Mizo National Front
Also called: MNF · Topic: Regional Aspirations: J&K, Punjab, the North-East and Accommodation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 7 "Regional Aspirations"
Meaning
The Mizo National Front (MNF) was a Mizo political group led by Laldenga. The Mizo hills were then part of Assam. The group grew out of anger at the Assam government's poor handling of the 1959 famine there. From 1966 the MNF fought an armed struggle for secession, meaning a separate country for the Mizos, with support from Pakistan. It matters because it later made peace and joined the democratic system, which made Mizoram India's clearest example of an insurgency settled by talks.
Example
The government's response to the revolt included air strikes, which hurt ordinary people, and NCERT says "everyone was a loser". Under the Mizo Accord (30 June 1986), signed by Rajiv Gandhi and Laldenga, the MNF gave up secession. Mizoram became a full state in 1987 (53rd Amendment, Art. 371G), and Laldenga became Chief Minister.
Don't confuse with
- Naga National Council (NNC): led by A.Z. Phizo in Nagaland. Unlike the MNF, it never reached a final settlement, and the Naga groups split.
Related concepts
- Hydari Agreement
- Naga insurgency
- Sixteen Point Agreement
- Shillong Accord
- Naga Framework Agreement
- Greater Nagalim
- Mizo Accord