Serhmun Village

 About Serhmun Village

Evan V.L. Nghaka Invang

Serhmun Day Chairman

I was always keen to celebrate ‘Serhmun Day’. For this I have been requesting the elders and the leaders of the village since 2000. However, I could not take the key role for the preparation of “Serhmun Day” celebration as I was always out of my village due to Evangelisation [Good News] to the unreached places. Since I was always away from my village, I did not dare to put up any new proposal anymore. But when I finally retired from my job in 2014. I had the opportunity to stay in my village. I had determination to help the villagers for the celebration of the Day. But unfortunately, I suddenly fell sick and as such I could not help my village leaders as I expected. Later on in 2016 when I became a little better, I again proposed to have a village Day celebration. A meeting was convened by the V. C. (Village Council) where all village elders were present. In the meeting, I was elected as Chairman of the Village Day Committee. But unfortunately, all our proposals could not be materialized due to my severe illness that year. However, in the following year in 2017, when I was re-elected as Chairman, I have, then, decided to observe and celebrate “Village Day’ at any cost in the event of extreme difficulties. I have also considered it as my ‘lifetime’ achievement if it was celebrated. 

I worked very hard to succeed. I would like to thank my co-villagers for their strong support. As I was given the responsibilities to collect information about the emergence of ‘Serhmun village and its history, I have decided to carry out such herculean tasks. I was very excited about the tasks but at the same time, I was extremely happy for my co-villagers for having confidence in me.

The first settlers in Serhmun village

In 1939, a few Tripuris who had been residing near Chidongchera, had jhum cultivation in the village [Serhmun] areas. In the following year viz in the 1940 the following people also did jhum cultivation at the top of the hill. They were:

1. Pu (Late) Laldoiliana Tualngen

2. Pu (Late) Doingura Pachuai

3. Pu (Late ) Laldanga Mizo

In the following year viz in 1941, the following persons also settled in the village:

1. Pu (Late) Roisawma Thlangsasuan (Father of late Decema)

2. Pu (Late) Neiliana Pachuai (Father of late Lalrema)

Again in 1945, the following persons migrated to this village

1. Pu (Late) Tuahnila Invang

2. Pu (Late) Vangdoiliana Invang

3. Pu (Late) Roitinliana Invang

4. Pu (Late) Sawmdinga Buangpui

5. Pu (Late) Roidonliana Thirthubawng

6. Pu (Late) Roihneliana Vanghroi

7. Pu (Late) Hrana Bawlte

In this way the population of the villagers had increased by leaps and bounds. In 1945 the number of families had increased to 14. However, there was no further increase till 1950. It is here to mention that the above 7 families had migrated to the Serhmun village from Darchawi village.

Orchard and horticultural plantation

The villagers unitedly have decided to undertake sustainable plantation for their livelihood. Initially, they started orange plantations in their respective jhums areas after harvesting was over. They collected the orange stamps from Zampui areas.

In the subsequent endeavour, they started pan cultivation in a big way in the standing trees located in and around the village. Finally, they started cultivation of other species such as black peppers, mangoes, lichies and other fruits bearing trees.

The villagers have experienced that God had blessed the people, the village and their plantation abundantly. They produced bumper crops. They could earn a lot of money from the sale proceeds of oranges, pans and black peppers. They remembered God and did not forget to thank God for such a blessing. They offered their products to God as a token of thanks giving. They experienced the wonderful blessing of God. God made their lands fertile, God provided them rain, sunlight, and wind at the appropriate time. God also protected their crops from attack by pests and insects. Therefore, no harm was caused to the crops. The orange trees bore such a huge quantity of fruit that the branches were broken without the support of bamboo.

They also got so bumper crops (rice) from their jhums that one year of cultivation can fetch them 3 years of food. They have not undergone any hunger. In this way the village has emerged.

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Commemorating the Bravehearts, the first settlers of the Serhum village

By Upa Bawisuakthanga Biate

In 1940, the 3 families comprising of 11 members settled in the village. They were the first settlers of the village. Mention may be made that, at that point in time, Jhum cultivation was the only occupation for those highlanders. They decided to do Jhum cultivation in the jungles in and around the village. Though the high lands were very hostile but were very fertile. They did cultivation accordingly as proposed. Since the lands were virgin and undisturbed for a long period of time, they produced a sufficient quantity of food. The production was so large that one year’s production could provide the requirement for 2/3 years of consumption. The success story of the village was spread to other neighbouring villages like wild fire. The people from other villages came to know about it and were attracted by the bumper harvest. In the year 1955, 8 families comprising of 40 members migrated to Serhmun. In this way more and more people migrated to this village. In 2017 the number of families had increased to 53 with a total population of 251. During the period from 1940 to 2017 total 54 souls left for heavenly abode.

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In the annual Presbytery meeting held at Pawlkhua village in early 2017, it was decided that I be deputed to Serhmun village for a period of one year. Accordingly I resumed to my duties at Serhmun village on the 10th March 2017. On arrival at the village, we the villagers met in the meeting and proposed to celebrate Serhmun Day. I was asked to compose one song commemorating the dedication and contribution of the first dwellers of the village and also God’s unconditional love upon the villagers and providing us the fertile land, the Serhmun at free of cost. The song was known as “Serhmun Day song” and this song will be sung every time wherever Serhmun Day Celebration is held. I did it accordingly and the title of song was “Serhmun Tlang”.

Serhmun Tlang

Doh is Gb

1. Khua thlang tiang hnam hrang hei lai a om in,

Ritu tlangpui an pan chamrual hei chun;

Vatkhua lengin an en maw tlang bei chun,

Khawhmun an sat a hming mawi chu Serhmun khua.

Aw, Ni eng sua rawh, Serhmun tlang, zing inkian sia;

Za nai sua rawh, khawpui la chang nget ne tih.

Ni ram par tlan in kin lawm,

Malsawm ram ni loi chang e, aw Serhmun tlang.

2. Laldoi, Doingur, Laldang chuan rual tha hei,

Nin sul hnung thlirin kin tawp thei naw e;

Inngai’n kin thlir hnawng naw e nin sul hnung;

Zai hla a in awiin, zai zai thin kin tih,

3. Inthup thie loi tlang inhoi ne change ve;

Ni omna khua chang hei kin vannei ve;

A hmu a pai lunglengin an kir thin,

Ni tlang bei khua inhoi itin in an thlir.

4. Hmun hla taka inthokin nen lang e,

Aw, lung nen leng tir Serhmun tlang inhoi;

A dai thei naw lunglaia ne cham e,

Rual nai hei lawn kipna ne chang aw, tlang inhoi

Semon

(Psalm 23:1-6, “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want”.)

I would like to talk about this Serhmun village with reference to the above Bible verse. The poverty stricken village is situated in the midst of hostile terrains.  The village is looked down upon and despised by the people living in the surroundings. In fact, the village has no potentiality for uplift. Living in the village was extremely difficult. But God never forgot the villagers. He listened to our cries, our screaming and our prayers. He provided us with food and shelter. God did not want us to starve. Instead, God ceaselessly guided us and gave us wisdom so that we can do plantation for our survival. We accordingly planted different species such as mango the fruit bearing trees, bananas and jackfruits etc and we also did pan cultivation. Our fathers and forefathers had struggled a lot. They always remembered the Bible verse, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” They believed that their Lord is their shepherd; they will not be in want. It has been proved. They received abundant blessings. The Lord, God provided our entire requirement. He provided us pacca houses, pacca road and transport. In fact today Serhmun people are not envious of others’ properties whether movable or immovable. It is God’s wonderful blessing. The blessings are abundant that will definitely spill over to our next generation. Therefore, we must praise God for this wonderful blessing. Therefore, we should not forget to give tithe and other offerings to God. Our God is a wonderful God; He provides us rains, winds and sunlight at the appropriate time for our plantation. I am sure, one day Serhmun village will continue to expand by leaps and bounds and will become a model village and other villages will also be inspired by the Serhmun village.

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Report of V.C. (Village Council) 2017

1. Population: 1940 - family - 3 - Members -11

2017 - family - 50+3=53 - Members - 251

2. No. of vehicles - 6

Motor cycles/Scooty - 23

3. Income - Rs 16,2,18740/-

(once crore sixty two lakh eighteen thousand seven hundred forty)

4. Chairmen of VC (1950 - 2017)

1. Upa (late) Tuahnila (Biai pa)

2. Upa (late) Roitina (Upa Lalninga pa)

3. Upa (late) Neibonga (Rualsunga pa)

4. Upa (late) Roikhama (Rihrili pa)

5. Upa (late) Decema (Roituai pa)

6. Pu (late) Hrenghminga (Lawma pa)

7. Upa (late) Vanpianga (Para pa)

8. Pu (late) Lalmuaka (Sangzuali pa)

9. Upa (late) Neikunga (Chawimawii pa)

10. Upa Buangthan (Chawimawii pa)

11. Pu Sapkuanga (Ngaisanga pa)

12. Pu Nunsangliana (Melody pa)