Story of Brave Woman

Story of a Mizo woman who killed a tiger with
an Axe!
Pi Zadingi (68 years) is from a small village
called “Buarpui” in Lunglei District of
Mizoram. She still lives there with her children
and grandchildren.
For those who are yet to know, Pi Zadingi is
considered one of the bravest women among
the Mizos and is a recipient of India’s bravery
award “Shaurya Chakra” which was awarded
to her by the President of India in 1980.
On 3rd July 1978, she became a household
name in Mizoram and other parts of India by
being the only Mizo woman on record (and
perhaps the only woman in India) to kill a
Bengal Tiger with an axe (Meaning no
disrespect to animal rights activists. It was a
kill or be killed situation!).
How the tiger was killed
In the early morning of 3rd July 1978, Pi
Zadingi was on her way to the forest to collect
firewood and, desiring to come back early, was
way ahead of her friends. While she was felling
some dead trees alone deep in the forest, she
suddenly heard the growl of a tiger very close
to her. A quick look around revealed a tiger
among the nearby bushes ready to pounce on
her. Having no time to run away, she just
gripped her Axe harder and waited. When
finally the tiger jumped at her, she hit out at it
with all her strength. Fortunately for her, she
struck the tiger right on the forehead. It was
indeed a really powerful as the Axe penetrated
the tiger’s skull and causing its brain to spill
out and onto the Axe. It was fatal blow and
the tiger died, its dead body limply rolling in
into a wild yam pit. Pi Zadingi also did not
escape unscathed as the tiger severely
damaged her hand, especially the fingers with
its claws.
She was 27 years old with one child and was
3 months pregnant with the second at the
time of killing the tiger.
The Forest Department, Government of
Mizoram took away the dried skin of the tiger
she killed from her and put it up on display at
the Aizawl Museum.
Source: http://nunkhua.weebly.com/sakei-
chekhlumtu-buarpui-nu-huaisen-pi-zadingi-
chanchin.html