About Chakma Leader Baneswar Chakma of Mizoram

Veteran Chakma Leader Baneswar Chakma

Facts about a veteran Chakma leader: Baneswar Chakma (1929-2014)

Baneswar Chakma was one of the freedom fighters who fought for India’s freedom to make Chittagong Hill Tracts a part of India during 1947 partition. He also fought for acquiring an Autonomous District Council for Chakmas in Mizoram.

In 1947, he represented along with Sneha Kumar Chakma and Ghanashyam Dewan demanding inclusion of CHT within India. Unfortunately, the Boundary Commission headed by Cyril Radcliffe gave away CHT, the Chakma kingdom, to Pakistan. Chakma leaders continued to fight for CHT’s inclusion into India.

In 1957, Baneswar Chakma was the Secretary of the Tribal Union (Regional Party) which demanded CHT’s inclusion in India.

In 1967, he was one of the representatives which met Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Delhi on the CHT issue.

From 1974 to 1977, he served as Senior Judicial Officer in CADC.

From 1970 to 1997, he was Secretary to the Honorary Organiser, Chakma Affairs, Demagiri (Mizoram)

In 1989-90, he met Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi during a delegation to demand adequate compensation for those Chakma families who were evicted from the Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary in Mamit district of Mizoram.

Courtesy/Source/Reference: The Chakma Voice by MCDF (Global Edition – 2011)

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Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC), Mizoram

Official Map of CADC, Mizoram (click for larger view)

CADC at a Glance

Headquarter: Kamalanagar

Area: 1500 square km

State: Mizoram (India)

District: Lawngtlai

Population:  43,528 (only in CADC, according to Census, 2011)

Formed: 29^th April, 1972 (Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India)

Geographical location: Longitude – between 21⁰58’ (N) and 22⁰45’ (N), and Latitude - between 92⁰30’ (E) and 92⁰45’ (E)

International border: Myanmar (Burma) in the East and Bangladesh in the West

Religion: Buddhism

Rivers: Thega and Toijong

Highest peak: Rajmondol Suk (2050 metres)

The Chakma Autonomous District Council, or shortly known as CADC, is an autonomous council for the Chakma people, located in the Indian state Mizoram. It was established on 29^th April, 1972 under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, when Mizoram was being up-graded into a Union Territory from a district in Assam.

Administration:

Its headquarter is in Kamalanagar, locally called as Chawngte, where most of administrative decisions are taken by Executive Members (EM) of the Council and they are headed by the Chief Executive Member (CEM). Besides, 24 legislative Members of District Council (MDC) are also terminally elected through independent election and nomination processes.

The CADC covers a total of 69 village councils and 17 constituencies run by MDCs.

Geographical location:

Since the Tropic of Cancer passes through the council, the climate is extremely hot and humid, unlike the remaining parts of the state. Its average rainfall is 220 per annum. Rajmondol Suk is the highest peak in the region with the height of 2050 metres, and 2 rivers – Thega and Toijong flow through it.

Population:
Chakmas are one of the three ethnic minority communities having their own Autonomous District Councils in southern Mizoram (the other two being Lai and Mara).  Apart from the CADC, Chakmas also live in two other districts of Mizoram - Lunglei and Mamit, which are outside the jurisdiction of the CADC.

(Please note that, this informative article about the Chakma Autonomous District Council in Mizoram will be updated with more relevant, detailed and accurate information)