Mr Martin Lalpekhlua Blah
Expertise
My research centres on how contemporary artists evoke Indigeneity and resist essentialising perceptions of ‘world’ literature, nationalism and modernity. As a case study, I focus on Mizoram, ‘Northeast India’ and/or Highland Asia.
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Biography
My mother is from the Rivung clan belonging to the Mizo/Lusei tribe whose ancestral home is at Nursery Veng situated at the outskirts of Aizawl, Mizoram. My father is from the Blah clan belonging to the Khasi tribe from Meghalaya. Personally, I identify myself as Zo, a nomenclature I consider more inclusive and multilingual. I was born in Aizawl in the year 2002 but moved to Shillong for 'Western' education and progress. Growing up in a cosmopolitan tribal city, I learnt to think in languages that my ancestors never spoke, i.e., English and Hindi. Yet, I developed a sense of belonging with the diasporic Zo peoples at Shillong Mizo Presbyterian Church. Reading, learning, and hearing the translated Bible at this church also helped me become familiar with my mother tongue.
I majored in English Literature for my undergraduate studies at St. Anthony's College, Shillong. This was before curricular reforms took place. Here, I enjoyed what is usually called the 'traditional' English canon starting from Chaucer to TS Elliot, as well as 'post-colonial' Indian authors like Anita Desai and Amitav Ghosh. My favourite are the Carpe Diem poems and the Metaphysical poets. Here, I was involved in the Mizo Student Union as an editor for monthly newsletter (Mizo and English) and I also did internship with an ecumenical organization called North East Indian Christian Council under the supervision of Rev. Dr. Ramengliana Ralte.
My MA was in Comparative Literatures and Cultures at the University of Bristol, UK. I was also the Course Representative working under the Students Union. Coming to the UK and engaging in an academic, diverse and inclusive space committed to 'decolonizing' pedagogy under the School of Modern Languages made me realize my constructed 'whiteness', inherited colonial ideologies and the importance of my heritage. Thus began my 'decolonial' journey of critical reflexivity.
I majored in English Literature for my undergraduate studies at St. Anthony's College, Shillong. This was before curricular reforms took place. Here, I enjoyed what is usually called the 'traditional' English canon starting from Chaucer to TS Elliot, as well as 'post-colonial' Indian authors like Anita Desai and Amitav Ghosh. My favourite are the Carpe Diem poems and the Metaphysical poets. Here, I was involved in the Mizo Student Union as an editor for monthly newsletter (Mizo and English) and I also did internship with an ecumenical organization called North East Indian Christian Council under the supervision of Rev. Dr. Ramengliana Ralte.
My MA was in Comparative Literatures and Cultures at the University of Bristol, UK. I was also the Course Representative working under the Students Union. Coming to the UK and engaging in an academic, diverse and inclusive space committed to 'decolonizing' pedagogy under the School of Modern Languages made me realize my constructed 'whiteness', inherited colonial ideologies and the importance of my heritage. Thus began my 'decolonial' journey of critical reflexivity.