Chho tribe

The Chho are one of the eleven tribes of the Mizo people,^[1] native to Mindat and Kanpalet area in the Chin Hills of Myanmar. They are also known as – Sho, Kx'ou, Cho or Yindu.

Demography

The Chho tribe includes the Chindui, Yindu, Ngayah, Dai, Moun and Makan clans. The total population of Chho people in 1973–74 Census is 41,070.

Origin

Like other Mizo tribes, Chho migrated from Tibet to Meythe and Tayet, moving through the Pohpa Hills and the Kabaw Valley. From the Kabaw Valley they shifted southwards to the Yaw Valley and settled in their present location in the southern Chin Hills.

Social Life

The majority of Chho people are farmers. They usually live on the farm as long as there is work, so they may live in the village for only two or three months out of the year.

Hospitality

The Chho people have always shown hospitality to any guests, even to a complete stranger, without any differences or discrimination. If there is a traveler passing through their village during a storm, a rainy day, or at night, they will invite them to stay, occasionally insisting upon it.

Revenge-Murder

In contrary to their hospitality, murder for the cause of revenge is the strangest tradition they keep. The root cause for this tradition is not known. However, this tradition is not observed in other Mizo people living nearby (the Chinboi, Yindu and Yaw clans). In 1968, the Burmese government attempted to eradicate this tradition of revenge-murder. In the beginning, the people were afraid their tradition would be completely eradicated, which resulted in higher rate of murder. Till 1973, the murder record was much less than before.^[2]

References

1. ^ Lalthangliana, B.: 2001. History and Culture of Mizo in India, Burma & Bangladesh. Aizawl. RTM Press. p.81.
2. ^ Aung Ngai Htang: A study of the revenge-murder of Cho (Chin) in Mindat Township, Chin State. Mandalay University. 1974. p. 1-64.