THAU
Thau is in Thantlang township, Chin State, Burma. It was founded in AD 1787 by Pu Duh Kar of the Hlichal clan. It was called Thau because of the abundance of thahau, which means nettles. The village was first settled in Khuapumbo, or Farrawn, where where Thau Khua Thar in the south has been resettled since 1975. Then, they moved to where Thau Khua Hlun is now. Thau Khua Thar is on Saisihchuak Road, and the number of residents with IDPs is growing.
Thau village was located in the province ruled by the Thantlang Cinzah chief. The Thantlang Cinzah chief sent Mr. Thang Bawi Cinzah to Thau, and he stayed with the Thau people. The 7th generation of Thang Bawi's descendants now live in Thau. The first chief of Thau, Pu Hlei Cham Cinzah, was called from Salen village and ruled Thau from 1807 to 1857. Pu Nga Phawi was the village chief from 1857 to 1906. Nga Phawi's son, Ral Vung, became the village chief but died early. After that, Pu Duh Hmung Cinzah, the grandson of Mr. Thang Bawi, served as Thau village chief from 1908 to 1912. Pu Chum Ling Cinzah, one of Duh Hmung's brothers, was invited by the chief of Lungleng village in Mizoram, India, to move to Muanlianpi with 20 Thau families and became Muanlianpi village chief.
Location of Thau (Latitude: 22' 45 0" N & longtitude: 93" 12' 0 E)
Thau village is 52 miles from Hakha, the Chin capital, and 11 miles from Saisihchuak, the India-Burma border. This Hakha-Saisihchuak Road can be used for travel and transportation throughout the year. It passes through Bungtlang, Thau, Hringkhan, Hmunlipi, Thlualam, and Thantlang; founded in 1450, it was one of the villages in the Vailamtlang area before it became a town, where the Burma government opened the township office on August 2, 1972, before reaching Hakha.
Thau Tlang (Thau Mountain) is located north of Thau village. It is one of the most famous and beautiful peaks in Northern Chin State. It is a legendary mountain. It is a narrow-shaped mountain peak. The peak's north side is rocky and pretty steep, with white rock. Its peak is about 7,200 (EST) above sea level (some estimate it as 7,400 ft above sea level). Several villages and towns in Mizoram, India, and the Thantlang township and Hakha can be seen from the mountain's peak. It will be an excellent tourist visit from Thau on foot, crossing the beautiful mountain view where the British army sent a heliograph message to their army office in Hakha.
Thau is close to the India-Burma border and was used by British officials from India and Burma to hold meetings. The British Capt. Rundall and his soldiers sent by Brig. Symond and Gen. George White from Burma to Hakha and the British Capt. Shakespeare, Lt. Bythal, and soldiers sent by Gen. Tregear from Chittagong through Lunglei, Mizoram, met in Thau on February 2, 1890, and drew the border between India and Burma. Mr. Maxwell and Capt. Cole confirmed it in 900. On April 1, 1937, Burma formally split from India. Archibald Cochrane became its first governor, and a Council of Ministers took office, ending a century of association.
Christianity
The 2nd American Baptist missionary to the Chins, Dr. Erik Hjalmar East, arrived in Thau village on April 28, 1910, when Pu Duh Hmung was the village chief and stayed there Saturday and Sunday. At that time, there were 110 households and about 600 people in Thau village.
Dr. East mentioned that there were many pigeons on the southern side of Thau Mountain, and they fed them pigeons. Dr. East was a medical doctor who had seen about 100 patients. He commented, "The hearts of the people of Thau are much better than the usual run among the villagers. It would be interesting to know if something in diet or location caused the Thau villagers to be in better than average health - less smoking of the usual stinky Chin tobacco and a better water supply.
In 1928, Pu Sang Ceu from Lungler village visited Mr. Than Iap, Mrs. No Can, and their son Huat Vung in Thau. Pu Sang Ceu's preaching converted Mrs. No Can and her son Huat Vung. Mr. Huat Vung attended Bible school in Hakha and became the Baptist pastor in Hriang Khan village. From 1932 to 1933, the number of Christians in Thau increased, and a small church was built. Now, the people of Thau, who live abroad, have built beautiful churches in Thau Khua Thar and Khua Hlun.
Needs for Daily Living
With the help of Thau people abroad, the villagers also built a small hydroelectricity. Many families also use small solar electric power. The Thau villagers and IDPs have enough drinking water but are growing and will need more water supply. The villagers abroad also built a small Agape Health Clinic so that the people of Thau and surrounding villages could receive minor healthcare. A middle school in Thau Khua Hlun and a high school from kindergarten to grade 12 were built in Thau Khua Thar. The students are also excited after no school for four years. The number of students is 578, and they can be more optimistic about the future.
