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Politics of Divine Edict The aims and objectives of mpf can be

summed up as: (1) The foremost aim of

and Reverse Secularism mpf is to clean up the election process in


Mizoram; it strives for clean, free and fair
election where legitimate citizens may
exercise their franchise without fear or
N WILLIAM SINGH favour. (2) mpf strives for good govern-
ance in Mizoram, including coordination
Mizoram's churches promise to with the state government and involving

correct and guide the political itself in the state's developmental process,
Churches
Churches politicalLike chameleons, inpolitical
Likechameleons, and Mizoram
they and
religious
step out religious
of they colours.
step don colours. out both of which includes participatory planning.
culture of the state, a trend
the religious domain and intermingle mpf demands:
that challenges the universal
with the political affairs of Mizoram. only citizens of India should cast their
understanding of secularism.
Indeed, the Mizo churches promise to votes; no political party should drop voters
correct and guide the political culture of to their polling stations by means of a
While the church is closely vehicle; mpf will check whether any one
the state, a trend that challenges the
aligned with the state, the indulges in demanding money to candidates
universal understanding of secularism. and to political parties; house to house cam-
concept of separation of state
This phenomenonandis reminiscent of the paign is allowed till 10 days before the elec-
religion is practised differently. In Europe
church's role in 18th century tion; 'selling and buying' of votes are strictly
prohibited and no candidate should distrib-
when religious doctrine got mixed up
this scenario, reverse secularism ute some material like Silpaulin, Jersey, foot-
with political administration. ball, mobile handset, government schemes,
dictates political idioms and
The Northeast Today (tnt) magazine etc; no protest rally should be organised 10
social affairs in Mizoram.
on 22 August 2012 reported: days before the election; a fixed number of
banners, flags, posters are to be used by
In view of the assembly election due in early political parties.
next year, Mizoram Peoples' Forum (mpf),
the church sponsored election surveillance mpf claims that due to the untiring effort
in Mizoram has signed a memorandum of of the churches, voluntary organisations
understanding (mou) with major political
and civil society, the electoral process
parties in Mizoram so that free and fair elec-
tions could be held... and political condition of Mizoram is
As many as 27 points have been made today one of the best in country. Indeed, mpf
for the political parties to abide by. Among has been honoured and recognised by
the 27 points, one is that the political parties the Election Commission of India (eci).
should only make an election manifesto
However despite mpf's claims, the
which they can implement. If any political
party violates any one of the 27 points, the election processes within Mizoram have
mpf will 'invalid' that party.1 deteriorated. A comparison of spending
patterns in the 1993 and 2003 Mizoram
Genesis of MPF
legislative elections shows that election
The Mizoram People Forum (mpf) expenditure
was has increased manifold
and there have been many incidents
an initiative of the Mizoram Presbyte-
rian Church.2 After a series of consulta-
that are detrimental to peace and stabil-
tions, various denominations of ity
theof Mizoram. This trend has bred
undesired and unwanted after-effects,
church in Mizoram and prominent non-
governmental organisations (ngos) including
like corruption, uneven develop-
Young Mizo Association (yma) estab-
ment, increasing gap between the rich
lished mpf on 20 June 2006. The presi-
and poor, and so on.
During the 2008 Mizoram legislative
dent of mpf was, and will always be, the
Presbyterian Church's Synod modera- assembly elections, mpf claims to have
tor.3 mpf is a non-governmental scrutinised
and spending that curbed pro-
duction and display of posters and
non-political organisation established
under the Societies Registration Act,
hoardings and the use of the media by
i860, mpf was established to ensure candidates
good of all political parties. But
governance, peace/harmony, sustain-
N William Singh (williamsnongmaithemo6@ this led to serious questions being raised
gmail.com) teaches sociology at Pachhunga
able socio-economic development and about the power wielded by mpf and the
University College in Aizawl, Mizoram.
democratic freedom in Mizoram. eci. However, mpf was successful in
Economic & Political weekly USES December 29, 2012 vol xlvii no 52 23

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FROM THE STATES: MIZORAM =

the state, within Mizoram they pay taxesIn 1997, the Synod succeeded in intro-
preventing candidates from organising
big feasts to woo voters. to the church based on Biblical under- ducing prohibition in the state with the
Before mpf came into existence, the of tithes and offerings, whichpassing of the Mizoram Liquor Total Pro-
standing
Mizo churches played an influential roleindividuals to contribute one-
directs hibition (mltp) Act. Critics opined that
in the electoral process. In his 2009
tenth of their income in the name of godprohibition in the state had failed and
book Evangelical Christianity and Demo-welfare of the church.
for the only succeeded in giving a fillip to
cracy in Asia (Oxrod, New York), ReverenceDavid towards the church remains bootlegging, resulting in fatalities and

Halloran Lumdain mentions that though strong in Mizoram and the church's increased prices of smuggled liquor.
the church does not field candidates in authority has never been questioned in
Reverse Secularism
election, it carries out a range of politi- Mizoram since the evangelisation of
cal activities. Mizo society in 1903. Indeed, so revered Secularism in Mizoram is not secularism
is its role that the church functions likein the normal sense of the word. In
(The) church doesn't mention names of
particular political candidate but highlights a state within a state. Not surprisingly,
Mizoram, religion, especially the church,
what kind of people are trustworthy and can the church, which should remain confined is closely aligned with the state. Indeed,
have a government relationship with church to matters pertaining to religion, often the concept of separation of state and
and society. Church in Mizoram therefore intrudes into Mizoram's institutional and religion is practised differently. Reverse
gives Mizo citizen a guide as to elect res-
secularism in Mizoram dictates political
political sphere. So while criticism of the
ponsible leaders. Rev Zaihmingthanga, ex-
idioms and social affairs in Mizoram.
church is absent in Mizoram, the state
secretary to Mizoram Presbyterian council
mentioned - 'we normally issue pamphlets government is criticised on issues likePolitical institutions within Mizo society
on the eve of elections encouraging people cannot be separated from the Synod and
corruption, price rise, rising inequality
to cast their votes and utilise franchise
between rich and poor, etc. mpf control. "Separation of church and
responsibly' (Lumdain 2009: 267).
state" is a far cry within Mizo society.
Honest Broker
The relationship between the church Electoral procedures and democratic
Historically, the church in Mizoramshowdowns
and lay believers is worth special mention. has confined within mpf's "divine

The loyalty of the Mizo people to been


the an effective mediator and often edicts" ensure that Mizoram's adminis-
diktats of the church reflects an unbreak-
helps in softening and cooling downtration never question the authority of
able patron-client relationship; it isconflict
so before attempting to resolve it.the church.
The history of the church in Mizoram
strong that it cannot be easily destroyed
or criticised. reveals that during the time of the MizoNOTES
insurgency, the first effort to broker1 Short URL: http://tntmagazine.in/?p=7Ó99
MPF and ECI
peace came from the church. Rev Zair-2 Christians constitute 87% of Mizoram's popu-
lation, with a large majority among them
The church's ban of door-to-door cam- ema took the initiative in 1968 to broker belonging to Protestant denominations. The four
major churches of Mizoram are the Presbyterian
a peaceful settlement between the Mizo
paigning during election has drawn the
Church, Baptist Church of Mizoram, Roman
attention of eci. The then union law National Front (mnf) and the Govern- Catholic Church and the Salvation Army. Smaller
denominations include the United Pentecostal
minister Veerappa Moily perceived the ment of India. A Peace Mission was
Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, Koh-
role of church as an effective measureformed by the Presbyterian and Baptist
hran Thianghlim, Lairam Jesus Christ Baptist
to curb malpractices in the poll pro- church committees to persuade mnfChurch (LIKBK), Evangelical Church of Mara-
land, Independent Church of India (ICI) and
cess. Then chief election commissioner leaders to give up violence and to per-
Evangelical Free Church of India (EFCI). The
Presbyterian Church, by far the largest with
(cec) S Y Quraishi praised the role of suade the union government to accom-
nearly two-thirds of Mizo Christians as its
Mizo churches for banning door-to-doormodate important demands within
members, wields considerable influence in
both religious and temporal affairs.
campaigning in the run-up to the elec-framework of the Constitution of India.
3 Synod is the administrative body of Presbyte-
tion and curbing corruption to a signi-This mission failed due to the uncom- rian church of India. Synod headquarter is at
ficant extent and promised to incorpo-promising attitude of the mnf leader- Aizawl, is the highest decision-making body of
Presbyterian church with considerable influence.
rate Mizoram's model elsewhere in the ship under Laldenga. Financial operation, personnel (including selec-
country.4 In February 1968, Rev Zairema made tion of missionaries), administration, manage-
ment and operation of Presbyterian church are
another attempt to persuade Laldenga to directly or indirectly controlled by Synod
Special Status commence peace negotiations with the headquarters.
4 Times of India, 16 June 2011 Guwahati edition.
The application of the Sixth Schedule to government. Another attempt to restore
the Constitution, which empowers the peace was initiated by the then chief
Economic&PoliticalwEEKLY
governor to determine the administra- minister Pu Ch Chhunga on 12 November
tive areas of the councils, in some pock- 1974 along with the church, political par- available at
ets of Mizoram and waiver of income ties, YMA and the Human Rights Com-
tax to scheduled tribes under Section mittee under Brig T Sailo. The MizoAltermedia-Bookshop Ecoshop
M G Road
10(26) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 has
Peace Advisory Body resolved to work
Thrissur 680 001, Kerala
given rise to a unique phenomenon. for peace and security in Mizoram and
Ph: 2422974
While Mizos do not pay income tax to
to abjure violence.
24 December 29, 2012 vol XLVii no 52 E3253 Economic & Political WEEKLY

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