Mizo people

This article is about the Mizo people. For the language of the same name, see Mizo language.

Mizo

Total population
c. 1,000,000
Regions with significant populations
Northeast India, Bangladesh, Burma
Languages
Mizo Ţawng Dialects Lusei(Duhlian) · Lusei(Hualngo)  · Laizo(Pawi) · Mara(Lakher)  · Paite(Zomi)  · Hmar  · Bawm  · Zotung  · Zophei  · Senthang  ·
Religion
Prebyterianism (majority)  · Baptists  · Evangelicals  · Roman Catholicism  · Seventh Day Adventist  · Judaism  · Penticostalism  ·
Related ethnic groups
Zomi  · Chin  · Kuki  · Naga  · Meitei  · Bamar  · Tibetans

The Mizo people (Mizo: Mizo hnam) are linguistically of the Kuki peoples native to north-eastern India, western Burma (Myanmar) including Tahan and eastern Bangladesh; who speak the Mizo language.^[1] The Mizo are recognised as Scheduled Tribe under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

The present Indian state of Mizoram (literally "Mizoland") was called the Lushai Hills and was a district of Assam, before it became a Union Territory and afterwards a full-fledged state. The Lushai were the first Mizo tribe to have an external exposure and hence the ethnicity was initially known as the Lushai people. The demand for a distinct political territory for the people of Lushai Hills resulted in the creation of a separate Union Territory and afterwards the State of Mizoram. In this struggle, one of the powerful factors was the movement to call themselves Mizo, rather than by distinct tribal names such as the Lushai, the Ralte, the Hmar, the Paite, the Mara, and the Pawi. Their languages (of which the largest is Lusei Duhlian dialect) belong to the Tibeto-Burman, and are closely related to those of the Chins in the adjacent Chin State of Burma, as well as those of the Kukis.They also share similar tradition of the Chinese as well to some extend in their folks story and way of life. The mizos, hmars, kukis and chin people of Burma and the bawm people of Bangladesh are related and are the same in every aspect of culture and history, even the dialect is about 60 percent similar.

The Demography

Sandwiched between Burma in the east and south and Bangladesh in the west with a total of 630 miles, the place is inhabited by the Kukish linguistic group of the Tibeto-Burman sub-family and the minority Chakma (Mizo: Takam) community. Historically speaking, Mizo people are a part of the great waves of the Mongoloid races spilling over into the eastern and southern India from Tibet and Yunnan, centuries ago. Their sojourn in western Burma, into which they eventually drifted around the 7th century, lasted about ten centuries. Mizo people came under the influence of the British missionaries in the 19th century. The spread of education by Christian missionaries led to the high percentage of literacy (95% as per national sample survey).

Religion

All ethnic Mizo people claim to be Christians, although there has been a departure from the Christian faith among certain sections of the community. The major Christian denominations are Presbyterian(majority), Baptist, The Salvation Army, Seventh-day Adventist, Evangelical Church of Maraland (ECM), Congregational Church of India (Maraland) in the southern district of Saiha, Roman Catholic and Pentecostal. Jehovah's Witnesses also has a good number of members. In recent generations a small group of Mizo have claimed themselves as Jews; see Bnei Menashe.

Historical Perspective

During the later part of the British rule, the people in Lushai Hills as well as in Manipur Hills felt that the British administration was trying to adopt the policy of control through the Chiefs of the community. There were several rebellions against the British rule as a result, an anti-Chief movement gained ground and in 1946, a political party named Mizo Common Peoples' Union (MCPU) was formed. In the event of India being independent, the Mizo Union, formerly known as Mizo Common Peoples' Union declared that Mizoram should be with Assam rather than adjoined with Burma, which the pro-Chief party advocated.

On the other hand, the Chakma community wanted to be part of the Indian Union which could be materialized only partially as the stretch bordering then East Pakistan, present Bangladesh to Burma border had been included in the Indian Union.

But, in reality, with the independence of India, the secessionist group in MCPU favored joining with Burma. The separation of India from Burma in the year 1937, the partition of India in 1947 and the administrative extension over the Indian part of the area negatively impacted the free mobility of the inhabitants, despite the existing rules that allowed free cross-over across India-Burma and India-East Pakistan (now India-Bangladesh) international border. These territorial demarcations were never accepted by the people.^[2]

Sociolinguistic Mosaic

The multi-ethnic and pluralistic state of Mizoram exhibits a co-existence of different communities, such as the Mizo (majority) (Lusei, Hmar, Pawi, Lakher, or Mara), the Riang (Mizo: Tuikuk), and the Chakma (Mizo: Takam).

Lai/ Pawi

With the promulgation of the Indian Constitution as a Sovereign Democratic Republic in 1953, the Lai people of Southern part of Mizoram ( a segment of the much larger population of Lai /Chin ) – have been given constitutional safeguards by granting them an "Autonomous District Council" under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Lawngtlai was created as the Headquarters of Lai Autonomous District Council. Their language has been strictly maintained in the community and even in their education. Maintenance of language as a symbol of identity has been inculcated up to Middle school standard. The Lai Autonomous District Council managed their education from Primary to Middle stage in which the state government (Mizoram) has no control and interference. Due to the spread of Christianity, education also spread and molded their social life. Lai people speak both Lai holh and Lusei(Mizo) language.

Mara

Mara, earlier known as Lakher, is the predominant community of the southeastern district of Saiha. The demand for a separate Lakher hills district in 1945 led to the formation of an organized political party called Mara Freedom Party. They have self-governance Mara Autonomous District Council under the Sixth Schedule Amendment of Indian Constitution. Their struggle for identity, having passed through several politico-historical events, now plays an important part in the political horizon. Their maintenance of language as a symbol of identity has been supported by their education. Due to the spread of Christianity, education also spread and molded their social life. The Mara literacy rate contributes a lot to the good standing of Mizoram state in terms of literacy. Mara people have a native-like understanding of Mizo language.

Hmar

Hmar^[3][4] people are amongst the second^[5] Mizo tribes to have entered Mizoram. This is evident from the names of villages and towns (Ţhiak, Zote, Khawbung, Khawzawl, etc. which are literally names of Hmar clans) in Mizoram relatively adaptive, they spread out and scattered to the plains of Cachar, Tripura and the hills of Manipur while a few of them later entered Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya. In Mizoram, there are two groups of Hmar – those who are completely Mizoised and those who are only partially assimilated by Mizo culture. The Hmar people who are completely Mizoised have undergone changes in respect to their cultural ethos and values and are satisfied to consider themselves as Mizo tribe/nation (just as Lusei and Ralte people did). They are amongst the people what we called Mizo, and Mizo language is their mother tongue. But the partially assimilated Hmars, while identifying themselves as Mizo, are at the same time advocate their distinct identity, traditions, customs and language. It is among this group of partially assimilated Hmar that the search for a separate identity is keep alive.

Political, Linguistic and Economic Scenario

Consequent to Indian independence, the democratic change in administrative set-up of Mizoram led to an anti-Chief movement. The agitation brought forward the general mass feeling against the autocratic Chiefs and support for then Mizo Union. In 1955, the demand regarding the formation of a separate hills state was put forward in a tribal leaders' meeting in Aizawl, due to the feeling that the involvement of the Assam Government during the mautam famine was unsatisfactory. The introduction of Assamese as the official language of Assam in 1960 led to the protest against the Official Language Act of 1961. This was followed by the March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising, resulting in the attack of the military installations in Aizawl, Lunglei and other towns which followed by the declaration of Independence of Mizoram by the Mizo National Front, formerly known as Mizo National Famine Front. Mizoram was declared Union Territory on January 21, 1972. The whole atmosphere was still surcharged with the feelings of anti-Non-Mizo attitude. Pu Laldenga, the President of Mizo National Front, signed Peace Accord in 1986 with the Government of India, stating Mizoram was the integral part of India. Mr. Laldenga came to the ministry in the Interim government which was formed in coalition with Congress in 1987 and the Statehood of Mizoram was proclaimed on February 20, 1987.

Present demand for Inclusion in 8th Schedule

With 90.27^[6] per cent literacy, the second highest in Indian states, Mizoram is now leading towards the spread of education in a substantial manner, the recognition of Mizo Ţawng in the 8th Schedule of the Indian constitution is an undercurrent demand that is evident in various aspects of social and political life.

The dominance of the English language is evident especially in the fields of education, official matters and other formal domains as in other parts of India. English has already penetrated the life and blood of the Mizo people for a pretty long time along with the spread of education.

Christian missionaries in the 19th century developed the current alphabetic system adopted for the Mizo language. Adoption of the Roman script has further facilitated the learning of the English language. The admiration and demand for the use of English in Mizoram is no different from the same attitude in other parts of India.

Mizo have also engaged themselves actively in a long drawn out socio-political struggle for identity and recognition, and extracting political power from the Central Government in New Delhi. Due to the fear of being assimilated with other communities, aversion towards cultural admixture seems to be a reality of the Mizo people.

Note

Though the term Mizo is often used to name a nation, it is rather an umbrella term to denote the various tribes. A number of dialects are still spoken under the umbrella of MIZO; some of them are Lusei (thu dialect of the Lusei tribe, which is an official language of Mizoram and a lingua franca of the Kuki peoples), Hmar, Paite, Thadou-Kuki, a clan of Hmar clan like the Ţhieks who still speak their own dialect, Lai and Mara.

But, contrary to the above statement regarding the term Mizo, the research team of the Art & Culture Department, Government of Mizoram had mentioned that the term MIZO has a deeper meaning than what the former historians belief. In the systematic classification they published, it shows Mizo is the name of the nation which may have an ancient origin somewhere in Central Asia, and comprising 11 tribes: the Aso, Chho, Halam, Hmar, Lai (Pawi), Lusei, Mara, Miu-Khumi, Paite (Zomi), Ralte and Thado (Kuki). Each of them has numerous clans, (e.g. Sailo, Chhakchhuak, Kawlni, Khupchawng, Ţhiak, Chawngthu, etc.), and these clans contain at least five sub-clans

References

1. ^ Most historians believe 'Mi' refers to 'people', and 'zo' refers to 'hill' or 'mountain'. But, the more careful study of word formation in Mizo language rule-out this theory, and the word 'Mizo' may have a deeper or ancient meaning Discuss
2. ^ This results in a large scale rebellion, the so-called Mizoram Independence Movement of the Mizo people during 1966–1986.
3. ^ Grierson, G.A.: Linguistic Survey of India, Vol. III, Part 3 (1967). "In the beginning, the name Hmar (English: North) is not a clan name, it is used to refer to the Mizo people living in the North (of Mizo inhabited areas)".
4. ^ Shakespear, J.: Lushai Kuki Clans, (Reprint), RI Khasi Offset Printers, Shillong, 1988, p. 183.
5. ^ Lalthangliana, B. History and Culture of Mizo in India, Burma & Bangladesh. 2001. Remkungi. Aizawl. p. 88-89.
6. ^ 2001 Census

Other sources:

• Chaube, S.K. 1999. Hill Politics in North-east India. Patna: Orient Longman.
• Lalnithanga, P. 1997. Mizoram. New Delhi: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Govt. of India. Patiala House.
• Parry, N.E. 1988. Lushai custom; A monograph on Lushai customs and ceremonies. Aizwal: Tribal Research Institute.
• Shakespear, J. 1988. The Lushai Kuki Clans. Aizwal : Tribal Research Unit.
• Tribal Research Institute. 1994. The Tribes of Mizoram. (A Dissertation) Aizwal: Tribal Research Institute, Directorate of Art and Culture.
• The Socio-Economics Of Linguistic Identity A Case Study In The Lushai Hills . Satarupa Dattamajumdar, Ph. D

External links

• Lorrain, J. Herbert (James Herbert) Dictionary of the Lushai language. Calcutta : Asiatic Society, 1940. (Bibliotheca Indica, 261) (listed under Lushai)
• Young Mizo Association, Central. The Mizo Apex Body
• Hyderabad Mizo Association
• Chennai Mizo Association
• Bangalore Mizo Association
• Mumbai Mizo Association
• Mizoram Houses in India
• Web Portal of Mara people in South Mizoram
• MizoramExpress.com. Mizoram English News Portal from Silchar
• Delhi Mizo Students