Vaihlenhlo - Colonial plant in Mizoram (Lushai hills)

Vaihlenhlo plant in Mizoram, India

Pu Buanga dictionary define: Vai-hlen-hlo, n. the name of a plant - the Kuki weed. (Also vai-len-hlo). This plant called Vaihlenhlo or Vailenhlo is much to be find in all over Mizoram. It is traditionally said that this plant is known only after the coming of British in the then Lushai Hills presently Mizoram state in India. When i came across many writings/literatures about the Colonial discourse and its impact in Mizoram (Lushai hills) this plant is hardly cover in their contents. I am not even sure whether this plant is introduced or spread in Mizoram during the Vailen vawi 1-na [First Lushai expedition (1871-72)] or Vailen vawi 2-na [Second one called Chin Lushai expedition (1889-90)], but for sure this plant was known to the Mizo only after the arrival of Colonial forces in Lushai hills.

Vaihlenhlo/vailenhlo plant in Mizoram, India

Vaihlenhlo/Vailenhlo literal meaning is a plant that came along with the vai (British or any other Indian forces). It has a meaningful term in Mizo tawng (langauge). The plant is usually find in the weeding area in agricultural site and even in settlement areas like village outskirt etc. I have little knowledge about this plant but what I have in my mind is that this plant gives a memory of the existence of British forces in our land. It may also be mark the as the introduction of new plant in Mizoram. If this plant is properly investigated about its existence it will help in the study of  environmental history or botanical history of Mizoram. I can still recollected that when I was a little kid my older generation people often mentioned this plant that came along when the vais (colonial armies) came to invade us during the colonial period. In my humble opinion this plant hardly occupies a place in any of the colonial writings in Mizoram but if it is included this may mark a new addition in the discourse.  In Mizo saying we have "A zual zawpui vaihlenhlo" it may be translated as "there are more complicated problems to resolve." The reason behind this saying may be that when we Mizo doing weeding work in our cultivation site the vaihlenhlo plant is more often grow again even when it were weeded down, that is why when the more complicated things happened in life it is often compare with the much spreading up of vaihlenhlo that needed to be weed out.

Vaihlenhlo/vailenhlo plant in Mizoram, India

In Mizoram we have another plant but this is not much related to colonial discourse but even this plant is also known as foreign plant. It is called Japan hlo (Its literal meaning is Japan plant). Our local older generation people also tell us this plant is available in Mizoram only after the coming of Japanese army in Mizoram during the Second World War (1939-45). That is what its name also given after the Japan. I do not know whether it is true or false but our grant parents told us that this plant - Japan hlo was used by Japanese armies to cover their camps and trenches during that war. Based on our Mizo oral tradition this plant is also known as foreign plant that existed only after the Second  Word War. It has many usages like for herbal or medicinal plant, I have such experienced when we were in little kid if we have minor injuries we often used Japan hlo as a first aid medicine. Japan hlo is also widely used as fodder for piggery. 

Japan hlo plant in Mizoram, India. (Medicinal plant)

Japan hlo plant in Mizoram, India. (Medicinal plant)

Name of Fruits in English to Mizo language (Translation)

English: Peach, Mizo tawng: Theite/Theite sen/Japan theite
Courtesy: blogs.courierpostonline.com

Let's try to learn the names of fruits from English to Mizo tawng (language):

English: Fruit
Mizo tawng: Thei

English: Apple
Mizo tawng: Apple thei

English: Banana
Mizo tawng: Balhla

English: Berry (Black/Blue berry)
Mizo tawng: Theihmu

English: Cherry
Mizo tawng: Theite chikhat

English: Coconut
Mizo tawng: Narial

English: Cranberry
Mizo tawng: Ram theihmu

English: Date
Mizo tawng: Tumrah thlumchi

English: Fig
Mizo tawng: Theipui

English: Grape
Mizo tawng: Gerep /Grep

English: Guava
Mizo tawng: Kawlthei

English: Jackfruit
Mizo tawng: Lamkhuang

English: Lemon
Mizo tawng: Ser/Limbu/Nimbu

English: Lime
Mizo tawng: Ser te chi

English: Lychee
Mizo tawng: Theifeihmung

English: Mango
Mizo tawng: Theihai

English: Water Melon
Mizo tawng: Dawnfawh

English: Mask melon
Mizo tawng: Hmazil

English: Mulberry
Mizo tawng: Thingtheihmu

English: Olive
Mizo tawng: Olive thei

English: Orange/Madarin orange
Mizo tawng: Serthlum

English: Papaya
Mizo tawng: Thingfanghma

English: Passionfruit
Mizo tawng: Sapthei

English: Pear
Mizo tawng: Per thei

English: Plum
Mizo tawng: Theite lian chi

English: Pineapple
Mizo tawng: Lakhuihthei

English: Pomegranate
Mizo tawng: Theibuhfai

English: Butterfruit
Mizo tawng: Theihang

English: Valencia fruit
Mizo tawng: Sisumam

English: Citrus limetta (Mosambi)
Mizo tawng: Sermam

English: Peach (small red plum)
Mizo tawng: Theite sen/Japan theite

English: Peach  (a hairy variety)
Mizo tawng: Theite hmul

English: Tamarind
Mizo tawng: Tengtere

English: Emblic Myrobalan /Gooseberry/Indian gooseberry (Amla)
Mizo tawng: Sunhlu

English: Otaheite/Malay/Tahitian/Country/Star/West Indian gooseberry
Mizo tawng: Kawlsunhlu

English: Garcinia cowa
Mizo tawng: Chengkek

English: Perkia speciosa (Stink bean)
Mizo tawng: Zawngtah

English: Carombola/star fruit
Mizo tawng: Theiherawt

English: Myrica esculenta/red/bay berry (Soh phie in Khasi)
Mizo tawng: Keifang

English: Bastard Oleaster (Elaeagnus latifolia)/ Silverberry
Mizo tawng: Sarzuk

English: Wild Lemon (Sour)/Pomelo/grapefruit
Mizo tawng: Sertawk

English: Rhus chinensis/ Chinese sumac/rhus javanica/nutgail tree
Mizo: Khawmhma

English: Garnicia cowa/Cowa fruit/Malabar tamarind/Cowa moangosteen/Brindal berry
Mizo: Chengkek

English: Freshwater mangrove/carallia brachiata
Mizo: Theiria

English: Baccaurea ramiflora/Burmese grape
Mizo: Pangkai

English: Monkey jack/monkey fruit (Artocarpus lacucha)
Mizo: Theitat

English: Chesnut

Mizo: Thingsemim

English: Walnuts

Mizo: Kumkhal/Umkhal

English: Sour taste

Mizo: Thil thurna nei chi

English: Sour

Mizo: Thur/thil thur

English: Ripe

Mizo: Hmin (thei hmin)

English: Sour fruit

Mizo: Thei thur