Thangliana Nun Aṭanga Awptute Rilru: Postcolonialism Hmanga Thlirna

Abstract

This journal article, Thangliana Nun Aṭanga Awptute Rilru: Postcolonialism Hmanga Thlirna, studies the life and experiences of Thomas Herbert Lewin, who was popularly known among the Mizo people as Thangliana. During the British colonial period in the then Lushai Hills, Lewin developed a deep sympathy and affection for the Mizo people, their culture, customs, and way of life. Unlike many colonial officers who viewed the colonised people with superiority, Lewin attempted to understand and respect the Mizo community. However, his humane attitude and emotional closeness toward the Mizo created tension between him and his fellow British officials. As a result, he suffered criticism, misunderstanding, and isolation from his own colonial society. Using Postcolonial theory as the main framework, this study examines the complex relationship between coloniser and colonised through the experiences of Thangliana. The article explores how colonial ideology expected loyalty to imperial authority and discouraged emotional attachment to indigenous communities. It also analyses how Lewin’s position became conflicted as he stood between the British Empire and the Mizo people whom he admired. Through a postcolonial reading, the study highlights themes of identity, power, cultural conflict, alienation, and resistance within colonial discourse.