On 3rd March, 1984, at 9:20 a.m., Kawlnithangi Colney came piggy-back on her mother, Pi Sangzuali’s back. Kawlni was Admission No: 2. She was a lanky bundle of big eyes and a pony-tail. She did not leave Shanti’s back for a whole month, till tinier more demanding ones took over. Ten minutes later Admission No:1 came: Chinghoihvungi, a little littler and with the littlest pony-tail ever … came with her mother, Pi Zorammi, again piggy-back. They were soon followed by Admission No.3: long-haired Samuel Deng, terribly shy but inquisitive and peeping from behind his mother, Pi Paul. So the first three Foundians to come to School were: Kawlni, Chinghoih and Samuel Sangboi! Two weeks later they were joined by Ngaisuanching (Chiching) d/o of (L) Biakvel and Lhingboi , Lulun d/o Pu Ngaihte and (L) Pigou, Allan s/o (L) Jeff Biakthang and Rebec, Chongthangzou d/o Dr. Thangminlien and Chiingouman, and Poopsy d/o (L) W. Lengen, IPS and Api.

Mid-year saw fifteen happy Foundians, ten girls and five boys with two teachers Ms. Niangpi and Shanti.

1984, Year End Foundation Home grew in size and was now up to 20 children.

By the end of 1984 twenty terrific children were happily spending the day at a home away from home … at Foundation Home, as LFS was then known. In its first Annual Prize-Giving Day Pi Sailothangi, w/o Pu Haokholal Thangjom, former Minister GOM, and surviving sister of (L) Lalpuithluaii, was the Chief Guest. As there were only 20 beautiful happy children, she gave prizes to all, not only to the toppers.

1985 Foundation Home adds two more teachers for a grand total of 4. (Ma'am Nemzathuam & Mr. Max)

1986 We grew so rapidly, we had to rent a neighbouring kutcha building!

1986 saw the Foundian family grow so rapidly it had to rent a neighbouring kutcha building belonging to Rev. Sawngthang who, very kindly vacated the few hostellers he had just taken in … realizing our need was very great! Our children and teachers had a whale of a time in his building - a long mud hall with chatai/ phek partitions, as the pictures below show. We also learnt what happiness was. Not pucca buildings and flashy equipment, but children coming together in a garden-school: kutcha buildings do not matter! Another thing, when we look back through the lenses of captured time … we realize we were quite green … in that, we brought up our children to love nature. They cheerfully planted saplings, and though we made no rules, they never plucked the flowers that blossomed all round them.

1987: We were nagged by thoughts of the need to move out of a government house at HQ Veng crept in. But as finances were a problem, the best thing Shanti and Vunga could do was bury their heads in the sand and just continue to work hard, dream harder, pray hardest … and believe in the School motto: In God We Trust.

1987 Land was donated upon which to build the school. Additionally, an unsolicited RLEGP government work order for Rs. 90,000/- was delivered to us. Construction began at the new site in Pearson Colony, Bungmual Village with much help from the locals.

Late 1987: Foundation Home officially moved to new location and re-named "Lalpuithluaii Foundation School"

Pu Atul Bagai IAS/ SDO/Churachandpur dropped in and while having tea casually handed Shanti a sheaf of papers. It was a RLEGP government scheme/work order for Rs. 90,000/-, unasked for but handed to us on a platter, signed by Pu D.S.Poonia, IAS/DC Churachandpur. It was a godsend and suffice it to say: O! the hours, days and months flew as dreams took form and shape on land donated by Vunga’s father, (L) T.C.Tiankham, IAS, in memory of his beloved wife, (L) Lalpuithluaii Sailo, after whom LFS is named.. So up at the new rural site, Bungmual Village youth, in their hundreds, dug out half a hill-side with hoe, shovel and a song.

And so it was that lui-suang on lui-suang, i.e. river-stone on river-stone a foundation was laid, thanks to mistry Pu Thangkhanpau. Also plank by plank, wooden post by wooden post nailed in by Pu Suankhanthang and (L) Khennou, a spanking new all-pine wood structure came up at Pearson Colony, Bungmual Village. By the middle of 1988 Foundation Home shifted two kilometers out of town, to Bungmual Village, and grew into Lalpuithluaii Foundation School. The Home ambience – its sunshine – now shone in the quiet of a rural setting … gentle terraces easng its way to the Lanva Stream, the NH-150 to Tipaimukh running by and the hills of Mission Compound and Gelmol in the back-ground.

Then over the years the School grew pucca … brick by brick, sapling by sapling and one class by one class a year. Ever so slowly but steadily, dream by dream, idea upon idea, plot by plot and help from family, and friends like Pu R.C.Mishra, IAS/DC, Churachandpur, the School bloomed, nurtured by a caring family of Teachers, and filled by smiling children. Our children were fortunate to have amongst them Mana d/o Pu Rashmi, IAS, DC/CCP, Arjun s/o Pu Shetty, CO/CRPF, PK Singh

Our Name

Our school, currently known as Lalpuithluaii Foundation School was named after the beloved wife of (L) T.C. Tiankham, IAS who, in her memory, so generously donated the land upon which the school was built.