Contemporary Short Stories from Mizoram

A study of old Mizo oral traditions bear witness to the rich story telling experience that spill beyond folktales, from the subtexts and underlying narratives found in the wider context of folklore that cover old sayings, riddles, jokes, games, taboos, woven designs. community practices and so on. Alas, all this rich trove had remained far too long eclipsed and unshared with the outside world due to the late birth and development of the written word, not to speak of the entry of print culture that came even later. The first glimmer of literacy began with the efforts of two English missionaries, J.H. Lorrain and FW. Savidge who introduced the Roman script in 1894. To put things in perspective this means that today, the Mizo script is approximately 123 years old only, and literacy coupled with formal education came later. Since Christianity was the sole conduit for literacy and education of the Mizo in the past, its influence is unmistakable and continues to be so in all aspects of Mizo worldview. As to whether this has contributed to a wider scope for talent in creative writing today. or is an inhibiting factor is a moot point. As the focus of this volume is on creative writing, that too on contemporary short stories, it is worthwhile to note that its development as a genre is even more recent. "Lali" (1937) by Biakliana, and "Chhingpuii" (1938) by Kaphleia are believed to be the first short stories in Mizo literature though we should not ignore or sideline the fact that there already exists the rich inheritance of oratures of the Mizo forefathers.