Fear of Government takeover of Hari Temple in Christian-dominated Mizoram

• Possibility of the authority of temple getting transferred from Assam Rifles to State Government

• Mizoram Gorkha Mandir Sukanu Committee wrote to the Assam Rifles

Hari Mandir in Mizoram

Aizawl (Mizoram) – There is growing concern that a historic Hindu temple in Mizoram, a predominantly Christian State in Northeast India, may be taken over by the Government. The ‘Assam Rifles Hari Mandir'(also known as the Mahadev Tran Temple) in the capital Aizawl has been established and maintained by the Assam Rifles; however, with the decision to relocate the Assam Rifles 15 km away from the city centre to the Zokhawsang area, there are fears that the administration of the temple will go to the State Government. This temple has been the centre for religious practice and spiritual guidance for Gorkha Hindus and Bru Reangs.

Fear of Government Takeover of the Hari Mandir in Christian-Majority Mizoram!

There is a possibility that the temple under the Indian Army’s ‘Assam Rifles’ may come under the control of the State government

The Mizoram Gorkha Temple Sanchalan Samiti has written a letter to the… pic.twitter.com/eFxfjSbVgO

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) October 14, 2024

1. The temple serves as a centre for festivals such as Janmashtami, Durga Puja, and Diwali, as well as for events like weddings and kirtans.

2. Recently, Mankumar Jaishi, President of the Mizoram Gorkha Mandir Sanchalan Samiti wrote to the Commandant of the 2nd Assam Rifles expressing concern over the fate of the Hari Mandir.

3. Jaishi wrote that the Hari Temple holds immense emotional significance for the families of the Assam Rifles personnel. He appealed for the temple to be preserved and for the descendants of Assam Rifles soldiers, as well as allocated for the continued use of the descendants of the Assam Rifles personnel as well as other local Hindu community.

4. Jaishi mentioned that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was reached between the Union Government and the Mizoram Government for the relocation of the Assam Rifles in July 2024. While the final status of the MoU remains unclear, it is evident that the Government of Mizoram would take over the Assam Rifles complex.

5. Given that the historic Hari Mandir is located within the premises of the Assam Rifles complex, local Hindus fear that the responsibility to run, administer and maintain the temple too would go into the hands of the Mizoram Government.

6. We request that the management of the temple be handed over to the Gorkha Hindus.

Persecution of Hindus in Mizoram

According to 2001 census data, there are only about 31,562 Hindus in Mizoram compared to 7.72 lakh Christians. The Hindu community in the State is comprised primarily of Gorkhas and Bru Reangs. For the unversed, the Bru Reangs suffered a genocide at the hands of Mizos in 1997, forcing many to flee to Tripura. It was only after an agreement between Tripura and Mizoram in 2018 that the Bru population could resettle and rehabilitate.

In Mizoram too, several cases of attacks on temples have been reported.

There has always been an antagonistic sentiment against Hindu traditions in the State. Any major leader associated with Hindus is subjected to defamation. In 2011, the Mizo NationalFront attacked then-Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla for attending Durga Puja and Vijayadashami celebrations in Kolkata.

Editorial Perspective

Whether Hindus are a majority or a minority in a State, the apathy of the majority of Hindus towards their Dharma leads to the Government taking control over their temples. Therefore, it should not be surprising if something similar happens in Mizoram !