‘Fight the Guerilla like a Guerilla’; The story of Mizoram

”Walk in the path defined by rule, and accommodate yourself to the enemy until you can fight a decisive battle.”

The Nine Situations:The art of war recognizes nine varieties of ground:"(1)Dispersive ground;(2)facile ground;(3)contentious ground;(4)open ground;(5)ground of intersecting highways;(6)serious ground;(7)difficult ground;(8)hemmed-in ground;(9)desperate ground." Ancient Chinese General,Sun -On the Art of War,6th Century BC.

Location of Mizoram


Country;India District.Coordinates; 23.36°N 92.0°E / 23.36°N 92°E.Area 21081 km2 (8139 sq mi).Established 20 February 1987.
Population; • Density-888,573 (27th).• 42 /km2 (109 /sq mi).HDI (2005) -0.790 (medium) (2nd) Literacy -89.9% (2nd)
Official languages Mizo, English.Capital Aizawl,Largest city Aizawl.Governor M M Lakhera,Chief Minister Pu Lalthanhawla.Legislature (seats) Unicameral (40).

CIJWS ,Vairengte,Mizoram

The entire world has heard a lot about Fort Benning, established in the 1940s in Fort Benning, Georgia. Otherwise termed -’College of Assassin ‘.And this is because most of the Latin American and African dictators had been known to have gone through the school. For instance, Argentina’s Pinochet, Panama’s Noriega, Nigeria’s Abacha, most Vietnamese military leaders, etc. In Fort Benning, students are taught to fight lions barehanded, to fight crocodiles, and to become fearless.

Fort Benning is the home of the United States Army Infantry Center and School, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, elements of the 75th Ranger Regiment, the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) commanded at a time by George Marshall in 1934,the man who initiated the well known Marshall Plan-that led to the reconstruction and development of Japan, Germany and even a chunk of European nations affected by the Second World War.

Mizo,India

However, here is something very very different and special. An outstanding establishment in the jungles of Asia, only few mortals know such citadel existed in the first place. Let take a ride down the jungles of Asia and follow the trails of the tigers, to witness firsthand the quest of man to tame all elements of life in the twenty first century.

Champhai valley,Mizoram,North EastIndia.


The people of Mizoram are known as Mizos. The term 'Mizo' is made of two words, mainly Mi and Zo. 'Mi' means people and 'Zo' means Hill. Thus Mizo means "hill people”, a racial and distinctive ethnic identity. The Mizos are known to be simple, literate, happy, carefree, contented, generous, social, hospitable, fun loving and freedom-loving people. They lead a life of close friendship in their place with pleasant climate and dense green forests abounding in diverse flora and fauna.




The Mizos are known as the songbird of the North east and considered to be one of the finest choir singers in North east India. Mizoram -the “land of the Mizo people" is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighboring countries of Bangladesh and Myanmar. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl.

Landscapes of Mizoram

Mizoram has a mild climate, comfortable in summer 20°C to 29°C (68°F to 84°F)and never freezing during winter, with temperatures from 11°C to 21°C (52°F to 70°F). The region is influenced by monsoons, raining heavily from May to September with little rain in the dry (cold) season. The average state rainfall is 254 cm (100 in.), per annum. In the capital, Aizawl rainfall is about 208 centimeters (82 in.) and in Lunglei another major center about 350 centimeters.

Reiek village near Aizwal and its hilltop were fascinating.

Mizoram beautiful is a land of many rolling hills, valleys, rivers and lakes. As many as 21 major hills ranges or peaks of different heights run through the length and breadth of the state, with plains scattered everywhere. The average height of the hills to the west of the state is about 1,000 meters. These gradually rise up to 1,300 meters to the east. Phawngpui Tlang also known as the Blue Mountain, situated in the south-eastern part of the state, is the highest peak in Mizoram at 2,210 metres (7,251 feet).

And infact, It is one of the most treasured and enchanting land with bubbling natural resources and many tourist attractions like Phawngpui, the Blue Mountain of Mizoram, Sibuta Lung, Memorial of Chhingpui, Mangkahia Lung, Tomb of Vanhimailian, Bung, Paikhai, Kolasib, Vantawng Water falls, Champhai, Lunglei, Phawngpui Peak, Saiha. Some of the famous lakes scattered all over the state are Palak, Tamdil and Rungdil.

One of the beautiful lakes of Mizoram

The origin of the Mizos, like those of many other tribes in the northeastern India, and perhaps Asia, is shrouded in mystery. The generally accepted view is that they are of Mongolide descents and were part of a great wave of migration from China and later moved out to India to their present habitat. It is possible that the Mizos came from Sinlung or Chhinlungsan located on the banks of the Yalung River in China, they formerly settled in the Shan State and later moved on in the middle of the 16th century to Kabaw Valley, Khampat, Tahan and the Chin Hills.The earliest Mizos who migrated to India were known as Kukis.

Tamdil Lake; a beautiful lake amidst virgin forests just 85 km from Aizwal.

Mizo history in the 18th and 19th century is marked by many instances of tribal raids and head hunting led by the village chieftains. The Lushai Hills Autonomous District Council was formed in 1952 and it led to the abolition of chieftainship. The autonomy however only partially met the aspirations of the Mizo people, and hence the representatives of the District Council and the Mizo Union pleaded with the States Reorganization Commission (SRC) in 1954 for integration of the Mizo-dominated areas of Tripura and Manipur with the District Council in Assam.

The tribal leaders in the northeast were unhappy with the final SRC recommendations and prompted by this dissatisfaction met in Aizawl in 1955 to form a new political party, Eastern India Tribal Union (EITU). This group raised their demand for a separate state comprising of all the hill districts of Assam. The demand for a separate Hill state by EITU was kept in abeyance.

The Chapchar Kut celebration in the month of March to celebrate the success in jhum cutting,as a thanksgiving festival.


Long history of famine; Bamboo flowering and rats


Mizoram has always suffered from famine known locally as 'mautam' or 'thingtam' every few decades. The problem is caused by the synchronous flowering of bamboo species which naturally flower and then die at regular intervals. When bamboo has flowered it produces many seeds and fruit-causing-rodent-feeding-frenzies. The mautam always leads to dramatic increases in local rat populations as well as producing swarms of insects, which then spread to the human food storage areas after the natural harvest is expired - destroying stocks and food crops. Historically it led to death by starvation (102 in 1859) and even today presents much hardship to many rural communities whose very survival depends on a successful harvest.

The Mim Kut is celebrated before the hard work in the jhum is over. It is celebrated in the month of September.

It was in October 2005 that the initial heavy flowering of the bamboo was first noticed at Chawngtlai bamboo forest in the southern district of Champhai. It then spread rapidly in 2006 - 2007 throughout the state. After the Mautam, desperate to control the rising rat population, the state government announced a reward of one rupee for every rat-tail taken. During 2006 alone more than 221,636 rats were killed.


The famines have played their part in Mizoram's history. The famine in 1958 led to the formation of the Mizo National Famine Front which lobbied for and set up relief to villagers by mobilising the youth to distribute rice and provisions. The MNFF later changed its name to the MNF and operated as a political unit to fight for the rights of Mizo people. Under the then Chief Minister Laldenga together with his supporters including the ex Chief Minister Zoramthanga, the group fought a bitter separatist struggle for twenty years against the Indian Army for self rule.


The Mizoram Presbyterian Church

Independence movement


There was little development in the state and many people were in hardship including food shortages. The Mizo National Famine Front dropped the word 'famine' and a new political organization, the Mizo National Front (MNF) was born on 22 October 1961 under the leadership of Laldenga with the specified goal of achieving sovereign independence of Mizoram. Large scale insurgency broke out on 28 February 1966 at the government installations at Aizawl, Lunglei, Chawngte, Chhimluang and other places and the Government of India responded militarily.

This was the first time that India had used its air force to quell a movement of any kind among its citizens.“In the afternoon of 4 March 1966, jet fighters attacked Aizawl. The next day, a more excessive bombing took place for several hours which left most houses in Dawrpui and Chhinga veng area in ashes,” recollected 62-year-old Rothangpuia in Aizawl. The Mizo National Front was outlawed in 1967 and the demand for statehood increased. The Mizo District Council delegation met prime minister Indira Gandhi in May 1971 and demanded fully fledged statehood for Mizoram.

JUNGLE WARFARE TRAINING IN MIZORAM. A sniper of the Indian Army Special Forces personnel taking position during the jungle warfare training at the specialised counter-insurgency range of the Indian army's famous Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW) in Vairengte in Mizoram on August 12, 2008.

Due largely to this long history of famine, caused by the flowering of bamboos which in turn led to an outbreak of rats that greatly decimated all paddy crops.The people who then depended largely on domestic produce were hard hit, Mizoram is perhaps the only place on earth that has seen the worst of insurgency. The Mizo land and people were dragged through unrest and violence when the Mizo National Front rose in rebellion against the Union of India in 1966.

Mizoram at that time was badly hit by a famine as there was suddenly no food to fill their stomachs. Incessant cries for relief and help to the Central government were not received by sympathetic ears. The Mizo National Famine Front headed by Laldenga was formed, which later took on a more militant face and became the Mizo National Front. So the fight that started for food turned into a fight for independence.

Atrocities were committed on both sides –by the Mizo National Famine Front and the Indian army- but the ones who bore the brunt of it all were, needless to say, the people. However, in 1986 with the public and churches demanding for peace, the Mizoram Peace Accord was signed between the Government of India and the Mizo National Front.

US soldiers climb a hill during a joint exercise by US and Indian soldiers at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW School) at Vairengte, about 140 kilometers (88 miles) north of Aizawl, Mizoram, India, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005. Forty American soldiers of the 25 Infantry Division and the Guam National Guards are on a two-week exercise to learn from Indian soldiers experienced in countering guerilla warfare.


Inside the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare (CIJW)


Since then, Mizoram and the Indian Army have shared a sort of love-hate relationship. The presence of armed forces in the state is contradictorily welcomed and at the same time abhorred by the Mizos. But memories of the nightmare that was insurgency have already started to fade and Mizos, especially the youth, are now quite happy to include themselves to a great extent as part of the Indian nation. Young Mizo men have and still are giving laudable service to their country by joining the army. The booming Indian economy which opened up the floodgates of opportunities and wealth is undoubtedly also a feel-good factor in deciding the Mizo mind to accept the ‘Indian’ identity.

Soldiers, in grey, jog along with Indian soldiers at the Counterinsurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) during a joint India-US jungle warfare training exercise, in the backdrop of a decommissioned helicopter, at Vairengte, about 140 kilometers (88 miles) north of Aizawl, in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005. The two-week joint exercise on countering guerilla warfare began on Sept. 13 comprising U.S. soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division and Guam National Guards based at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. The U.S. soldiers are at the CIJWS for a third consecutive year following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

As elsewhere, the presence of the men in uniform in the midst of civilians has often resulted in mutual misunderstanding and skirmishes, the absolutely regimented life of the army being obviously in complete contrast to the liberal life led by civilians. This is true not only for Mizoram but everywhere one finds the two at close proximity. And whenever such conflict of interests arises, both sides react vehemently. However, today the army has seemingly learnt its lesson from its many operations within the country while combating insurgency and similar uprisings. It has learnt to be transparent and media-friendly. It has learnt to respect human rights and has even included relevant courses in its various trainings. It has understood for the better that most regional problems are people-centric and the usual army tactics and strategies can almost never be successfully applied.

An US soldier, center, shows fighting skills to an Indian soldier during a joint exercise by Indian and US soldiers at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW School) at Vairengte, about 140 kilometers (88 miles) north of Aizawl, Mizoram, India, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2005. Forty American soldiers of the 25 Infantry Division and the Guam National Guards are on a two-week exercise to learn from Indian soldiers experienced in countering guerilla warfare.

The best testimony to the dawn of peace in Mizoram is perhaps the presence of the The Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare (CIJW) School at Vairengte, the ‘Gateway to Mizoram’. It is today considered as one of world’s most prestigious anti-terrorist institution with trainees from several countries receiving counter insurgency and counter terrorist training. The School is perched on the hills of Mizoram approximately five kilometers all along the National Highway 54 hugging a tribal hamlet, wedged on the border between Mizoram and the state of Assam. Of late the school has been attracting trainees from all around the world because of the natural training areas and the quality of training being provided by sophisticated training faculties.

U.S. soldiers train at the Counterinsurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) during a joint India-U.S. jungle warfare exercise at Vairengte

The motto of this institute is to ‘Fight the Guerilla like a Guerilla’. The idea to set up the Jungle Warfare School was conceived by former Indian Army Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw sometime in 1967, when the Indian soldiers suffered heavy casualties at the hands of northeastern rebels who were adept at hit-and-run guerilla strikes. The Army then was only trained in conventional warfare and this type of unconventional warfare by northeast rebels was unique in its kind. Therefore, a need was felt to establish an institution, which could train the Indian soldiers in this unconventional warfare. Accordingly, in 1967, Lt Col (later Lt Gen) Mathew Thomas, established an adhoc Jungle Training School at Mynkre near Jowai (Shillong). The school was shifted to its present location, Vairengte and was designated as CIJW School on 01 May 1970.

Indian army soldiers demonstrate the art of stripping and reassembling of automatic weapons while blindfolded at an army camp at Khrew on the outskirts of Srinagar.

But a year down the line, Indian soldiers undergoing training in the school were pushed to the battlefront. They took part in “Operation Jackpot,” to help the then East Pakistan gain independence and become Bangladesh. But once the mission was accomplished, the CIJW reverted to its task of imparting serious counter insurgency lessons to Indian soldiers, for which the institute was established. And during the next three decades, the school at Vairengte has prepared troops to fight anti-India separatists engaged in low-intensity and unconventional guerilla warfare against the state forces in different parts of the country, particularly in the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir.

Since its inception, the School has constantly evolved in stature and strength, in keeping with the changing dynamics of insurgency and terrorism in the country. Its relevance has grown manifolds with the mushrooming of small and big insurgent/terrorist groups in the country and worldwide. Terrorism is often dubbed as ‘Today’s War’ and with its vast expertise in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism training; it has truly come into its own as a centre of excellence in such operations. The School has continuously incorporated all the lessons learnt during such operations and has painstakingly kept its training curriculum contemporary. It presently trains over 7000 officers and soldiers every year. Its scope and mandate has increased with Para Military Forces, Police, Services and foreign component adding to the numbers and compositions.

U.S. soldiers unload from a truck at the Counterinsurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) during a joint India-US jungle warfare training exercise at Vairengte, about 140 kilometers (88 miles) north of Aizawl, in the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram.

The CIJW School conducts counter insurgency and counter terrorist courses for officers and soldiers below 28 years of age, with expert instructors imparting rigorous training to the trainees. In addition to the above, it also conducts pre-induction training for the units being inducted into insurgency in the affected northeastern region. The training module is non-conventional and once a soldier undergoes training here, he can face all types of situations in an insurgency environment. The training focuses on the physical fitness, reflex firing techniques and tactical lessons.

The module for training is practical oriented with number of lectures, discussions, case studies, sand model exercises and outdoor exercises. Live situations are painted during the outdoor exercises to judge the reaction of the soldiers at the spur of the moment. The troops are taught to live in difficult and hostile terrain, eat and sleep like the guerrillas and strike as silently as the guerillas. The school boasts of excellent training areas, training facilities, with thirteen innovative firing ranges and an outstanding training staff who have firsthand experience in fighting the insurgents and the terrorists within India.

US and Indian soldiers play volleyball during a joint exercise by them at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School

TRAINING MODUS


Recent terror attacks all over the world have brought into focus the need to train Indian security forces to combat urban terrorism. Anti-terror experts at the Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) at Vairengte in Mizoram have already taken the lead in imparting specialized training to army, paramilitary, and police personnel, in tackling urban terrorism.“The training schedule involves a rigorous drill on how to tackle urban terrorism and low intensity conflict, besides simulated anti-insurgency operations”. With the recent Mumbai attack, one of the instructors said, “We have been imparting training to deal with urban terrorism to both Indian and foreign soldiers even before the Mumbai attacks.

Definitely the Mumbai terror attacks opened our eyes and hence we would be devising new tactics to train our soldiers.”The school at Vairengte is considered as one of the world’s most prestigious anti-terrorist institutions with troops from several countries getting training in counter-insurgency techniques.“The soldiers were being trained on sub-conventional guerrilla warfare, especially in dealing with urban terrorism,” “The training module is non-conventional and once a soldier undergoes training here, he can face all deadly situations anywhere in the world.” Thirty US soldiers had a three-week long training in low-intensity guerrilla warfare at the CIJWS in July.

So far more than 156,000 soldiers have been trained at CIJWS, including about 1,500 foreign soldiers from 26 countries since the school was set up in 1970.“The troops are taught to live in difficult and hostile terrain, eat and sleep like the guerrilla and strike as silently as the guerrilla does,” one of the instructors at the CIJWS said. Spurred by the successes in combating militancy, New Delhi in 2001 opened the school at Vairengte for soldiers from abroad with three US army officers being the first overseas batch to be trained.

But it was only after 9/11 that the jungle warfare school at Vairengte began attracting military cadets from across the world.In 2003, a group of about 100 elite US commandos completed a three-week anti-insurgency combat training at the institute.The reputation of the CIJWS lies in the fact that the training module is framed in a highly scientific manner – soldiers receive training in identifying improvised explosive devices (IEDs), jungle survival, counter terrorism, and interrogation techniques.

Soldiers are also trained in jungle reflexive shooting, and a fast rope descending technique called ’slithering’, used by the Indian Army. The exercises are aimed at honing special skills for soldiers who are exposed to terrorist attacks.The training module includes among other things lectures and seminars, besides mock operations in the rugged jungles in Mizoram.“The CIJWS is also framing tactics to hunt down and face terrorist groups carrying weapons of mass destruction”.

US soldiers talk during a demonstration of weapons during a joint exercise by Indian and US soldiers at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW School).Forty American soldiers of the 25 Infantry Division and the Guam National Guards are on a two-week exercise to learn from Indian soldiers experienced in countering guerilla warfare.

Today, the ultra is educated, uses the Internet for gathering information, disseminating propaganda, negotiating arms deal and is familiar with hi-tech explosives. At the same time he is replete with native skills and can devise deadly traps that can kill an elephant with nothing more than bamboos and vines. The inherent characteristic of insurgency in the North East is its small scale, low profile activities, with the main insurgent bases located across the IB, in camps in Myanmar, Bangladesh, China and Bhutan. Terrorist units infiltrate into India through inhospitable terrain, strike fast and flee.

Their ambushes – 72% of which are directed against the security forces – are meticulously planned and ruthlessly executed. Such hit and run tactics of small units force a large deployment of armed forces to counter them. But simply being on the killing ground pays no dividends. Learning to operate in small teams, studying the pattern of the militants, establishing an intelligence network, knowing their traditional sanctuaries, maintaining the element of surprise, selecting the site for counter ambush, observing the discipline of when exactly to open fire, knowing field craft and jungle craft well enough to remain undetected, and improvising within a given situation, is the kind of stuff that breaks an ambush. And it’s this which is taught nowhere else better than at CIJW School.

In 2010, contingents from the United States, Mongolian and Uzbekistan Armies underwent training in the thick jungles of Mizoram. Even Israel and United Kingdom are eliciting interest in training their contingents in this school. Indeed, CIJW School has now found a place in the world map and has transformed the ‘Gateway to Mizoram’ into a much sought after place by the foreign armies. It is the professionalism demonstrated by the instructors and staff of the school that today the School is considered as one of the world’s finest Counter Terrorist Institutes.

Though there are several army training schools in other parts of India, it is through the CIJW School in Mizoram that the world community has come to recognize the experience of the Indian Army in fighting insurgency and terrorism. The training with foreign contingents, being interactive, adds value and enriches instructional component at the school. In short, the Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte has in the long run become one of the jewels in Mizoram’s crown.

Today, it has become a source of employment and income to many residents of Vairengte, the village were the training center is situated at. The high school it runs also imparts good education to the village children, who are readily admitted as day scholars. The village cultural club is invited to display the rich tradition of the Mizos through their folk songs and dances when ever important dignitaries come visiting the School. There is now a growing acceptance and affinity between the people and the School, which can hopefully go a long way in creating a truly peaceful atmosphere for their co-existence


Mizoram is our homeland
It is not given or gotten as a gift
It is not acquired by privilege
Or potential contracts
It is not bought with gold or held by the force
No, it is made with us the sweat of the brow
It is the historic creation
And the collective enterprise of a people
Bodily, spiritual and moral
Over a span of generations.


Mar,2011-Shola Adebowale

*With data assistance from-Mizoram Government link site, R.Satyanarayanan, Wikipedia and et al