Former CM of Mizoram Brigadier (Retd) Thenphunga Sailo passes away

March 28, 2015

Former Chief Minister (CM) of Mizoram Brigadier (Retd) Thenphunga Sailo passed away on 27 March 2015 in Aizawl, Mizoram.
Apart from being CM, he was also one of the prominent voices against the human rights violation by the armed forces’ in 1970s in the insurgency-hit Mizo hills.

About Thenphunga Sailo

Sailo was born on 1 January 1922.
Army career- He had joined the British Indian army in 1942 as a junior officer and had rose to the rank of Brigadier in 1966.
He had fought the Second World War for the British and was first Indian Army officer from the Mizo community.
Political career- In 1975 he had started the People’s Conference Party (now Mizoram People’s Conference).
In 1977, he became the second Chief Minister of Mizoram while state was Union Territory and had served CM for two terms.
For first times he was CM for six months in 1978 and later for full five year term from 1979 to 1984.
He had retired from politics in July 2014.
Awards- He was awarded the prestigious military award AVSM during his service in the army. In 1999, he was awarded the Padmashree for his contributions to Mizo society.