She has been a native of Mizoram and has seen a long crucial journey of mizo women’s suppression, exploitation and violence against them. After the rigorous hard work and persistent determination she is now able to bring forth the changes in the life conditions of the mizo women. She is Pi Sangkhumi a 60 years old woman who is the former President of MHIP (Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl which means binding the women together), an apex body that represents several local women’s groups. MHIP was founded in the year 1974 when Mizoram was still a Union Territory and it got a separate statehood in 1986. Pi has witnessed a horrendous journey of mizo women who have been degraded and oppressed in many ways in the state. She explains that the conditions of the women of the state are really pathetic, they are completely dependent and being subjected to violence and crimes. Pi believes that women of the state have played a very constructive role in the uplifting the state but they have not been given their due regards and rewards. They have no financial, emotional, social and physical security. The incidences of Mautam famine in 1959, her father’s murder at the peak time of the movement and the brutal gang rape of two young girls by the Army Jawans in 1966 had immensely jolted Pi from within. After completing her graduation from Shillong, Pi made it her mission to fight against the archaic laws, regressive customs of the state and to raise the level of literacy, empowerment and awareness among the Mizo women. After hers and the team’s efforts of 40 years the State Law Commission finally decided to review the Mizo Marriage Bill, 2013, The Mizo inheritance Bill, 2013, and The Mizo Divorce Bill, 2013. Pi has a long aspired wish to ensure reforms related to marriage and inheritance, divorce and succession laws in order to protect the interests of the ordinary mizo women. Pi believes that mizo women have suffered a lot of legal biases so far so it is the time to put a stop to all those atrocities and injustice being done to them. The crimes against women have given a boost to the women’s group which want for clear representation and want to be formed as a powerful organization that can work to fight for the collective rights of the women of the state. MHIP besides focusing upon the empowerment of women, education, entrepreneurship now wants to focus upon organizing campaigns against domestic violence, rape and other forms of gender violence. MHIP represents an enormous solidarity among the mizo women.
