T Sailo

Brigadier Thenphunga Sailo was a distinguished Indian military officer and politician who served as the second Chief Minister of Mizoram. Born into a prominent family, he joined the British Indian Army in 1943 and later transitioned to the Indian Army after independence, rising through the ranks to become a brigadier. Sailo was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for his military service. After retiring from the army, Sailo entered politics and founded the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC). He played a significant role in Mizoram's political landscape, serving as Chief Minister and holding various ministerial positions. He was known for initiatives like the Aizawl city extension project and the Bairabi Dam. Sailo also collaborated with other parties, including the Congress and the Mizo National Front, and served as Principal Advisor to the state government. Sailo received the Padma Shree in 1999 and the Mizo Award in 2011 for his contributions. He was recognized as a corruption-free politician by the Mizo Zirlai Pawl in 2001. Sailo authored an autobiography titled *A Soldier's Story*. In his personal life, Sailo married Thansiami in 1946 and had four children. Two of his sons joined the Indian Revenue Service, while another became a surgeon and Director General of Health Services for Mizoram. His daughter served on the National Commission for Women from 2013 to 2016. Sailo passed away on March 27, 2015, at the age of 92 due to lung complications and hypertension. He was buried in his garden, and his funeral was attended by ...