focus on the legendary figures Vandula and Ropuiliani.

The Chief Minister highlighted the challenges in documenting Mizo history noting that the adoption of the Mizo alphabet in the early 1900s resulted in a scarcity of written records. He highlighted the importance of exploring pre-colonial history from indigenous perspectives.

The book offers an in-depth exploration of Chief Vandula's lineage and pays tribute to freedom fighter Ropuiliani and her husband Vandula. The authors employed rigorous scientific research methodologies, gathering information from both written records and oral traditions.

Ropuiliani

Ropuiliani, the first recorded female chief in Mizo history, was born in 1828 to Chief Lalsavunga of Aizawl and married Vandula. After her husband's death in 1889, she became the chieftess of Denlung and eight other villages in southern Mizoram. She resisted British colonial authority, leading to her arrest and imprisonment in Rangamati, where she died in 1895.

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