A couple of weeks ago, we received a pretty cryptic message from Iggy’s Mizo branch.

Thank you so much once again, the unthinkable has indeed become a reality.

For those not in the know, a short reminder.

Iggy was always vague about the roots on her mother’s side. It was believed that her Asian relatives were from Pakistan. It was revealed shortly after her death that her mother was from Mizoram, a state in the North Eastern Region of India.

In the late 1950s, a famine (also known as Mautâm) broke out. It was badly followed up by the Indian government. This led to the 1966 Mizo National Front uprising with a declaration of independence. The Indian air force retaliated with airstrikes, and the armed conflict was soon over. However, it took two decades before the 1986 Mizoram Peace Accord was signed.

The Indian government isolated Mizoram during the insurgency by intercepting all communication with the outside world. Letters were censored and/or destroyed.

When communication was finally restored, Iggy’s parents had moved, and the Mizoram branch couldn’t locate them any more.

Fast-forward to June 2021, when an article from The Holy Church of Iggy the Inuit (or one of its counterparts on Tumblr, Facebook, or Instagram) was intercepted by someone in the Mizoram internet community.

Family relations were restored, but, due to the pandemic, visits were not possible. Until now... Thana Hnamte messaged us the following.

A family reunion did take place right in the hills of Mizoram. My cousin Stephen and his wife visited us on a journey of discovery from 26 February to 9 March. We had a wonderful yet emotional family get-together, made possible by your innocuous Facebook post.

Here is a picture of that family reunion.

Iggy is probably watching them from the heavens.

Many thanks to: Thana Hnamte and the family members from Mizoram and England. Pictures: Mimi Hnamte.
♥ Libby ♥ Iggy ♥