A. Thanglura
Indian politician (1926–1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aloysius Thanglura (3 December 1926 – 9 September 1994) was an Indian politician from modern-day Mizoram. He was a Member of Parliament, representing Assam in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's parliament.[1] He was the first Mizo law graduate, first Mizo advocate in the Assam High Court. He was also the first and last Mizo Cabinet Minister in the government of Assam.[3]
Aloysius Thanglura | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| In office 20 June 1962 – 2 March 1964[1] | |
| In office 3 March 1964 – 2 February 1967 | |
| Constituency | Assam |
| Member of the Assam Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1967–1972 | |
| Succeeded by | Ch. Chhunga |
| Constituency | Aijal West |
| In office 1957–1962 | |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Constituency | Aijal West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 December 1926 |
| Died | 9 September 1994 (aged 67) |
| Party | Indian National Congress Mizo Union |
| Spouse | Agnes Dengchhungi[2] |
Early life
Aloysius Thanglura was born on 3 December 1926 in Sairang village, Lushai Hills District, British India.[4] He passed his Intermediate in science at St. Anthony's College and continued his studies with English Honours at Cotton College, Gauhati. A. Thanglura did his Bachelor of Law at Gauhati University in 1950. Before joining politics, he wrote articles in the Assam Tribune.[5]
Political career
Thanglura was elected in the 1957 Assam Legislative Assembly election as a Mizo Union candidate.[6] He was given the post of Parliamentary Secretary and was later promoted as Chief Parliamentary Secretary. Simultaneously he also held the post of Deputy Chief Whip of Congress Party of Assam.
He was one of the leaders of the Hill State Movement which demanded a separate tribal state in Northeast India and became the first chairman of the APHLC in 1960. However, Thanglura left the APHLC to form the Mizoram District Congress at Aizawl in 1961.[7]
He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1962.[8] In the 1967 elections,[9] he was elected as MLA from Aizawl East and West constituencies and as a result of which he relinquished his Rajya Sabha and Aizawl East seats and was subsequently sworn in as a Cabinet Minister of Assam. Thus, A. Thanglura became the first and last Cabinet Minister of Assam from the Mizo District before it was elevated into a Union Territory.[5]
Personal life
He died on 9 September 1994.[1]
Legacy
Thanglura was known for his oratory skills, his statements often drawing a mix of ire and amusement. After his retirement from active politics he wrote two books:[10]
- Zoram politik inlumlet dan
- Mihrâng leh Sahrâng I & II
"Zoram politik inlumlet dan" provides an important insight to the political history of Mizoram. It is widely recognized as one of the best Mizo work of history written.[11]
See also
- Mizo Union
- Raymond Thanhlira, fellow Mizo Union member and Rajya Sabha member
- R. Rothuama, fellow MP from Mizoram