Darchhawna (26 January 1936 – 27 December 2023) was an Indian writer of Hindi literature and historian from the Northeast Indian state of

Mizoram Mizoram is a states and union territories of India, state in northeastern India, with Aizawl as its Capital city, capital and largest city. It shares 722-kilometres (449 miles) of international borders with Bangladesh to the west, and Myanmar t ...

Early life and education

Darchhawna was born on 26 January 1936. Darchhawna received a diploma in music and adult education training. He later earned a Master of Arts and an honorary Doctorate of Literature. He attended St. Antony's College, the Theological College Sydney and the Melbourne College of Divinity. He further studied in California. He started his career as the headmaster of Thingsai High School in 1960 before becoming a lecturer at PMG college. He later served as a principal of Lunglei COllege, Pachhunga University College and Johnson College.

Career

Darchhawna was president of the Mizoram Hindi Prachar Sabha from 1980 to 2001 and worked to propagate Hindi in Mizoram. Darchhawna established 50 Prachar centres, eight schools and one Rastrabhasha Mahavidyalaya. Darchhawna also contributed and participated in

All India Radio All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

and

Doordarshan Doordarshan (), abbreviated as DD, is India's State-owned enterprise, state-owned public broadcasting, public television broadcaster. Established by the Government of India on 15 September 1959, it is owned by the Ministry of Information and B ...

since 1963. Darchhawna served as a member on the General Council of the

Sahitya Akademi The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of the Indian government. Its off ...

from 1991-1996 alongside the

Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in English language, English) is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India. It is an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture (India) ...

from 1990-1992. He was also a fellow of the

lalit Kala Akademi The Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy of Art (LKA) is India's national academy of fine arts. It is an autonomous organisation, established in New Delhi in 1954 by Government of India to promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, in ...

and the United Writer's Association from 1992-1994. He then worked in the Hindi Salahakar Samiti from 2001-2003 alongside the Hindi Literature Selection Board from 2001-2002. Darchhawna was an Officer on Special Duty at the

Mizoram University Mizoram University is a central university established on 2 July 2000, by the Mizoram University Act (2000) of the Parliament of India. The President of India is the official Visitor, and the Governor of Mizoram acts as the Chief Rector as per M ...

, when it was the Mizoram campus of the

North Eastern Hill University North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) is a Central University established on 19 July 1973 by an Act of the Indian Parliament. The university is in the suburb of Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya, India. The university has two campuses ...

(NEHU) and the founder President of the Mizo History Association. He held the post of the president of the organization for several terms, after getting elected in 2013. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

, in 2005, for his contributions to Indian literature.

Death

Darchhawna died on 27 December 2023, at the age of 87. His funeral was held at his residence in Kulikawn, Aizawl.

Selected Works

*Music Zirna udiments of Music(1970) *Thim ata Enga rom Darkness to Light(1974) *Zirtitu eacher(1974) *Naupang Zirlaibu unior Lesson(1975) *Baptist Inkaihhruaina aptist Principles(1976) *Music Theory (1984) *Khawthlang Music and Mizo Culture estern Music and Mizo Culture(1992) *Mizo culture (1993) *Kohran Thurain octrine of the Church(1998) *Kum Sang Rorel illennial Kingdom(1998) *Beisei Ram y Literary Works1999) *Kohran Chanchin hurch History(1999) *Upate Rangbawlna enior Citizens and their Participation in Society(2002) *Khawvel history and culture orld history and culture(2002) *Hla Siamtu Hmingthangte Gallery of Great Musicians(2003) *Savidge Leh Lorrain-Te Mizo Literature ah an Hnathawh ontributions of Savidge and Lorrain on Mizo literature(2004) *Music Dictionary (2004)

Awards

*1998: Best Citizen of India award *1999: Bharat Jyoti Award *1999:Presidential award for Hindi Language propagation *2001: Bharat Ratna Award *2005:

for his contributions to Indian literature. *Mizo Sahitya Academy

References

Sources

1936 births 2023 deaths Writers from Mizoram Mizo people 20th-century Indian historians Assamese-language writers People from Assam {{India-writer-stub