By Pynshailang Lyngkhoi
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| Celebration of Mizoram as the first fully literate state in India |
On the 20th of May, 2025, Mizoram stood a
little bit taller, a little brighter, not with pride, but purpose. Achieving a
literacy rate of 98.2%, yes, you read that right, Mizoram has now officially
become India’s first fully literate state, a landmark moment etched into the
hills of Mizoram and the country’s educational narrative. This announcement was
made by Chief Minister Lalduhoma at Mizoram University in Aizawl, alongside
Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Choudhary. This announcement marked
more than just a statistic; it is a shift in how we define literacy, learning
and legacy.
What
made Mizoram’s journey so remarkable and powerful isn’t just the result; it’s
the method and meaning of why they did what they did and how they did it. This
revolution in learning came through Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All
in Society (ULLAS), known widely as the New India Literacy Programme (NILP).
ULLAS
did not just aim to teach people how to read and write. They chose to redefine
literacy from just reading and writing to include comprehension,
interpretation, and crucial modern life skills like digital navigation and
financial confidence. The kind of literacy that does not just open books but
opens bank accounts, browsers, business plans and doors of further
opportunities.
So,
in August-September 2023, the mission took to the ground. Cluster Resource Centre
Coordinators (CRCCs) went door-to-door, person-to-person, identifying 3,026
non-literate individuals across the state. From that number, 1.692 people
joined the learning journey, guided by 292 volunteer teachers who were a mix of
students, educators, and local mentors who each taught not just a curriculum
but built a connection.
But
numbers alone don’t tell a full story. The real heartbeat behind Mizoram’s
achievement lies in a powerful cultural ethos. ‘Tlawmngaihng’ roughly means
“selflessness, service and a deep duty to community”. This spirit lit up every
home, hill, and humble classroom. Volunteers did not just teach, they shared,
served, and stood by their people. Turning a milestone into a collective calling.
Well,
this isn’t the end of the road; Mizoram’s next vision is clear to go beyond
just literacy. Plans are already in motion to integrate digital, financial, and
entrepreneurial education. Because reading a sentence in today’s world is
powerful, but reading a situation, navigating a system, or starting a venture can
be transformational.
Mizoram's
message and goal were clear, not just to teach people how to read and write, but
it taught India how to believe in the collective power of education, culture,
and community. In a world rushing forward, this little state paused, looked inward
and said:
“No one gets left behind, not in our land.”
Pynshailang Lyngkhoi is a student of B.A. Journalism and Mass Communication, 2nd year, School of Media and Communication, Adamas University
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