V L Nghaka

V. L. Nghaka is an educator who has spent seven decades spreading Hindi education in Mizoram. He founded the Mizoram Hindi Prachar Samiti in 1954, a turning point for Hindi education in the state, and was a founding member of the Assam Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of literature and education, from Mizoram ^[1].

Books for learners

Nghaka was born at Buhban on 21 December 1930 ^[2]. In 1954 he became the first person from Mizoram to earn the Shiksha Visharad qualification, and later took an MA from Gauhati University in 1976 and an MEd from NEHU in 1980 ^[2]. He wrote a Hindi grammar in 1954, a Hindi–Mizo dictionary in 1960 and an exam guide in 1964, which his citation describes as the first Hindi books for Mizo readers; in all he has written 23 books, two of them used as middle school textbooks ^[2].

Schools and peace

He chaired a survey of educationally backward areas home to the Chakma, Bru and other communities, and on his report the Mizoram government introduced compulsory elementary education there ^[2]. During the 20-year insurgency he worked as a mediator and interpreter between the Indian Army and the Mizo National Front, and helped secure the release of more than 100 Mizo prisoners ^[2].

He has been honoured for his selfless service, for rescuing drowning victims and for 50 years as a Sunday school teacher, and received a lifetime achievement award from the Mizoram Hindi Prachar Sabha in 2020 ^[2].