New Delhi:
Amid ongoing fierce conflicts between Mizoram and Assam on border disputes, 40 Mizos belonging to the ‘world’s largest family’ are now battling the pandemic Coronavirus.
Forty of them belong to ‘one family’ whose patriarch Ziona Zionnghaka expired in June due to acute hypertension and diabetes. The family has 184 members including 39 widows of the family patriarch Ziona, who did not join Christianity.
 |
| Late Patriarch Ziona: And his 39 wives |
He ran the native 'Chana Pawl cult' before his death on June 13 at the age of 76.
Ziona's family lives in Chhuanthar Run in Chhuanthar Tlangnuam village Serchip district and is a four-hour drive from state capital Aizawl.
Social workers say the family “never formally joined Christianity” and instead practice polygamy despite the fact that it is not permitted by Christianity.
Late Ziona gave own hymns and distinct prayer systems unlike other local Christians.
Mizoram is otherwise a Christian majority state with about 88 per cent of people following that religion.
Altogether, 306 people in Chhuanthar Tlangnuam, home to 2,224 people who are also followers of Ziona, were infected with Covid19 about a week back, a source said.
Forty of them belong to Late Ziona’s family. Late Ziona's son Nunparliana (61) the present 'head' of the family.
confirmed that his family members have been tested positive for Corona.
He also has two wives and 15 children. Nunparliana also runs a furniture workshop.
The tiny Christian-majority state has already lost 131 lives.
Lately, Chief Minister Zoramthanga is in quarantine after his security staff has tested positive for Corona.
The Chief Minister had visited Meghalaya capital Shillong to attend a meeting of all northeastern chief ministers convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. At the state level, officials say the recovery rate of covid patients in Mizoram is still low at 74.36 per cent as against the all-India average of about 97 per cent.
Around 22,800 people have been cured in the state.
Presbyterian churches in Aizawl and other places have been at the forefront of the Covid battle as
Mizoram faced a shortage of quarantine centers and healthcare facilities.
A prominent Christian social worker and chairperson of the task group of quarantine facilities,
has lauded the role of churches in fighting the pandemic.
"Without the proactive supportive role of churches and Christian volunteers, the Covid crisis in Mizoram would have been a more difficult proposition altogether".
The influential Young Mizo Association has also offered its halls to be used as Covid care centers where infected people are being treated.
A substantial number of Mizos, who speak a Tibeto-Burman language, say they are Jews and claim to be Bnei Menashe (sons of Menasseh), descendants of one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel.
Mizoram essentially is a homeland of Lushai tribe and the place was once called 'Lushai hills'.
The state also has substantial number of Hmar ethnic community.
The state has another unique social feature as a substantial number of Mizos say there have Jews lineage and claim to be 'Bnei Menashe (sons of Menasseh)' or descendants of a 'lost tribe' of Israel.
This section of Mizo people also follow Judaism.
Ends
 |
| Playing Mizoram 'ambassadors' |
Covid outbreak hits Indian Christian state's 'largest family'
UCAN report
At least 40 members of the “largest family in the world” in India's Christian-majority Mizoram state have tested positive for Covid-19.
The family has 184 members including 39 widows of family patriarch Ziona Zionnghaka, who ran the native Chana Pawl cult before his death on June 13 at the age of 76 from what health workers said was acute hypertension and diabetes.
According to a senior health official, at least 40 people belonging to Ziona's family in Chhuanthar Run in Chhuanthar Tlangnuam village have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Chhuanthar Run is situated at the center of Chhuanthar Tlangnuam village in the northeastern state's Serchhip district and is a four-hour drive from state capital Aizawl.
Social workers in Aizawl say the family never formally joined Christianity and practice polygamy despite the fact that it is not permitted by Christianity.
Altogether, 306 people in Chhuanthar Tlangnuam, home to 2,224 people who are also followers of Ziona, have been infected with the coronavirus, a health official told UCA News.
 |
| Blogger and Mizoram friend Mo ! |
The official said initially only three tested positive on July 15 but as contact tracing was conducted and further tests were carried out, the figure jumped.
"This percentage is one of the highest in a single village," social worker Pu Lalrupui said.
Ziona's son Nunparliana, 60, the present head of the family, confirmed to UCA News that many family members have tested positive for Covid-19. Nunparliana, who runs a furniture workshop, has two wives and 15 children.
Officials say the recovery rate of Covid patients in Mizoram is still low at 74 percent against the national average of 97 percent. Around 22,800 people have recovered in the state.
The tiny state has reported 131 contagion deaths and its total number of Covid-19 cases stood at 30,492 as of July 24.
Mizoram is the homeland of the Lushai tribe and was once called Lushai hills. It also has a substantial Hmar community.
A substantial number of Mizos, who speak a Tibeto-Burman language, say they are Jews and claim to be Bnei Menashe (sons of Menasseh), descendants of one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel.
Some 87 percent of Mizoram’s 1.1 million people are Christians, predominantly Presbyterians.
Presbyterian churches in Aizawl and other places have been at the forefront of the Covid battle as Mizoram faced a shortage of quarantine centers and healthcare facilities.
The Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee, a conglomerate of 15 major Mizoram churches, was particularly supportive, said Mizo National Front legislator Z.R. Thiamsanga, also chairman of the state’s Covid-19 operational team.
Esther Lal Ruatkimi, a prominent Christian social worker and chairperson of the task group of quarantine facilities, also lauded the role of churches.
"Without the proactive supportive role of churches and Christian volunteers, the Covid crisis in Mizoram would have been a more difficult proposition altogether".
"At one time the challenge had grown manifold as Mizoram faced a shortage of quarantine facilities because a large number of people returned to the state with Covid-19 from various parts of the country. But a united effort by all stakeholders and active involvement of the churches have helped us."
The Young Mizo Association has also offered its halls to be used as Covid care centers where infected people can be treated.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment