Hill Voice, 17 August 2025, International Desk: Today (17 August) the historic 17 August was observed as Chakma Black Day at Kamalanagar, the headquarters of Chakma Autonomous District Council in the state of Mizoram in India.

The event was organised by Chakma National Council of India Mizoram State Committee in association with YCA, CMS & MCSU where various sections of the society, Political leaders, NGOs, students, intellectuals and CADC employees have participated.

The programme was started with the singing of the CNCI Song “Aami Changma Jaat, Jaador Ragei Maan” in unison. All the people both participants in the gathering or at home throughout Mizoram wore black badges in solidarity with the cause of the Day.

In the gathering Dg. Rasik Mohan Chakma, President, Dg. Rupayan Chakma, General Secretary, CNCI, Mizoram, Dg. Hemanta Larma, General Secretary, National Committee, Dg. Dr. Jyoti Bikash Chakma, President, CYCA, Dg. Parbesh Chakma, President, MCSU and Dgb. Indu Moti Dewan, Vice-President, CMS, Mizoram, TSU Kamalanagar Circle, President Dg. Rakeshor Tongchangya, General Secretary Dg. Kalajoy Tongchangya, Sports Secretary Dg. Lolit Tongchangya spoke on the significance of the Day.

The gathering has condemned the Radcliffe award of Bengal Boundary Commission which had awarded non-muslim majority CHT to Pakistan during partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947 against the terms of reference of the Commission and Indian Independence Act 1947. It also blamed the then Indian leadership for the meek effort they have made for inclusion of CHT within the dominion of India despite legitimate and strong grounds to be part of India.

The speakers have cited how CHT was beyond the purview of the Bengal Boundary Commission, CHT being an Excluded area under CHT Regulation 1 of 1900 and therefore, it could not have been treated as part of Bengal. It is because of which CHT had no representatives in the Bengal legislature. It asserted that the award of CHT by Bengal Boundary Commission to Pakistan was illegal and therefore very challengeable in the International Court of Law.

It was also recalled how the western strip of present-day Mizoram where there is Chakma concentration was once part of CHT before 1900 and later enjoined with South Lushai Hill for the administrative convenience of British India government. The meeting observed that this has caused the Chakmas of Mizoram to be treated as foreigners in their own ancestral homeland. Chakmas has come to be treated as second class citizen and subjected to untold discrimination because of this mistaken identity.

The gathering also recalled the historical displacement of Chakmas due to the construction of the Kaptai Hydro-electric Project (1964) in East Pakistan, which submerged thousands of hectares of cultivable land, rendering thousands homeless. Nearly 14,888 Chakmas now who have grown little over to 40,000 in population, after years of persecution, were rehabilitated in Arunachal Pradesh, yet continue to face discrimination and denial of full rights due to mistaken identity. Still the Chakmas continue to struggle against systemic injustice, harassment, and branding as “foreigners” in their own ancestral homeland. Leaders highlighted the need for urgent redressal, recognition, and dignity for the community.

According to the CNCI Mizoram State Committee, The Chakmas of India through its apex organisation, Chakma National Council of India (CNCI) has been observing the 17th August as their Black Day since 2016. The proclamation to observe the Day was made in the two-day CNCI National Assembly held at Guwahati in the year 2016 by the Chakmas from Mizoram, Tripura, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. They express grief that this day, 17th August has made the Chakmas, a stateless race and as a result they face hostilities rampantly and branded as foreigners in their homeland, India. The Chakmas of India living in Assam, Mizoram, Tripura, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh mourned this 17th August as their Black Day, the day when for them the sun has set. To mark the Day Chakmas wearing black badges on the day.