User:Khiangtelian/sandbox
| File:.jpg Tashons couple with traditional dress | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
 Myanmar (western) | 50,000 (2015) |
| Languages | |
| Tashon language | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
The Tashons people (Chin language; Taisun (or) Tlaisun; Burmese: တာရႊန္းၚ ) are ethnic tribes that lives in the Falam Township, in the central part of Chin State, Myanmar. The Tashons were the most powerful tribes in the north of Chin Hill, prior to the British Empire annexation of Chin Hills. Their influence reached over the borders of Manipur in the north, Lusai Hills in the west, Phau river in the south and Kalay valley in the east. They practiced democracy system where the position of Chief was attained not by the virtue of birth but by vote of the people. The Tashons tribe and their villages were ruled by the Fahlam Council (or) Tashon Council, locally known as “Nam Kap”. It was also called as The Tashon Democratic Council by H.N.C Stevenson the then Deputy Commissioner of Chin Hills and Director of Frontier Areas Administration. They have their own language, customs and culture.
Origins of the Tashon
Legend has it that the original parents of Pu Tashon came out of a solid rock locally known as Lailun, located in Falam Township. Lailun is also believed to be the mythical birth place of the Chin ancestors. Pu Thuan Kai believed to be one of the first settlers near Lailun had a son called Pu Tashon. Today, the descendent of Pu Tashon i.e. Hlampi, Hlawnmong, Tungsawh, Tothuang Upa, Tothuang Nauta, Zahre Upa, Zahre Nauta, Conthawng, Hringngen, Thla-um, Kaltsiing, Cawilawn and Saza are known as Tashons (Taisun Hrinkhat)1.
Reference 1: Taisun Thuanthu le Hla (The History of Tashon). 1957. Chin Rural and Education Uplift Society, Falam.
The Founding of Fahlam
Around AD 1500, Pu Tashon moved out from Lailun and established a village in his name i.e. Tashon village. Tribal wars were common at that time and this village was attacked several times by various tribes. When this village was attacked, the Tashons usually hid their children and elders in a secure place, approximately a mile away from the village. There, the Tashons later established a village called Fa-Hlam. According to the hearsay of the Tashons “Fa” means “Children” and “Hlam” can be interpreted as “Secure place”, thus, the name Fa-Hlam could be literally translated as the secure place where people live peacefully2. The Tashon village and Fahlam village were separate villages.
Reference 2: Falam Centenary Megazine
Their old village Tashon was largely abandoned and the reason for its abandonment was due to superstition. The reason for its abandonment was that a beautiful Burmese maiden, finely dressed in silks and jewels, appeared in a cave in the rocks above the Tashon village. Whoever looked on this Burmese Medusa, however, quickly perished; hence they established a new village Fahlam and migrated there. The village of Fahlam had six quarters with 600 household prior to the British annexation. When the British entered the village in 1892, the household was recorded to be at approximately 5003. The village was divided in to six quarters i.e. Butu, Laiko, Phangpho, Hliap, Khawthar, Lu-ung and the quarter chiefs were elected by the Fahlam council. Today, the Tashon village still has three quarters namely Butu, Phangpho and Khawthar.
Reference 3: The Chin Hills Gazette
The Tashons were known in various names, such as ‘Tashon’ by the Burman and the British, ‘Phalamte’ after their principle village by the Sizang and Tedim, ‘Fahlam’ or ‘Tlaisun’ by their neighbours, however, they called themselves ‘Tashons (or) Taisun’.
Rise to the Power
After Fahlam was established by the Tashons, they gradually brought all their neighbours under their control. The Tashons were keen traders and they came to control the entire east and west trade between the Lushai, central Chin Hills and the Kalay Valley4. They maintained a good relationship with the Swabwa of Kalay Valley where major goods such as salt, iron, ornaments and others were imported. They established a trade route between Fahlam and Kalay Valley and built the suspension bridge over the Manipur river. It was the only known established trade route between the northern Chin and the plain at that time.
Reference 4: Same as Ref 3. The Chin Hills Gazette
Before 1890, other Chin tribes raided the Kalay/Kabaw valleys and carried whatever they could, back to the Chin Hills. Being the most influential tribe, the Tashons could exercise their authority over other tribes in Chin Hills. During those days, the Sawbwa of Kale and the Fahlam council made a defensive and offensive alliance. The Fahlam Council gave protection to the Kalay valley i.e. whoever raided the Kalay valley were severely punished by the Fahlam council. The Fahlam council destroyed Hrimpi (a Hakha village) because it raided the Burmese village of Kungyi5. In return, the Kalay Sawbwa gave sole trading right to the Tashons which meant the Tashons got salts, irons and other items from the plains and distribute throughout Chin Hills which earned them large profit. This had enabled the Fahlam council to hold a monopoly of the trade in Chin Hills, as they are able to undersell all other traders; and to further ensure that there should be no competition, they put every obstacle in the way of other villages going to the plains. Their controlled over trade was also the key factor to hold their power. Their political system, their skilled in diplomacy and their alliance with the Shan of the Kale valley enabled them to become the most powerful tribes in Chin Hills. The tribes became very powerful and their ancestral song runs thus: Ref 5. (Carey and Tuck (1896), The Chin Hills: pg 150)”.
- The great Fahlam has been born;
- No one will ever conquer us;
- Our fame spreads beyond the land we could reach;
- And it shines like the sun.
Although their influence reached over vast areas in the Chin Hills, their authority did not extend to administration of the vassal tribes but it did include “protective custody” of the whole area, so that if any tribe behaved badly the Tashons could and would organise a punitive expedition, composed of the toughest men in all the other tribes under their control, to smite the offender6 [HNC Stevenson]. They held a unique position in Chinland at that time. All the tribes from Manipur to Hakha and from Burma to Lushai owed them nominal allegiance. They hold their position in Chin Hills, not so much through their prowess in the field as through the ingenuity and thus uphold their rule over the whole (Carey and Tuck (1896), The Chin Hills: pg 148)”. Ref 6: HNC Stevenson Ref 7: (Carey and Tuck (1896), The Chin Hills: pg 148)”.
Administration of The Tashon Chiefs (The Fahlam Council)
Tashons were the only tribes who practiced democracy system prior to the British annexation, whereas, other tribes in Chin Hills practice feudalism. The Tashons area were administered by a council of five chiefs, who were all chosen from the villages such as Fahlam (Taisun), Conghte, Congheng and Zamual. The known councillors from the Fahlam Council are as follows:
- Pu Bawi Khal (circa 1650-1700 AD),
- Pu Hlawn Kim, Pu Lian Bik & Pu Sang Rul (circa 1700-1750 AD),
- Pu Lian Nawn & Pu Hniar Vum (circa 1750 – 1820 AD),
- Pu Kip Bik (father of Pu Con Bik), Pu Kha Lian & Pu Hoi Hlum (circa 1820-1856 AD).
From 1865 until the British annexation of Chin Hills i.e. 1892, the Fahlam Council was led by Pu Con Bik known by the Burmese and British as Son Pek. The other council members were Pu Mang Hlur, Pu Cong Khar, Pu Bawi Hmung and Pu Kha Lian. Pu Kha Lian and Pu Mang Hlur served in the council led by Pu Kip Bik. They continued to serve in the council led by Pu Con Bik8.
Ref 8: Taisun Thuanthu le Hla (The History of Tashon). 1957. Chin Rural and Education Uplift Society, Falam.
The post of councillor was attained, not by virtue of birth, but by the vote of the people. Only when a common man who is particularly conspicuous as a soldier, who shows his skills in trade and diplomacy, who attain the highest social class among the Tashons society was elected to be the councillor. If one person was chosen to be a councillor then they promoted him through marriage so that he belonged to the council families9.
Ref 9: The Chin Hills Gazette
“Unity is Strength”
For the people of Tashons, the absolute power lies with the Fahlam council. “Unity is strength” was the Fahlam motto10. Each day, the council met in the morning at the house of one of the council members and they discussed tribal affairs including making decisions on cases brought to the court, and matters related to revenue. The Fahlam council members always adopted a democratic procedure to elaborate matters concerning administration or judicial concern before coming to a decision. In Fahlam, none of the councillors alone had the power to decide any case. The council members had to discuss everything and the people are very envious of the power and prestige. E.B. Elles writes “The chiefs have more power in their tribe than any other Chin tribes. This is because they never act separately, but together after consultation11”
Ref 10: The Chin Hills Gazette Ref 11: (E.B.Elles (1893), Military report on Chin Lushai Country).
In some important matters like going to war, the Fahlam council convened a federal council meeting in which not only the chief or council members but also elders of the main village and others satellite tribes participated12. When the British invaded Chin Hills, the Fahlam council had managed to raise 3,000 warriors from all tribes, all corners of Chin Hills and stood against the invading enemy. The use of their system allowed not only the Chin people to be united but also to show loyalty to each other, the recognize virtue of the Chin people. Tribal wars were fought numerous times among each other, however, in time of danger, the Fahlam council managed to unite the Chin people to fight side by side against the British Empire. Ref 12: H.T. Nawnkhar