Read the passage and answer the questions:
SECESSIONIST MOVEMENTS
After Independence, Mizo Hills area was made an autonomous district within Assam. Some Mizos believed that they were never a part of British India and therefore did not belong to Indian Union. But movement for secession gained popular support after Assam government failed to respond adequately to great famine of 1959 in Mizo hills. The Mizos’ anger led to formation of Mizo National Front (MNF) under leadership of Laldenga.
In 1966, MNF started an armed campaign for independence. Thus, began a two-decade-long battle between Mizo insurgents and Indian army. The MNF fought a guerrilla war, got support from Pakistani government, and secured shelter in then East Pakistan. The Indian security forces countered it with a series of repressive measures, of which common people were victims. At one point, even Air Force was used. These measures caused more anger and alienation among people.
At end of two decades of insurgency, everyone was a loser. This is where maturity of political leadership at both ends made a difference. Laldenga came back from exile in Pakistan and started negotiations with Indian government. Rajiv Gandhi steered these negotiations to a positive conclusion. In 1986, a peace agreement was signed between Rajiv Gandhi and Laldenga. As per this accord, Mizoram was granted full-fledged statehood with special powers, and MNF agreed to give up secessionist struggle. Laldenga took over as Chief Minister. This accord proved a turning point in history of Mizoram. Today, Mizoram is one of most peaceful places in region and has taken big strides in literacy and development.
The story of Nagaland is similar to Mizoram, except that it started much earlier and has not yet had such a happy ending. Led by Angami Zapu Phizo, a section of the Nagas declared independence from India way back in 1951. Phizo turned down many offers of negotiated settlement. The Naga National Council launched an armed struggle for sovereignty of Nagas. After a period of violent insurgency a section of the Nagas signed an agreement with the Government of India but this was not acceptable to other rebels. The problem in Nagaland still awaits a final resolution.
What led to the formation of the Mizo National Front (MNF)?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Failure of the Assam Government to respond adequately to the 1959 famine
Option (1) Inadequate response of the Assam Government to industrial backwardness — Incorrect. The anger that created the MNF came from the Assam government’s failure during the great famine of 1959, not from any question of industry.
Option (2) Failure of the Assam Government to respond adequately to the 1959 famine — Correct. The movement for secession gained popular support after the Assam government failed to respond adequately to the great famine of 1959 in Mizo hills; the Mizos’ anger led to the formation of the MNF under Laldenga.
Option (3) Imposition of Emergency in Assam — Incorrect. The MNF grew out of the anger over the 1959 famine; the Emergency of 1975-77 came much later and had no link with it.
Option (4) Arbitrary arrest of civilians in Assam — Incorrect. Repressive measures against common people came later, after the armed campaign of 1966.
Note: This passage is taken from the NCERT chapter ‘Regional Aspirations’, almost word for word, with only a few small words dropped. The Mizoram and Nagaland story is one page of the book and gave NTA five questions; read the North-East section with care.
NCERT (2025-26): “Secessionist movements … After independence, the Mizo Hills area was made an autonomous district within Assam. Some Mizos believed that they were never a part of British India and therefore did not belong to the Indian union. But the movement for secession gained popular support after the Assam government failed to respond adequately to the great famine of 1959 in Mizo hills. The Mizos’ anger led to the formation of the Mizo National Front (MNF) under the leadership of Laldenga.…” |