Dangu Lakshmi Bhusan Chakma (5 June 1957 – 2 February 2026), a respected Chakma scholar and cultural historian who dedicated his life to preserving the Chakma language, script, and culture. Design: The Times of Jumland
India, Mizoram | February 2, 2026: Chakma scholar, cultural historian, author, and public servant Lakshmi Bhusan Chakma passed away on Monday evening, February 2, 2026, at around 7:00 PM at Guwahati GNC Hospital in Assam. His death marks a significant loss for the Chakma community and for efforts to preserve Indigenous language, culture, and knowledge systems.
According to community sources and family confirmations, he died after receiving treatment at the hospital in Guwahati.
Lakshmi Bhusan Chakma was born on 5 June 1957 in Khagarasuri (Saitha–II) village of Lunglei district, Mizoram. He was the son of Harachandra Chakma and Chigni alias Bidhyadhari Chakma. From an early age, he showed a strong interest in education, history, and the cultural identity of his people.
He began his working life as a primary school teacher at Tiperaghat Primary School during 1979–1980. In 1981, he joined the Mizoram Police as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and served until 1987. Despite having a stable government job, he chose to leave the police service to focus on cultural and historical work for his community.
On 22 April 1987, he joined the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) as a Historical Research Officer under the Department of Arts and Culture. From 1987 to 2020, he served the District Council in several senior roles, including Arts & Culture Officer, Legislative Secretary, Planning & Development Officer, and later Court President and Recorder of the District Council Court. He retired from service on 30 November 2020.
Throughout his life, Lakshmi Bhusan Chakma was deeply concerned about the decline of the Chakma language, script, and traditional knowledge. He dedicated his work to preserving Chakma history, literature, folklore, and cultural practices. He played a key role in introducing formal Chakma script education in Mizoram.
He authored, edited, and compiled many books, primers, and textbooks on the Chakma language and script. These textbooks were officially introduced in CADC-run schools, allowing a generation of Chakma students to read and write in their own mother script. One of his important works, Changmha Pattham Paidhya, was adopted as a textbook to introduce Chakma as a subject in council schools.
His research book, “The Chakmas of South East Asia”, published in 2022, remains an important reference on Chakma history and cultural heritage. In addition to academic work, he made major contributions to Chakma cultural expression. He wrote more than 50 Chakma songs celebrating tradition and identity and authored dramatic works in the Chakma language, including Duapada Path and Ana.
He also carried out research on traditional healing systems, numerology, and community customs, contributing to a broader understanding of Chakma ethnolinguistic heritage. Beyond writing and research, he played a leading role in reviving the traditional Chakma Hadhi coat, helping restore it as a symbol of identity, dignity, and cultural pride.
Throughout his life, he received strong support from his family, especially from his wife, Guri Milya alias Kripa Lakshmi Chakma, whose encouragement supported his long commitment to education, culture, and public service.
Dangu Lakshmi Bhusan Chakma is remembered as a careful historian, a dedicated cultural guardian, and a principled public servant. His books, songs, textbooks, and institutional work continue to influence Chakma education and cultural preservation across generations.
He is survived by his family and by a wide community of students, readers, and cultural practitioners who continue to draw from his work.
By The Times of Jumland | Mizoram Desk
