Zairema (/zaɪˈrɛmə/; 4 May 1917 – 17 December 2008) was a Presbyterian minister, and a pioneer in theology and literature among the Mizo people of northeast India.
He continued at Cotton College, Guwahati for Intermediate of Science (ISc), which he finished with first class, and then BSc with major in chemistry in 1940.
But after two years in 1943, to fulfil his real ambition, he joined Serampore College from where he completed Bachelor of Divinity in 1945 in first class.
At the behest of the community, the church arranged part-time duty as a teacher at the newly established Mizo High School, Zarkawt, Aizawl, from 1945; and was designated as Assistant Headmaster in 1948.
Zairema was the main leader of the coordinated action of all churches in Mizoram for seeking peaceful settlement among the rebels, the Mizo National Front.
He was even imprisoned for 11 days in 1967 by the Assam Police on a deliberate accusation of inciting and accessing the rebels, and was later simply acquitted.
In 1957 he was approved by the Mizoram Synod for candidacy in the Member of Parliament election to Lok Sabha as an independent candidate.
[5] In 1982, following his professional retirement he, along with other enthusiasts, established nongovernmental organisations called Vigilance Council and Mizoram Guardians to fight against political corruption.
A notable political figure, A. Thanglura, even dubbed him as one of the three blind mice of the insurgency because of his often futile but unfeigned actions.
[6][7][8] His commitment to political and social justice was best exemplified by his Public Interest Litigation petition to the Supreme Court of India against corruption.
On 17 December 2008, 0600 hr (local time) he was pronounced dead due to cardiac failure, at the age of 91, in his residence at Zarkawt.
[4] On 2 February 1988, the Serampore University conferred him the degree of Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) for his contribution in theology, specifically on the preparation of the Mizo Bible.
[2] The Mizo Academy of Letters awarded his theological memoire Kan Bible Hi as the Book of the Year 2003.