Dreams and the disquiet

British army recruitment is reshaping lives in Mizoram, even as Delhi watches warily

- BY SANJIB KR BARUAH/Aizawl

When Lalngaihawmi Sailo walks to church these days, people stop to congratulate her.

A few years ago, the 44-year-old widow would make the same walk carrying a heavy burden. Her husband, a fourth-grade employee at a hospital in Aizawl, died in 2018, plunging the family into financial hardship and emotional uncertainty. The hospital quarters had to be vacated, debts mounted and every rupee counted.

Night after night, Lalngaihawmi would visit her church to pour out her grief and pray. Redemption came nearly seven years later. Her 20-year-old son, Lalhriatpuia, got selected for the British army last year. He is now stationed in Scotland and is part of a growing number of Mizo youth finding employment in the British armed forces.

For families like the Sailos, the trend has brought new hope and financial stability. But in New Delhi, it has caused concern. The ministry of defence is closely watching the increasing recruitment of young Mizos into the British army, viewing it through the prism of the state’s unique history, strategic location and past instances of insurgency. While exact figures are difficult to verify, more than 50 Mizos are believed to be serving, and the number has risen steadily in recent years.

Inside the Sailo family’s modest rented room in Aizawl’s bustling Dawrpui locality, plywood sheets divide the cramped space into tiny sections. The family pays ₹10,000 a month in rent. “Everything changed after my father’s death,” said Mawii, Lalngaihawmi’s daughter. “Money became a constant worry. I had to stop my studies after class 12 because we decided to focus on Lalhriatpuia’s education. He had the talent.”