As may be seen from the above extract there was a clause in the Agreement between the Tiddim Chin Chiefs and Mr. N.W. Kelly. Which stipulated that the Government should always open a Middle School, upto the Seventh Standard at Tiddim. In the summer of 1943 the Government at Tiddim was in the throes of a life-and -death struggle for the enemy had decided to forge their way into India. They had cut off the lines of communication of the British forces assembled at Imphal and Kohima and had started to march on Imphal from all sides, through Tiddim, Tamu and Homilin. In the meantime the Siyin Levies had performed deeds of valour to their credit and taking advantage of the war situation, U Lian Thawng, spokesman for the Siyin Chiefs requested Mr. Kelly for a school to be opened at Tiddim for the boys who had completed their Primary School level of education as was agreed upon. Mr. Kelly was quite taken aback at this absurd request, most preposterous at this juncture However, he gracefully complied with their request and instead of opening the school at Tiddim, he told them to open it in the Siyin Valley. He agreed to release me in order to serve as one of the teachers in the school newly opened. The services of U Khai Kho Lian and U Khai Kho Thang were also available to be rendered at the school. So I was appointed a Junior Master and U Khai Kho Lian was appointed bead of school. U Khai Kho Thang, like me, served as a Junior Master and the school was housed at the Rest House, Khuasak. Some of the more prominent man who joined that school as students were:
1. U Tuang Za Khai (Major General retired)
2. Col, Son Kho Vum, (Chairman of the Chin State People’s Council.)
3. Capt. Thura Pum Za Kam (killed in action)
4. Major S. Cin Ko Mang (deceased)
5. U On Za Nang (Selection Grade officers.)
6. U Lian Za Nang
7. U Hau Za Nang Kimlai)
The school had not functioned for more than a month for the Japanese had come up and occupied all territory south of the Kennedy Peak. The school was abandoned to its fate. I am not certain about the month in which. It was opened and closed, but it remained dormant during 1944 when the Japanese occupied Tiddim. During the Japanese occupation, most of us, educated Chin Youths serve in the Niskikang, Civil Administration Branch and U Vum Ko Hau held education portfolio. But he had no opportunity to re-open the school that we abandoned so reluctantly.
When the laps were dislodged from the Siyin territory in November 1944, the Siyin leaders again made preparations to open the school. It was re-opened in the early months or 1945 at Khuasak. Everything went well for some time, but h appears that students and teachers who came to attend the school as day students and day-teachers found it weary some to come to Khuasak. They put up their difficulties to the Education Board. The Education Board, presided by U Thian Pum called a meeting to discuss how to solve the problem. The only way of solving the problem was to shift the school to Thuklai, which is more centrally situated for the surrounding villages to make a direct suggestion to this effect, would harm their unity and relation. So U Thian Pum, U Lam Kho Mang and U On Cin conspired to goad U Lian Thawng into temper. They criticized the school building, which was not properly repaired, and they pointed out that the health of the teachers and students might be affected. U Lian Thawng, a very clever and shrewd chief saw through their scheme. He told them that he had done his cherished duty in getting a school for the Siyins. Now that it could be run by anybody they were at liberty to shift it to any other place they chose. The Education Board took him at his word and the school was shifted to Thuklai. Saya Khai Kho Lian, writing to me at Shillong3 Assam, India where I had gone to pursue my college education, sadly told me that he felt everything was lost with the loss of the school. He no longer intended to serve in that school. Well, although I was not close enough to the school, I heard that Saya Charles Mang Thawng, who was an Assistant Teacher at Falam High School about the year 1940-42, took charge of the school as its head. Under him served as Assistant Teachers, U Khai Kho Thang, U Sein Lien, U Lian Ngo, U Ngo Thawng, U Mang Kho Tual, U Mans Thawng and U Hang Pum. The school was opened up to the Eighth Standard and U Siang Uk came all the way from Haka to study in the Eighth Standard of this school, there being nowhere else to go.
The school having been opened up to the Eighth Standard, the following students attended the said class:
1. M.VaiPum,
2. Thang Za Frau,
3. Ngaw Cin Pan,
4. Vungh Khai
5. Tuang Za Cin and
6. Tuang Za Khai.
In 1946, the following new teachers joined the school as reliefs for U Tuang Thawng and U Hang Pum who left:
1. U VungKhai,
2. U Ngo Lian,
3. U Cope Hen Cin.
Students re adding in the eighth standard were:
1. Son Kho Vum,
2. Thawng Za Pum,
3. Zul Ngin,
4. Thawng Kho Pau,
5. P. Lwa Thawng and
6. Pau Kho Lian
In 1947 when the Government took over the school, the following students were to be found in the Eighth Standard:
1. Hau Zn Nang (U Kimlai),
2. Suan Lian,
4. Suang Kho Lian and
5. Siang Uk.
By the year of 1948, the following students came up to read in the Eighth: –
1. Lian Kho Hau,
2. Lian Kho Zam,
3. Ngin Thawng,
4. Cope Ya Pome,
5. Suang Nang,
6. Pum Tual,
7. Hang Za Khai,
8. Khuang Piang,
9. Vungh Kho Hau,
10. Kam Ya Dal,
11. Ngin Za Pum.
12. Ngo Kho Kam and
13. D. Son Za Hau
In 1949, the Ninth Standard was modified as the School Leaving Class, and the above students were the first to sit for the combined High School Final and Matriculation Examination. When the examination was held In March 1949, none of the candidates were successful. But in their second attempt at the Supplementary examination of June 1949,
1. Ngin Thawng,
2. Cope Ya Pome,
3. Hang Zn Khai
Out of which the first two were matriculated for admission to the University. In June 1950, U Lun Pum, B.A. was appointed as head of the school and most of the Assistant teachers continued to serve. He had served as an Assistant teacher during 1945-46 before he left to join College in 1946.
I took over from U Lun Pum in November 1951 though I joined the school as a private teacher, the Siyin Education Board having appointed as Alternate Headmaster as a stand-in for U Lun Pum whose resignation from service was being considered, but not granted out-right. The then Director of public Instruction, Burma, Rangoon insisted on his being relieved by a graduate at that time. So, in the interest of all concerned, r acceded to the request of the Siyin Chiefs and elders to sacrifice my own ambitions.
I am glad to place on record that many of my students have succeeded in holding high Government posts. Some of them are now holding responsible positions in the Township People’s council and one, U Suan Za Kam had served a term as a member of the Chin State Committee of Judges, not a mean achievement.
Others such as.
U Thawng Kho Lian,
Daw Ciang Za Dim,
U Hang Za Nang,
U Mang Nang,
U Khup Pum,
U Vum Kho Tual,
Dr. Huat Za Mang,
Lt Col. Suang Za Pau,
Dr. Kam Cin Dal,
Dr. Lam Khan Pum
To name but a few of the more prominent ones, are in their own spheres of responsibility, very influential personages.
During the early fifties when the General Election was held to elect Parliamentary members, U Lun Pum put himself forward as a candidate on AFPFL ticket to contest with the KSVP which Capt. Mang Tung Nung led and he was duly ejected. Capt. Mang Tung Nung himself was also elected because the Parliament was constituted of two Chambers. The rivalry in parliament was the most unwholesome element in the Chin unity. The Chins split into hostile factions and whenever those opposing U Lun Pum came into power they threatened to reduce the status of the school to the middle school level on the ground (quite reasonable) that the student strength of the school did not meet High School requirement The school used to be shaky, but the Education Ministry was always above narrow-minded factionalism and so the school has remained to-day as it was when it first saw the light.
May she prosper in future
