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Mizo chieftain
| Zakapa | |
|---|---|
| Chief of Khawhri Khawhri Lal | |
 A portrait of Zakapa | |
| Reign | 1860–8 August 1893 |
| Predecessor | Dokhama |
| Born | 1839 Khawhri (present-day in Lunglei district, Mizoram) |
| Died | 28 October 1914(1914-10-28) (aged 74–75) Andaman Islands (life-sentenced in a cellular jail) |
| Issue | Thanchhuma |
| House | Fanai |
| Father | Dokhama |
| Religion | Sakhua |
Zakapa, also known as Jacopa, was a Lushai chieftain of the Fanai clan and ruled the Vanlaiphai villages in present-day southern Mizoram. He is best known for his diplomacy between Anglo–Lushai relations.
Chieftainship
Zakapa was the superior chief of Vandula, an anti-British chief who cooperated closely with Vandula's wife Ropuiliani and son Lalthuama after his passing.
Anglo-Lushai Relations
After the Chin-Lushai Expedition of 1888-1889, the Lushai Hills became annexed by the British Raj. A North and South Lushai Hills were established. C.S Murray was assigned as the political officer of the South Lushai Hills and instructed to disarm all of the tribes with their weapons and quell any resistance. The Government of Bengal's initiative to build infrastructure introduced a coolie quota into the Lushai Hills, which was unpopular with the Lushai chiefs. Zakapa agreed to supply coolies to Murray along with his subordinate Dakopa, who supplied 59 men on 8th February 1891.
On the 9th of February, Zakapa refused to meet Murray. Murray in returned stationed troops around Khawhri and warned Zakapa and Lalthuama in the Zawlbuk of dangerous consequences. Murray subsequently burned the foodstock of Zakapa's settlement. In retaliation Zakapa attacked Murray's party and decapitated two sepoys before he managed to escape. The skirmish led to Murray's party killing 25 Lushai warriors.
As a result of the hostilities, Major Hutchinson captured Zakapa's subordinate chiefs and tortured the women of his settlement for his whereabouts. Zakapa was caught and arrested and deported from his village. Further British investigation showed that Murray's conduct had been dishonorable as a political officer. Murray and his subordinates had requested Zakapa for women for sex. Upon failure and refusal to provide the demands, Murray threatened to abduct Zakapa's wife. This was uncovered in court and Murray was demoted and transferred out of the Lushai Hills on the orders of the Government of Bengal.
Sources
- Chatterjee, Suhas (1985). Mizoram under British Rule. Delhi: Mittal Publications.
- Chatterjee, Suhas (1995). Mizo Chiefs and the Chiefdom. New Delhi: Mittal Publications. ISBN 81-85880-72-7.