Born on May nine, 1942, Lal Thanhawla was brought up in the Zarkawt locality of Aizawl.
Born on May nine, 1942, Lal Thanhawla was brought up in the Zarkawt locality of Aizawl. He joined the underground Mizo National Front (MNF) in 1966 after being briefly in government services and held the posts of assistant home secretary and acting foreign secretary in the underground 'government in exile'.
He was arrested and after release joined the Congress in 1967 to be appointed chief organiser of the Aizawl District Congress Committee.
After holding many top posts in the Congress, he was elected as president of the state PCC in 1973 and again in 1977.
A journalist by profession, he edited 'Mizo Aw', a vernacular daily, and was the founder president of the Mizoram Journalists Association (MJA).
He was first elected as a legislator from Champhai in 1978 and again in 1979.
Lalthanhawla was elected in 1984 and became the chief minister, but vacated his seat in favour of Laldenga in 1986 to become deputy chief minister, after the latter signed the Mizo Accord and headed the Interim Government.
He was elected in 1987 from Serchhip constituency and was the opposition leader till he toppled the MNF government led by Laldenga in 1988.
Bureau Report