Thenphunga Sailo
| Ṭhenphunga Sailo | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Chief Minister of Mizoram | |
|
In office 2 June 1978 – 10 November 1978 8 May 1979 – 4 May 1984 |
|
| Preceded by | Ch. Chhunga |
| Succeeded by | Lal Thanhawla |
| Constituency | Aizawl West II |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1 January 1922 Melkhat/Ṭhuampui, Lunglei, Mizoram |
| Died | 27 March 2015 (aged 93) Aizawl |
| Resting place | Kanan Veng, Aizawl 23°43′53″N 92°42′30″E / 23.73139°N 92.70833°E |
| Political party | Mizoram People's Conference |
| Spouse(s) | Thansiami |
| Children | Lalsangliana Sailo Lalhmangaiha Sailo, IRS Laldingliani Sailo, IRS Lalrinliana Sailo |
| Residence | Aizawl |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 British Raj (1942–1947) India (1947–1974) |
| Service/branch |
 Indian Army
|
| Years of service | 1942–1974 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands held | Assam Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Padma Shree (1999) |
Ṭhenphunga Sailo (1 January 1922 – 27 March 2015) was a Brigadier of the Indian Army, and the second and twice the Chief Minister of Mizoram, a state in northeast India. He was the creator of Mizoram People's Conference, one of the major political parties in Mizoram. He was a recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Padma Shri for his humanitarian works during his military service, and Mizo Award for his lifetime achievements.
T. Sailo was the son of Vanchheuva, a Mizo chief of Ṭhuampui village at Lunglei district. He studied at Serkawn Middle English School, Shillong High School (in Meghalaya), and Serampore College in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He earned his certificate of Intermediate of Science (higher secondary level) from the University of Calcutta. He immediately joined the British Army to serve in World War II. Recruited as Second Lieutenant in 1942, he became the first military officer among the Mizo people. He retired with the rank Brigadier in 1974. By then his native state was ravaged by political insurgency, and he soon set to humanitarian works and established the Human Right Committee, which he developed into a recognised political party named People's Conference (later renamed the Mizo People's Conference) in 1975.
T. Sailo led his new party to victory in the Mizoram Legislative Assembly election in 1978, and he became the second Chief Minister. Re-election the next year also brought him the same victory and remained the Chief Minister till 1984. Though he was elected for MLA seat in the 1984 election, his party was overwhelmed by the Mizoram Congress party (under the Indian National Congress Party). He was appointed the Opposition Leader in the legislative assembly. He was subsequently elected in 1998 and 2008, but failed to uplift his party. He retired from politics in 2013, and at age 91 he was by then the oldest elected legislator.
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