Aizawl

Aizawl (English: /ˈaɪzɔːl/ EYE-zawl; Mizo: [ˈaɪ̯.ˈzɔːl] ^ⓘ), formerly known as Aijal, is the capital city and the most populous city of Mizoram, India. It is also the third largest city in northeast India. It is situated atop a series of ridges, with an average elevation of around 1,132 metres (3,714 feet) above sea level. In 2024, the city has an estimated population of 415,000 people.

Having served as the capital of the British Lushai Hills from 1898 to 1947, colonial structures are prevalent in the city centre including but not limited to the Aijal Club, Raj Bhavan, the Red School, and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner. As the seat of the Government of Mizoram, Aizawl is home to the Assembly House. Additionally, Aizawl is part of the Smart Cities Mission, an initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs aimed at urban development and infrastructure enhancement.

The word Aizawl is a combination of two Mizo words: "ai" meaning "cardamom" and "zawl" meaning "flatland" or "plain." Therefore, "Aizawl" could roughly translate to "the field of cardamom." This name may have historical significance or could refer to the characteristics of the area before urbanisation.

Before the British, Aizawl was a village founded by Chief Lalsavunga around 1810. When the British found the site it had been abandoned. During his reign at Aizawl, Lalsavunga summoned the properties of the Zadeng chiefs as a ransom for Ngurpuilala, the son of their chief Lalchungnunga. Lalsavunga freed the Zadeng bawi and gave them better rights. He lived in Aizawl around 1810–1820. Situated a mere 14 kilometres from Sairang and accessible via flat-bottomed boats, it served as a strategic location, with the Li Bial stream for the British to establish their headquarters.

In 1889, Officer Dally of the Assam Police, accompanied by 400 men, arrived in Aizawl village to assist Colonel Skinner's troops during a British military operation against the Mizo natives. Aizawl was subsequently chosen as the site for a fortified post on Dally's recommendation, leading Colonel Skinner to oversee its construction. The troops erected stockades and other essential structures, establishing a significant military presence in the area. In the same year, Fort Aijal was established, a small village that became the capital of British administration in North Lushai Hills.

Aijal was formally established on 25 February 1890 as Fort Aijal. However, the communication system was not too good as there were little to no roads. The Silchar-Aizawl road was 175 km long but not an all-weather road, which was improved. In 1896, Fort Aijal became the headquarters of the Lushai Hills Military Police Battalion. Water scarcity was the primary concern for the original fort along with a lack of telegraph infrastructure.

Fort Aijal would subsequently be attacked by Khalkam and the western Lushai chiefs, which would begin the Lushai Rising on 9 September 1890. After the murder of Captain H.R. Browne, the western Lushai chiefs besieged Fort Aijal. Fort Aijal was commanded by surgeon H.B Melville. A relief force was brought in via the Dhaleswari river but its leader Lieutenant Swinton was fatally wounded during an ambush. He died on 26 September. Fort Aijal would be liberated on 4 October, with credit going to Melville and Lieutenant H.W.G. Cole for their defence.

The early era of Aizawl oversaw many vêngs (transl. quarters) with distinct populations. The Khasi vêng was full of skilled carpenters who were already Christian from missionary efforts in the Khasi hills. The Gurkha vêng was the quarter of soldiers and barracks. In the northern end of Aizawl lived many Punjabi builders. Bengalis functioned as bureaucrats in early Aizawl such as administration, post offices and public works department. The Santali were employed for coolie labour. The police force consisted of Assamese in the Chaprasi vêng. Many Mizos who visited Aizawl gave the journey the term Vai-kal (transl. going to the place of foreigners). Mizos were also appointed to local administratrive roles in maintaining newly built roads where they were placed in villages close to roads to weed out and keep contact with Aizawl. Aizawl also began to grow due to its reputation as the biggest market in the Lushai Hills at the time with products such as soap, clothes, salt which were sought after.