400 guitarists strike Accord chords

AIZAWL: Twenty five years ago, Mizoram woke up to a riveting sunrise when the Centre and the Mizo National Front ( MNF) signed the Mizo Peace Accord, bringing an end to decades of secessionist movement in the state. More than two decades down the line, the state saw another historic event to commemorate the silver jubilee of the Accord.

On Thursday night, about 400 guitarists strummed a popular song composed by Zirsangzela Hnamte in the largest guitar ensemble Mizoram has ever seen at Sikulpuikawn junction in Aizawl to mark the event. H Zosangliana, president of the Mizoram Journalists' Association (MJA), said 398 guitarists participated in "a ruala perhkhuang perh hnem ber" or the first and largest guitar ensemble.

"This is the first ever guitar ensemble in Mizoram before and after the Biblical great floods," added Zosangliana. He said another attempt should be made to break the record in Shillong where 2,000 guitarists assembled to attain such a feat.