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Zakapa, also known as Jacopa, was a Lushai chieftain of the Fanai clan and ruled the Vanlaiphai villages in present-day southern Mizoram.[1] He is best known for his participation in the Lushai Rising.
| Zakapa | |
|---|---|
| Chief of Khawhri Khawhri Lal | |
 A portrait of Zakapa | |
| Reign | 1860–8 August 1893 |
| Predecessor | Dokhama |
| Born | 1839 Khawhri (present-day in Lunglei district, Mizoram) |
| Died | 28 October 1914 (aged 74–75) Andaman Islands (life-sentenced in a cellular jail) |
| Issue | Thanchhuma |
| House | Fanai |
| Father | Dokhama |
| Religion | Sakhua |
Chieftainship
editZakapa was the superior chief of Vandula, an anti-British chief who cooperated closely with Vandula's wife Ropuiliani and son Lalthuama after his passing.[1] During the Chin-Lushai Expedition Zakapa readily surrendered and became friendly with the British. Zakapa's progression with British cooperation was left unfinished due to Saipuia, a rival chief being a longer-term ally to the British and opposing him.[2]
Anglo-Lushai Relations
editAfter the Chin-Lushai Expedition, the Lushai Hills became annexed by the British Raj. A North and South Lushai Hills were established. C.S Murray was assigned as the political officer of the South Lushai Hills and instructed to disarm all of the tribes with their weapons and quell any resistance. The Government of Bengal's initiative to build infrastructure introduced a coolie quota into the Lushai Hills, which was unpopular with the Lushai chiefs. Zakapa agreed to supply coolies to Murray along with his subordinate Dakopa, who supplied 59 men on 8th February 1891.[3]
On the 9th of February, Zakapa and Lalthuama refused to meet Murray. Murray and Taylor entered into Zakapa's zawlbuk and ordered all other chiefs to leave. Zakapa did not act on Murray's trespass and obliged. A private conversation was had.[4] Murray had stationed troops around Khawhri and warned Zakapa and Lalthuama of dangerous consequences. Murray subsequently burned the foodstock of Zakapa's settlement. In retaliation Zakapa attacked Murray's party and decapitated two sepoys before he managed to escape. The skirmish led to Murray's party killing 25 Lushai warriors. Murray's guards were killed due to being surrounded by Lushai musket men on all sides. His accomplice Taylor was severely wounded in his arm. Murray escaped the settlement and entered a hilly stream hence abandoning his men, money, ammunition and supplies.[5][6]
As a result of the hostilities, Major Hutchinson captured Zakapa's subordinate chiefs and tortured the women of his settlement for his whereabouts. Zakapa was caught and arrested and deported from his village. Further British investigation showed that Murray's conduct had been dishonorable as a political officer. Murray and his subordinates had requested Zakapa for women for sex. Upon failure and refusal to provide the demands, Murray threatened to abduct Zakapa's wife. This was uncovered in court and Murray was demoted and transferred out of the Lushai Hills on the orders of the Government of Bengal.[2][4][7]
References
edit- ^ a b Chatterjee 1995, p. 95.
- ^ a b Chatterjee 1990, p. 441.
- ^ Chatterjee 1995, p. 113.
- ^ a b Chatterjee 1985, p. 113.
- ^ Chatterjee 1985, p. 115.
- ^ Chatterjee 1990, p. 440.
- ^ Chatterjee 1995, p. 96.
Sources
edit- Chatterjee, Suhas (1985). Mizoram under British Rule. Delhi: Mittal Publications.
- Chatterjee, Suhas (1995). Mizo Chiefs and the Chiefdom. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. ISBN 81-85880-72-7.
- Chatterjee, Suhas (1990). Mizo Encyclopaedia. Aizawl: Jaico Publsihing House.
- Shakespear, L.W (1929). History of the Assam Rifles. London: Macmillan and Co, Limited.