Indralal Chakma (1964 – 2015)

Kamalanagar, 6 December 2015: Dangu Indralal Chakma a Member of Chakma Autonomous District Council breathed his last on 01/12/2015 at Indraprastha Appolo Hospital, Delhi after a long drawn fight with lung cancer. His mortal remains were brought back from Delhi on Saturday and cremated on the day itself.

He was elected to the 9th Chakma Autonomous District Council from 10-Mondirasora MDC constituency with MNF party ticket during the last MDC general Election held on 17/04/2013.

Before he joined politics in 2006 he worked under various capacities as Government servant under CADC. He was appointed as work supervisor on 22/10/1983 under CADC. During the course of his service life over a span of more than 22 years he went on to hold the posts of LDC, UDC, Assistant PRO, Assistant LAO and finally took voluntary retirement from the post of Circle Education Officer.

He has been a very active social worker as well. During the 2002- 2007 he was the President of the most powerful Chakma NGO, the Young Chakma Association. Under his Presidentship the YCA confronted many challenges that came upon the Chakma community. It was under his leadership the situation following the Adubangasora incident was controlled from turning into a communal mess where the Chakmas were falsely blamed of having murdered a Mizo couple of Burmeese national. He took out a procession in Demagiri in protest against the killing of an innocent Chakma villager in Bulongsuri by the BSF and managed to get compensation for the family of the victim. He has been hailed by many as an orator who can move the masses with sentiment of nationalism. He is also the founder Chairman of Ribeng Fibek, an NGO formed to bring about religious reformation among the Chakmas of Mizoram. He was the Chief Editor of the first ever English daily, the Pogodang, published and circulated in Kamalanagar.

He is survived by his wife Dangubi Namita Chakma, sons Sujan Chakma and K. Fagadang Chakma and daughters Aparna Chakma and K. Imeni Chakma. His mortal remain was taken around the Kamalanagar town as a mark of respect to the great personality before he was finally cremated with all ceremonial tributes.