Veteran Mizo politician C Pahlira dead

Aizawl, Jul 31: C Pahlira, one of the veteran politicians in Mizoram, died due to prolonged heart problems at Aizawl Civil Hospital here Saturday morning.

He was 87.

Pahlira is survived wife, three children and several grandchildren.

His funeral, which took place at his Upper Republic residence here today, was attended by prominent politicians and public figures, friends and relatives.

Born in a small village of Hmuifang in Mizoram in 1924, Pahlira had served as an inspector of agriculture in the North East Frontier Agency (now Arunachal Pradesh) before he joined Mizo Union, the first political party in Mizoram, in 1954.

He served as the general secretary in Mizo Union from 1957 to 1971 and got elected as member of district council (MDC) in then Mizo District Council under Assam for two terms during this period.

He was made deputy chairman from 1962 to 1964 in the district council led by Mizo Union.

After Mizo district became Mizoram Union Territory in 1972, the Mizo Union merged with Congress party in 1974.

Pahlira, however, continued the Mizo Union and got elected on the party ticket as MLA in 1982.

Throughout his political career, Pahlira was noted for his honesty and far-sightedness. His bold initiatives in widening Aizawl roads despite severe criticisms from private land owners in Aizawl, have now earned him a name which will never be erased.

Many roads in Aizawl and other towns were named after him as CP Road.