About

About Lalthlamuong Keivom

Background
Born July 15, 1939 (official date of birth 2 April 1942) at Pherzawl, Manipur South District, thirteenth child of Hrangthatfieng Keivom & Khawtinhnieng. Passed Matriculation (1959) from Pherzawl High School; B.A (1963) from D.M.College, Imphal; M.A (History-1966) from Gauhati University.

Employment
Asst. Teacher, Vimala Raina Girls High School, 1963; Headmaster, Pant Standard High School (later Rengkai Govt HS), 1963; Headmaster, Parbung High School, 1964; Lecturer, Sielmat Christian College, 1966-67; Indian Revenue Service (Customs & Excise) 1967-70; Indian Foreign Service 1970-2002 (Postings: Nairobi, Kenya, 1976-80; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 1980-83; Wellington, New Zealand, 1983-85; Rangoon, Burma, 1986-90; Milan, Italy, 1990-93; Male, Maldives, 1994-97; Delhi 1997-2002). Retired May 2002. Self-employed Bible translator and publisher since 2002.

Family
Married Dari Keivom (1963). Children- 2 daughters and 2 sons (Margaret Thangmawi Keivom (Mawi Ltd), Fashion Designer (London); Helen Ruolsingpui Keivom (Deputy Chairperson, District Community Board, Wellington. NZ; David Lalhmingsang Keivom B.D (Serampore), Communication Manager, Trans World Radio (TWR), Delhi and now in the Philippines; & James Lalropui Keivom (Photo-Journalist, New York Daily News), New York.

Socio-cultural activities
Cultural and information secretary of Hmar Students’ Association 1959-63 and author and designer of HSA Emblem (1962); Chairman, Hmar Cultural Society (1963-1980); Adviser Delhi Hmar Welfare Association (DHWA), HSA, Delhi Joint Headquarters, Zofa Global Network (2013-) and many other social and cultural organizations.

Literary works
1. No. of songs composed in Hmar - in excess of 150. Number of essays, articles and seminar papers written in English, Hmar and Mizo: more than 1200. Writes on an average of one article containing 2000-3500 words every week for the weekly DELHI THURAWN since 1997 in addition to special articles for newspapers and magazines in Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam. Has translated and published the Holy Bible in modern Hmar (2002-2007); Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali (1973); as also more than 50 hymns from Hmar and Mizo into English at the request of students and research scholars in various theological and secular institutions in India and abroad. Maintains Zoramkhawvel website and Keivom Diary. Has written and published more than 20 books as brief details given below.

2. Books and publications: more than 22

In Hmar: Thralai Hlabu, 1963; Hmar Hla Suina, 1980; Zangkhaw Bungbu, 2000; Nun Ram, Ka Nun, 2001; Gospel of John & Letters of John 1-3, 2002; New Testament, Psalm & Proverbs (2004); Book of Genesis (2006) Baibul (Hmar)-Holy Bible, Delhi Version (2007); Hebrew (2014); Revised second edition of the Holy Bible (in the press); Rabindranath Tagore’s nobel prize winning work, The Gitanjali (translated in 1974 and now in the press). The New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs (2004) and the Holy Bible (2007) entitled BAIBUL (HMAR) were single-handedly translated and published by the translator. One special feature of the Bible in this Delhi Version is that each line of every Psalm has equal number of syllables, the only of its kind in the world. Hmar Hla Suina is an exhaustive and authoratitive book on the political, cultural, religious and linguistic history of the Hmar people and most referred to so far by researchers on the subject. Preparation of the revised and enlarged edition has been underway.

In Mizo: Zoram Khawvel 1-8, Bawktlang Thawnthu, Thuthlung Ram, Pherzawl Titi, L.Keivom Thukhawchang 1-2. Of these, Zoram Khawvel-1 was awarded Book of the Year 1991 in Mizoram; Zoram Khawvel-4 has been considered as a bible on Zo nationalism and unification; Zoram Khawvel 5 and 6 are respectively a well-research and authoritative account of the immense contributions of two famous pioneer missionaries-Edwin Rowlands (Zosapthara) and Watkin Roberts (Saptlangvala) in Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and Chittagong Hill Tracts (now in Bangladesh) and Zoram Khawvel-7 is the only book in Mizo dealing with the 100-year history of the world and the Zo world upto 2000 in a single book. Thuthlung Ram (Land of the Covenant) deals with the ancient and modern history of ‘people of the Book’-Judaism, Christianity and Islam- at the backdrop of the author’s visits to these lands of the covenant (Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Israel) and the book at one time was called by some as Second Bible in that it helped in the return of many apostates who left their religion and accepted Judaism for material benefit.

In tri-lingual (Hmar, Mizo & English): Impressions on Keivom (2011), a 310-page compilation of writings from friends and close associates published on the occasion of celebration ‘Keivom Nite’ at Bethel (Churachandpur) on December 16, 2011 which speaks volumes of the life and times of Keivom.

3. Novels, short stories, articles, essays and seminar papers
Has written three (3) novels and more than twelve (12) short stories in Hmar. The number of essays, articles and seminar papers on various topics he has written exceeded 1200 and if these are compiled in about 250-300 page content, it will make atleast 50 books. Has compiled Hmar idioms and phrases including poetic words in 1964 (unpublished). In addition to these, he has edited and compiled several magazines, souvenirs and booklets. Has systematized, revolutionized and standardized Hmar writing not only syntactically but also in content and quality.

4. Dissemination through the digital world
Launched an website in 2009 known as ‘Zoramkhawvel.com’, the first ever professionally designed Mizo e-book of his works by donating Zoram Khawvel-1 and ‘Nun Ram’, a collection of 5 short stories and 3 essays so that Zo kindred tribes living in different parts of the world can access his writings. On the occasion of the inauguration, he explained his vision thus:”One of the key steps I thought will be useful in bringing the people of Zoram khawvel closer is to open Zo Basket wherein we will put all available works of Zo literature and music as much as possible and turn the site as a major source of information on Zo life, culture and literature. The aim is to treasure all works of literature in different Zo dialects, including dictionaries, Bible translations and recorded songs and music”. Has also donated his Delhi Version of the Bible for a mobile version and the first Hmar Bible Mobile Phone Version was launched on August 30, 2009, the eight Bible in India to enter into mobile phone version.

Ongoing project:
Has launched preliminary survey of Cultural Mapping Project in March 2011. The sole aim of the project is to collect all facets of the cultural treasures of the Zo descent and store them in films and books as a follow-up of the Linguistic Survey of India conducted in the 1900s. The project envisages compilation of English-Zo Dictionary from collections of key words from diverse Zo dialects in India, Myanmar and Bangladesh and identification of elite and dedicated volunteers from all dialect areas who can be able to assist in the project. Preliminary survey amongst some of the Old Kuki dialect groups has already been undertaken and volunteers identified for the project.

Awards and decorations:
1. Book of the Year Award, 1991, Mizo Academy of Letters, Aizawl, Mizoram
2. Zosapthara Award, 1998, Mizo Literary Association, Bilkhawthlir, Mizoram
3. Excellence Award, Delhi Hmar Welfare Association, 2004.
4. Man of the Century Award in Literature, Reformed Presbyterian Church of North East India Gospel Centenary Celebration Committee, 2010, Saikot, Churachandpur.
5. Many other awards and commendations from cultural, religious, literary and linguistic organizations in India and abroad.