Christians in Mizoram are offering a fervent prayers to ward off what they believe is the sign of famine as bamboo blooms unnaturally which triggers the increase of rats that will eat away food supplies.

"We're offering special prayers almost daily so God does not shower curses on the people of Mizoram by unleashing a famine in the state," Rev. R. Lalringliana, a Presbyterian Church of India(PCI) leader in the state capital Aizawl said.

The oral tradition of the Mizo people suggests the famine - called Mautam - ravages the Mizoram hills once every 40 to 50 years when the rats multiply by millions and devastate the standing crop, leaving nothing for the farmers. And the sign attribute to the increment of rats is flowering of a bamboo. Bamboo, does not normally flower.

The last time the Mizo hills were struck by Mautam was in 1965-66.

"It is not a myth or any superstitious belief to think that bamboo flowering signals famine. It is stark reality and we have experienced and witnessed an outbreak of famine in the past under similar circumstances," Zoramthanga, Chief Minister of Mizoram said.

"Bamboo flowering is a bad omen and we are deeply concerned and worried,?he added.
"The flowering of bamboo leads to a massive increase in the number of rats. The rodents in turn descend on paddy fields and devour the entire produce, besides causing severe loss and destruction of human property," explained H. V. Lalringa IAS, Mizoram's Chief Secretary or the State gov’t highest executive officer.

The state is already witnessing sporadic bamboo flowering in recent times and there are reports of rats destroying paddy fields in various parts of the state.

"From our experience twice or thrice, we know the bamboo flowers rapidly before the Famine. We know what is going to happen and we are not worried because we have time to prepare. Nobody is worried but we are alert," said Zoramthanga.

The Government and those praying have history on their side to back up their worries. The British, India's former colonial rulers, noticed the effects of bamboo flowering when they recorded a famine in 1862 in Mizoram and a second in 1881, historical accounts say.

A 1911-1912 famine is also believed to have been linked to flowering bamboo. And in 1959, flowering bamboo in the states of Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and part of Assam heralded a famine that claimed 10,000 to 15,000 lives.

Nearly 40 years ago, Mizoram's current Chief Minister Zoramthanga joined the Mizo National Famine Front to conduct relief for his hungry tribesmen during the Mautam.

When his leader Laldenga dropped the word Famine from the title and the Mizo National Front one of India 's most organised rebel armies, went underground to fight India for the next 20 years; Mr Zoramthanga followed him to the jungles.

Mr Laldenga signed an accord with Delhi in 1986 and returned to normal life but Mr Zoramthanga followed him on the road to power.

Mr Laldenga is now dead and Mr Zoramthanga is the chief minister of Mizoram for the second term when he won the last election of the state legislative assembly in December 2003.

"We want to reverse the flowering phenomenon into an economic opportunity by harvesting all the bamboo in the state before it flowers completely," the chief minister said. "We want to bring in a green gold revolution through bamboo," he added.

Mizoram harvests about 40 percent of India 's 81 million tonnes of bamboo.

"We want to set up an incense factory with machines imported from China or Thailand , besides making paper and other handicrafts items from bamboos. It would serve the twin objective of checking rats from increasing and also help in making the economy grow," he said.

Chief Minister Zoramthanga confirmed the government was happy to pay an Indian rupee to everyone who kills a rat and collects its tail.

"We have the Rodents Control Committee set up by the government and the Mizoram Farmers Union. We are all alert about what could be in store for us", he was quoted as saying.

No serious research has been undertaken to unravel the mystery of the Mautam but Mizos know from their oral traditions and the elders that when it comes, it can be disastrous.

May The Lord Almighty answers the prayers of his children in times of need.

Let us also pray for the people of Mizoram.
-------------------------------------------------------Mizoram is predominantly Christian state with Presbyterian Church of India, Baptist Church of Mizoram as the two main Churches which have already celebrated the gospel Centenary. Whereas, Evangelical Church of Maraland-India(ECMI) is awaiting for its gospel centenary to be celebrated in the year 2007. These three Churches are the pioneered Churches; later on many more denominations entered the state to create multi-denominational Christian state.

However, Chakma people living in the south-western part of Mizoram bordering Bangladesh are overwhelmingly following Buddhism with few more Bru people living in the north-west part of Mizoram bordering Tripura also practice tribal religion ?which VHP and RSS leaders have many a times claimed that they follow Hinduism. They account for about 90,000 of the 8.9lakh population of Mizoram.



Peter Beita.