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Vuta
Sailo
Chief of Buanhmun
Buanhmun Lal
PredecessorLallula
SuccessorKairuma
BornLalthangvuta
c. 1800
Diarkhaia
Diedc. 1860
Ruallam
Burial5 May 1920
Sialhawk
SpouseNeipuithangi
IssueLangsuma
Sangluna
Lalvunga
Lungliana
Kairuma
Lalnguava
HouseSailo
FatherLallula
ReligionSakhua

Vuttaia (c. 1800 - c. 1860) also known as Vuta was an eastern Lushai chief. He was born as Lalthangvuta before Vuttaia became his nickname. He was a founder of the eastern Lushai chiefs and responsible for starting the North and South war of the Lushai Hills.

Early life

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Vuta was the youngest son of Chief Lallula. He was born in the village of Diarkhaia. Vuta's birth date is difficult to determine but c. 1800 is considered the most acceptable range based on his son Kairuma who was born in 1852. After Lallula's death, Vuta left with hismother to Arte where he would rule Hreichuk and Arte as a chief. He would be 20 years old when he first became chief.[1]

Vuta's capture

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During the Lusei-Hualngo War under Vuta's brothers such as Lalsavunga, the war escalated into alliances. As the Pawi entered the conflict Vuta was captured by the Pawi and Hualngo. He was transported and placed in the village of Rallang.[2] Rallang village was located north of Lentlang. Zahuata's son Rodenga was assigned to supervise Vuta. Vuta and Rodenga would share songs and poetry during captivity.[3] Vuta would get to know the Pawi and form a relationship with them. As a result Vuta would become a tributary to the Pawi with his son Kairuma continuing the practice until annexation by the British. Vuta's brothers raised money for his release. Rorehlova the adopted brother of his father Lallula was given the money. This was because he was a Fanai chief. However, Rorehlova used the money to pay his own debts and tributes. As a result, the money was reduced when offered to the Pawis for Vuta's release. The Zahau chiefs refused the money. As a result the money and good were raised once more. Laltuaka's son Chawngchhunga who was considered a selfish man refused to give his wealth to Rorehlova to pay off the Pawis for Vuta's release.[4] Vuta would be released two years after his capture before the Pawi let him go. Upon release and hearing of Chawngchhunga's attitude, relations soured between Laltuaka and Lallula's family.[5]

Chieftainship

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In the northwest was a Rivung chief Vanhnuaithanga who had died in 1850. He was succeeded by his young inexperienced son Tiamlova. Vuta raided Tiamlova's mother and captured lots of cattle and valuable goods. However on the way back the war party was stopped by Chawngchhunga's men who demanded the bulls they had captured from Tiamlova. When Vuta heard of this from the men he became angry. Vuta went to his brother Lalmanga. War erupted between Chawngchhunga and Vuta. Chawngchhunga's villages were weak and could not even occupy the villages of Vuta. Chawngchhunga was captured by Vuta. Vuta further occupied Thingsaiah and Khawriah.[6]

Vuta would move to Arthlawr in Phulpui from Arte. From Arthlawr, he moved to Khumtung before settling in Hualtu. he built a large house at the time as a sign of his prestige.[7]

War of North and South

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Main article: North-South War of the Lushai Hills

Rolura was the cousin of Vuta's father Lallula. Rolura's grandson Lalpuithanga began to expand westwards. Despite being family, the importance of land led to tensions. Lalpuithanga was the bravest and most powerful chief from Rolura's family. Lalpuithanga prided himself on being able to stop the northern Sailo chiefs while his brothers could not. Vuta was trying to establish the village of Buanhmun to move from Hualtu. Before he could return to Buanhmun, Lalpuithanga occupied it. In anger, Vuta led his men towards Buanhmun. Lalpuithanga, hearing this, retreated from Buanhmun and went back to Vanchengte. Vuta then composed a mocking song about Lalpuithanga's retreat from Buanhmun. The song reached Lalpuithanga, which further raised tensions between the northern and southern Sailos.[8][9][10]

Vuta then went to retrieve a gun that Lalpuithanga had in his possession. He took his nephew Thawmvunga who was the son of Lalpuiliana and known as a brave pasaltha. Lalpuithanga, in fact, concealed a plan to beat and humiliate Vuta. In the chief's house, Lalpuithanga confronted Vuta about the mocking song made about him. Vuta became afraid of the confrontation as a guest and claimed to mean something different of the song. Thawmvunga became angry at Vuta's fear and began to swing his sword and dance in a threatening manner with it to subdue the Lalpuithanga and his upas. The upas were unable to beat Vuta and instead made excuses to go home.[11] Thawngvunga took the gun from the wall and left the chief's house unceremoniously. The Zadeng upas followed him and caught him and tried to stop the gun from being taken. Thawmgvunga struggled with the upas until he sawed off the rifle and began to run with Vuta and the gun. However, a volley was shot at them as they departed, which was a signal of declaring war.[12][13][14]

This began the war between the North and South. The north saw Vuta, Vanhnuailiana and Thawmvunga, with help from Lalmanga and Sukpilal, fight Lalpuithanga's family. Vuta and Vanhnuailiana attacked Vanchengte under Lalpuithanga. After heavy fighting, the northern Lushais beat Lalpuithanga. After the occupation, Vuta and Vanhnuailiana recalled their men, but Vanhnuailiana's men in the rear were shot dead as a result. Despite this Lalpuithanga's daughter Zathawma invaded Hmuntha in the north. However, their attack failed due to prior knowledge of their movements. Zathawma was wounded in the nose before retreating.[15][16]

The war saw the northern pasaltha Nghatebaka and the southern champion Chawngbawla also participate in the fight.[16] Vuta sent his allies the Pawi and Fanai to invade the village of Khawlung under chief Thuama.[17] Thuama was the brother of Lalpuithanga.[18] Vuta utilised his relations with the Fanai and acquired the help of Khawtindala. He also enlisted the Halka Pawi.[19] Vuta's sons Lalvunga and Lalnguava (Lalkuma) were sent to carry out the invasion. Vuta informed them before departure that if they didn't kill the enemy they shouldn't come back to him. Khawlung was a fortified village accessible via a rope bridge. When the rope bridge was left without being detached, the soldiers snuck into the village. They entered the zawlbuk and killed all the men asleep or who tried to get up in the chaos. The fighting men were eradicated and Thuama's wife and his son Lalhleia were made captives. The Sailos including Vuta, weren't happy with the capture however Vuta became responsible for Lalhleia while Thuama's wife was taken by the Pawi.[16] The event was considered one of the most violent massacres of the time.[20] Vuta attempted to stop the Pawis from taking the captives by forbidding them to cross Lentlang. However, the Pawi simply stated that they were taken by whoever they possessed. Most were turned into bawis, with some killed. The event was immortalized in a song.[19][20]

Later life

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After the north-south war, Vuta temporarily intervened and mediated the conflict between the Fanai and Zahau. He moved his village from Buanhmun to Rullam. Vuta would die in Rullam, and his skull would be buried in Sialhawk.[19]

Genology

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Eastern Lushai Chiefs Family Tree
Lallula
MungpiraLallianvungaLalpuilenaVutaNeipuithangi
SukpilalMullaLalpungThongbunaLalsavunga
VonpilalPoiboiLalrumaChenglenaVonolel
LalhaiDeutiLemkhamRopuilianiLalburaBengtewa
TankamaVanpungaLalhreyaLalthuama
LangsumaSanglunaLalvungaLunglianaKairumaLalkuma

References

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  1. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 55.
  2. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 57.
  3. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 58.
  4. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 60.
  5. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 61.
  6. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 63.
  7. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 64.
  8. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 67.
  9. ^ Liangkhaia 1938, p. 106.
  10. ^ Lalthangliana 2005, p. 12.
  11. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 68.
  12. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 69.
  13. ^ Liangkhaia 1938, p. 107.
  14. ^ Lalthangliana 2005, p. 13.
  15. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 70.
  16. ^ a b c Liangkhaia 1938, p. 108.
  17. ^ Liangkhaia 1938, p. 109.
  18. ^ Zokima 1993, p. 71.
  19. ^ a b c Zokima 1993, p. 72.
  20. ^ a b Lalthangliana 2005, p. 15.

Sources

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  • Zokima, Reverend (1993). Mizo Lal ber Kairuma Sailo (in Mizo). Aizawl: V.L.B Press. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
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