Aizawl, July 22: Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma on Wednesday released a commemorative Festschrift titled "Zawhzawzo Val", a collection of scholarly essays dedicated to eminent academician and writer Prof. Laltluangliana Khiangte, along with two other books associated with the renowned scholar at a function held at the BSI Hall, Bible House, Aizawl.
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| Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Lalduhoma releases the Festschrift "Zawhzawzo Val" along with two books honouring eminent scholar Prof. Laltluangliana Khiangte during a function at BSI Hall, Bible House, Aizawl, on July 22, 2026. |
The event celebrated the remarkable literary, academic and cultural contributions of Prof. Khiangte, one of Mizoram's most respected scholars and authors. The programme was attended by distinguished academicians, writers, students and members of the literary community.
The Chief Minister formally released "Zawhzawzo Val", a Festschrift comprising research papers and writings by prominent scholars in honour of Prof. Khiangte's lifelong contributions to Mizo language, literature and education.
He also released "Lalzika leh Vanthangi", the English translation of the acclaimed Mizo drama authored by Prof. Khiangte, as well as "Teaching of Mizo Language in Secondary School," co-authored by Prof. Laltluangliana Khiangte and Dr. Lalramliana. During the same programme, Mizoram University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dibakar Chandra Deka, who attended as the Guest of Honour, released the Bengali translation of "Pasaltha Khuangchera."
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Lalduhoma described Prof. Khiangte as one of the most respected scholars among the Zo people whose outstanding achievements in literature, education and academic research have earned him recognition far beyond Mizoram.
The Chief Minister said Prof. Khiangte's academic accomplishments alone would have secured him a distinguished place in the history of Mizo education, but his extensive literary works have further enriched the cultural and intellectual life of Mizo society.
Reflecting on his long association with the scholar, Lalduhoma recalled having numerous conversations with Prof. Khiangte over the years. During those discussions, the professor had repeatedly expressed his desire to see more Mizo literary works translated into other languages so that readers across India and the world could appreciate the richness of Mizo literature.
The Chief Minister noted that the publication of the English translations of "Pasaltha Khuangchera" and "Lalzika & Vanthangi" represented the fulfilment of one of Prof. Khiangte's long-cherished aspirations.
Highlighting the importance of taking Mizo literature to a wider audience, Lalduhoma stressed that many more literary works should be translated into English, Hindi, Bengali and other major international languages. He said such translations would help introduce the history, traditions and literary heritage of the Mizo people to readers worldwide while simultaneously strengthening and preserving the Mizo language.
He also underscored the growing importance of digital technology in language preservation. According to the Chief Minister, there is an urgent need to increase the volume of Mizo-language content available on the internet. Building a comprehensive digital repository of Mizo vocabulary, along with English and Hindi equivalents, would significantly support the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in the Mizo language and enable more accurate machine translation between Mizo and other languages.
Lalduhoma said embracing digital technology while preserving linguistic heritage would ensure that the Mizo language remains relevant and accessible for future generations in an increasingly interconnected world.
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Prof. Laltluangliana Khiangte has long been recognised as one of Mizoram's leading literary figures and has represented the state at numerous academic conferences and literary forums across India and abroad. Through both Christian and secular writings, he has made significant contributions to promoting Mizo language, literature, culture and social thought beyond the boundaries of the state.
According to the Festschrift, Prof. Khiangte has written 40 plays, of which 20 have already been translated into Hindi and 10 into English. Besides authoring around 20 plays and 20 prose works, nearly 10 of the poems he translated have been included in the curricula of approximately five universities across India. Many of his literary works have also been translated into several other languages, reflecting his growing influence in Indian literature.
The release of the Festschrift and the translated books marks another milestone in recognising Prof. Khiangte's enduring contribution to Mizo literature and education while reinforcing the importance of preserving and promoting indigenous languages through translation, scholarship and digital innovation.
