Chin State
Encyclopedia
Chin State is a state located in western Burma (Myanmar). The 36019 square kilometres (13,907 sq mi) Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State
in the south, Bangladesh
in south-west, Sagaing Division
and Magway Division
in the east, Indian state of Manipur
in the north and Indian state of Mizoram
in the west. The Chin
ethnic group make up the majority of the state's 500,000 people.
The capital of the state is Hakha
. The state is covered with mountainous region with few transportation links, Chin State is sparsely populated and remains one of the least developed areas of the country.
Chin people
s entered the Chin Hills some time in the first millennium AD, as part of the wider migration of Tibeto-Burman peoples into the area. Some historians speculate that the Thet people mentioned in the Burmese Chronicles might be the Chins. For much of history, sparsely populated Chin Hills were ruled by local chiefs. Political organization in the region prior to the Toungoo dynasty
's conquest in mid-16th century remains largely conjectural. The first recorded instance of a western kingdom believed to be near the Chin Hills is the Kingdom of Pateikkaya, a tributary to the Pagan Kingdom
in the 11th and 12th centuries. Some historians (Arthur Phayre, Tun Nyein) put Pateikkaya in eastern Bengal, thus placing the entire Chin Hills under Pagan suzerainty but others like Harvey, citing stone inscriptions, put it near eastern Chin Hills. (Burmese Chronicles report the kings of Pateikkaya as India
n though the ethnicity of the subjects is not explicitly cited.)
of Kale (Kalay), founded by the Shan people who came to dominate the entire northwestern to eastern arc of Burma after the fall of Pagan Kingdom in 1287. Kale was a minor Shan state, and its authority did not extend more than its immediate surrounding area, no more than a small portion of northern Chin Hills. The minor state occasionally paid tribute to the larger Shan States of Mohnyin
and Mogaung
, and ultimately became a vassal state of Burmese Ava Kingdom
in the 1370s. Starting in the 1480s, Ava began to disintegrate, and Kale was swallowed up by the Shan State of Mohnyin by the 1520s.
The entire Chin Hills came under the authority of Burmese kingdoms between 1555 and 1559 when King Bayinnaung
of Toungoo Dynasty
conquered all of Upper Burma and its surrounding regions—stretching from the eastern and northern Shan states to the western Chin Hills and Manipur
. Toungoo began to weaken in the late 17th century. By the 1730s, a resurgent Manipuri Kingdom had conquered the Kabaw Valley
from the Burmese. Kabaw valley's adjacent northern Chin Hills likely came under Manipuri suzerainty.
Burma re-exerted control over the region in the 1750s as King Alaungpaya
of Konbaung dynasty
conquered Manipur in 1758 and made it a tributary to the Burmese kingdom once more. Konbaung kings conscripted many Chin levies (along with Hkamti Shans) to fight in their wars in Lower Burma, Siam
, and Manipur
. The Chin Hills were one western region the Burmese retained after the rest of their western possessions—Assam
, Manipur, and Arakan—were ceded to the British after the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1824-1826. After the Second Anglo-Burmese War
of 1852, the Konbaung throne's authority in the remote regions was largely nominal, with the vassals paying nominal tribute.
of 1885. The ensuing Chin resistance to the British was suppressed only by 1896. The British administered the Chin Hills as part of Arakan Division
. American
missionaries began arriving in the 1890s and by the middle of 20th century, most of the Chin people had converted to Christianity
.
The region was the westernmost advance of the Imperial Japanese Army
, which occupied the region in November 1943, in World War II
. After the war, Chin leaders, along with Burman
, Shan and Kachin
leaders, participated in the Panglong Conference
which discussed the future of an independent Union of Burma. Because of the region's heavy economic dependence on Burma Proper, Chin leaders, unlike Shan and Kachin leaders, asked only for a "special administrative division", not a full fledged state. As a result, when the 1947 Constitution of Burma
granted the right of secession to states after a period of ten years after the independence, the Chin did not get a state (no right to secede). (Ironically, the Karen
who did not even participate in the conference received a state, along with the right to secede.)
. On January 4, 1974, it was granted the state status and became Chin State. Today, the state has little infrastructure and remains extremely poor and undeveloped.
, 10500 feet (3,200.4 m) high, is the highest peak in Chin State and the second highest peak in Burma. Many natural watercourses flow among mountain ranges running from north to south forming a number of valleys and gorges. The state has a lot of rivers and the Manipur River
flows through its northern half. The Tayawbar River (Tiau River) forms much of the border with India for the northern half of the state. The Boynu River, as the Kaladan River
is known upstream from its confluence with the Tayawbar, forms the border with India for the central portion of the state. In the southwestern part of the state, the Kaladan River enters from India and flows down past Paletwa
and exits into Rakhine State
. The longest water fall in Chin state is the Bungtla Waterfall near Matupi
.
The Chins are made up of many clan
s, which although historically related now speak divergent languages and have different cultural and historical identities. Some consider the name Chin seems an exonym, given by the Burmese and of unclear origin. These names are justified respectively by the fact that Chin are world known for Loyalty to the Masters and were well-known for their weaving skills and have been in trade relations with the lowlands for many years. The term "Zomi" represents one dialect group who once upon a time live together in a Ciimnuai Area represents Tedim, Tonzang, Kalay, Rih, Haimual, Cikha, Tamu and Lamka people while the term "Laimi" is the most common name for Haka, Thantlang.
Even though there is no common language in Chin State, Zopau @ Zokam is used as main communication languages in the Zomi habitat area whereas Duhlien is used in most parts of Haka and Falam habitat area of the Chin State. As Hakha and Falam dialects are from Dulien dialect and 85% of the phonetic and accent are exactly the same, people from Falam can easily communicate with Hakha language and vice versa.
Chin people are called by different names such as Zomi, Lusei, Kuki,and others based on their own different dialects. Zomi is widely used for their names amongst the known-said Chin like among the Tedim, Tonzang, Cikha, Haimual, Rih, Sagaing Division, Lushai Hills, Manipur and in the lowlands of Burma.
The Chin peoples [Zomi] escaped to Burma and then moved around until they reached the high-lands of the then Zogam, now the 'Chin States', Manipur, Nagaland, Assam (all three in India), Mizoram, Bangladesh, even until the Nepal land (the Gurkha gam). Therefore, though 'Chin' is not included in their word, each tribe of Chin people has its own name, e.g. Zomi, Mizo, These terms could well be cognates, but each has its own pronunciation and sometimes its own meaning. According to the record of Zam Sian Sang, Gualnam who'd surveyed the Seasons and Population of the called Chin (Zomi) Nationalities during the years 2004-2007 with the 'Zogam Survey' Researched team, the Different combination of all Chin peoples and their populations are as follows:
1. In Sagaing Division
2. In Chin State
3. In India (Census of India 2011)
No one can say the exact population of Zomi (Chin) whilst they are dispersing in rush since the past 50 years even. Besides, the number of chin in Chin State has been decreasing at a rapid rate due to migration since early 2000s for economic and political reasons. Economically, making a living is getting much harder due to rapid population increase and unsustainable agricultural practice of Slash and Burn agriculture. Politically, since early 1990s, a large number of Burmese soldiers began moving into Chin State despite the fact that there hasn't been any movement of rebellion. It is estimated that from Falam region alone, approximately 100,000 have moved to other parts of Burma and a significantly large number has gone to neighboring countries of India, Malaysia and Thailand since year 2000. From Hakha and Thantland regions, no less than 100,000 people have migrated to Malaysia, India and other parts of Burma. This phenomenon of emigration of a large number of people is true for other townships in Chin State, with the exception of Mindat, Kanpetlet and Paletwa, three of the most isolated towns in Chin State. Since early 2000, a large number of chins living and working both legally and illegally have been resettled as refugees in third countries including Australia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Netherland, Canada, United States and New Zealand with the United States taking in the largest numbers of them.
The ethnic Lai Chin use the word 'Salai' indicates 'Mr.' (Mister) and 'Mai' as 'Miss since early 1970s under the leadership of Salai. Tin Maung Oo. Though the Hakha of ethnic Chin use 'Leng' as Miss and 'Val' as Mr. The Tedim (Zomi) ethnic group use 'Tang' as 'Mr' and 'Lia' as 'Miss'. Matu use 'Mang' and 'Tuem' for (Matu woman)and 'Pu' and 'Pi', and 'Pa' and 'Nu', are used commonly for elderly Chin and Chin leaders such as Pu. Hrang Thio (famous for is courageous in the nation wide). The title of 'Pu' is a term of respect, failure to use it where it might be expected may be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. The word 'Pi' is used to address elderly Chin women. Different tribes also practice different ways in naming people.
Owing to missionaries' work over the last hundred years, a great deal of the population now identifies itself as Christian. A sizable minority, however, adheres to Theravada Buddhism and also Animism
.
have been built.
ASEAN Highway crosses through the center of Zomi settling areas of Madalay-Kalay-Tamu-Lamka/Behiang
The sector wise upgrading of the gateways to Chin State
is in progress at present.
The Kyaukhtu Airport, built by Directorate of Military Engineers of the Ministry of Defence in Kyaukhtu, Saw Township, Gangaw District, Magway Division, was commissioned into service on July 10, 2004. The airport has helped develop the transport sector of southern Chin State linking Yaw and Pakokku regions in Magway Division. Cars can reach Kanpetlet from Magway (capital of Magway division) via Saw and from Kyautthu and Mindat and Matupi in southern Chin State from Pakukku via Kyaukhtu.
In 1988, the state has two over 180 feet (54.9 m) bridges:
The Military Government has built the 340 feet (103.6 m) Var Bridge across Manipura River on Kalay-Haka Road in Falam Township in 1998 and 480 feet (146.3 m) 'Mansuang Hlei' Bridge across River Manipura on Tiddim-Kaptel-Rih Lake road in Tiddim District in 2002. The 460 feet (140.2 m) Manhsaung Bridge is being built across Manipura River on Tiddim-Rih Lake section.
"Comparison between period preceding 1988 and after (up to 31-12-2006)>
Subject
Count
1988
31-12-2006
Progress
Post Office
office
29
45
16
Telegraph Office
office
11
24
13
computer offices/trainings
1.Vontawi Compute in Sakollam_PaNangSuanGin
2.Will Computer in Lawibual
Facsimile
22
22
Computer telegraph
3
3
Telephone
-telephone office
office
8
29
21
-telephone line
line
3390
4519
1129
-exchange
exchange
8
18
10
-direct line
line
2431
3402
3159
-auto/manual phone
phone
2431
3402
3159
Microwave station
station
5
5
Rural telephone exchange
exchange
11
11
e-Mail/Internet
12
12
Satellite station
-VSAT
station
1
1
-MPT satellite Terminal
station
15
15
In 1988, the state has four small scale hydro-power stations
The Military Government has built another 12 diesel power stations and six new hydel power plants, helping increase the power consumption of the state.
The four new hydraulic power plants are
The Manipura Multipurpose Dam Project will be implemented in chin State. The Table informs the reader about the development of the state's electricity sector.
Development in the electric power sector of Chin State
"Comparison between period preceding 1988 and after (up to 31-12-2006)">
Subject
Count
1988
31-12-2006
Progress
Electricity consumption
unit (in million)
1.552
5.736
4.184
Maximum power
megawatt
2.000
2.217
0.217
Installed power
megawatt
2.709
5.787
3.078
Extend generating of electricity
-Hydel power plant completed
Plant
4
10
6
-Small (up to 1 megawatt)
Plant
4
10
6
-Diesel used plant
Plant
19
31
12
-Private Plant
Plant
0
99
99
"Comparison between period preceding 1988 and after (up to 31-12-2006)">
Subject
Count
1988
31-12-2006
Progress
Upgrading of industrial power Industry
-Private industry
industry
343
522
179
-Cottage industry
industry
0
2
2
-State owned industry
industry
5
9
4
. However, there are few private theological colleges in Chin state and they are:
and Mandalay
is extremely poor. Although health care is nominally free, in reality, patients have to pay for medicine and treatment, even in public clinics and hospitals. Public hospitals lack many of the basic facilities and equipment. The following is a summary of the public health system in the state.
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
in the south, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in south-west, Sagaing Division
Sagaing Division
Sagaing Region is an administrative region of Burma , located in the north-western part of the country between latitude 21° 30' north and longitude 94° 97' east...
and Magway Division
Magway Division
Magway Region is an administrative division in central Burma . Magway Region is the largest of Myanmar's seven divisions, with an area of .-Geography:...
in the east, Indian state of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
in the north and Indian state of Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
in the west. The Chin
Chin people
The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'...
ethnic group make up the majority of the state's 500,000 people.
The capital of the state is Hakha
Hakha
Hakha is the capital of Chin State in Burma. Its located in the northeast in Chin State. The vernacular name of the city was Halkha. The total area of Hakha is about . The town of Hakha, more than 6,000 feet above the sea level, is founded on a small highland plateau...
. The state is covered with mountainous region with few transportation links, Chin State is sparsely populated and remains one of the least developed areas of the country.
Early history
The Tibeto-BurmanTibeto-Burman languages
The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non-Chinese members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken thoughout the highlands of southeast Asia, as well as lowland areas in Burma ....
Chin people
Chin people
The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'...
s entered the Chin Hills some time in the first millennium AD, as part of the wider migration of Tibeto-Burman peoples into the area. Some historians speculate that the Thet people mentioned in the Burmese Chronicles might be the Chins. For much of history, sparsely populated Chin Hills were ruled by local chiefs. Political organization in the region prior to the Toungoo dynasty
Toungoo Dynasty
The Toungoo Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Burma from the mid-16th century to 1752. Its early kings Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung succeeded in reunifying the Pagan Empire for the first time since 1287, and in incorporating the Shan States for the first time...
's conquest in mid-16th century remains largely conjectural. The first recorded instance of a western kingdom believed to be near the Chin Hills is the Kingdom of Pateikkaya, a tributary to the Pagan Kingdom
Pagan Kingdom
The Pagan Kingdom or Pagan Dynasty was the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute the modern-day Burma...
in the 11th and 12th centuries. Some historians (Arthur Phayre, Tun Nyein) put Pateikkaya in eastern Bengal, thus placing the entire Chin Hills under Pagan suzerainty but others like Harvey, citing stone inscriptions, put it near eastern Chin Hills. (Burmese Chronicles report the kings of Pateikkaya as India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n though the ethnicity of the subjects is not explicitly cited.)
Feudal era
The first confirmed political entity in the region was the Shan StateShan States
The Shan States were the princely states that ruled large areas of today's Burma , Yunnan Province in China, Laos and Thailand from the late 13th century until mid-20th century...
of Kale (Kalay), founded by the Shan people who came to dominate the entire northwestern to eastern arc of Burma after the fall of Pagan Kingdom in 1287. Kale was a minor Shan state, and its authority did not extend more than its immediate surrounding area, no more than a small portion of northern Chin Hills. The minor state occasionally paid tribute to the larger Shan States of Mohnyin
Mohnyin
Mohnyin is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is the administrative center for both Mohnyin Township and Mohnyin District.Shells of different sizes were found in mass on 19 September. Those were found in apple-pie order while rooting up a tree between MohnyinDistrict Court and the Township...
and Mogaung
Mogaung
Mogaung is a town in Kachin State, Myanmar. It is situated on the Mandalay-Myitkyina railway line.-External links:* Falling Rain Genomics, Inc.* Maplandia.com...
, and ultimately became a vassal state of Burmese Ava Kingdom
Ava Kingdom
The Ava Kingdom was the dominant kingdom that ruled upper Burma from 1364 to 1555. Founded in 1364, the kingdom was the successor state to the petty kingdoms that had ruled central Burma since the collapse of Pagan Empire in the late 13th century...
in the 1370s. Starting in the 1480s, Ava began to disintegrate, and Kale was swallowed up by the Shan State of Mohnyin by the 1520s.
The entire Chin Hills came under the authority of Burmese kingdoms between 1555 and 1559 when King Bayinnaung
Bayinnaung
Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta was the third king of the Toungoo dynasty of Burma . During his 30-year reign, which has been called the "greatest explosion of human energy ever seen in Burma", Bayinnaung assembled the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, which included much of modern day...
of Toungoo Dynasty
Toungoo Dynasty
The Toungoo Dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Burma from the mid-16th century to 1752. Its early kings Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung succeeded in reunifying the Pagan Empire for the first time since 1287, and in incorporating the Shan States for the first time...
conquered all of Upper Burma and its surrounding regions—stretching from the eastern and northern Shan states to the western Chin Hills and Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
. Toungoo began to weaken in the late 17th century. By the 1730s, a resurgent Manipuri Kingdom had conquered the Kabaw Valley
Kabaw Valley
The Kabaw Valley is a highland valley in northern Burma , western Sagaing division. It is drained by the Mu River. The valley is the home of a number of ethnic minorities including the Zo, the Mizo, the Kadu and the Kanan.-History:...
from the Burmese. Kabaw valley's adjacent northern Chin Hills likely came under Manipuri suzerainty.
Burma re-exerted control over the region in the 1750s as King Alaungpaya
Alaungpaya
Alaungpaya was king of Burma from 1752 to 1760, and the founder of the Konbaung Dynasty. By his death in 1760, the former chief of a small village in Upper Burma had reunified all of Burma, subdued Manipur, recovered Lan Na, and driven out the French and the English who had given help to the...
of Konbaung dynasty
Konbaung dynasty
The Konbaung Dynasty was the last dynasty that ruled Burma from 1752 to 1885. The dynasty created the second largest empire in Burmese history, and continued the administrative reforms begun by the Toungoo dynasty, laying the foundations of modern state of Burma...
conquered Manipur in 1758 and made it a tributary to the Burmese kingdom once more. Konbaung kings conscripted many Chin levies (along with Hkamti Shans) to fight in their wars in Lower Burma, Siam
Ayutthaya kingdom
Ayutthaya was a Siamese kingdom that existed from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including the Chinese, Vietnamese , Indians, Japanese and Persians, and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French, permitting them to set up villages outside the walls of the...
, and Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
. The Chin Hills were one western region the Burmese retained after the rest of their western possessions—Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, Manipur, and Arakan—were ceded to the British after the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1824-1826. After the Second Anglo-Burmese War
Second Anglo-Burmese War
The Second Anglo-Burmese War was the second of the three wars fought between the Burmese and the British Empire during the 19th century, with the outcome of the gradual extinction of Burmese sovereignty and independence....
of 1852, the Konbaung throne's authority in the remote regions was largely nominal, with the vassals paying nominal tribute.
Colonial era
The British acquired the Chin Hills a decade after the Third Anglo-Burmese WarThird Anglo-Burmese War
The Third Anglo-Burmese War was a conflict that took place during 7–29 November 1885, with sporadic resistance and insurgency continuing into 1887. It was the final of three wars fought in the 19th century between the Burmese and the British...
of 1885. The ensuing Chin resistance to the British was suppressed only by 1896. The British administered the Chin Hills as part of Arakan Division
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
. American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
missionaries began arriving in the 1890s and by the middle of 20th century, most of the Chin people had converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
The region was the westernmost advance of the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
, which occupied the region in November 1943, in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, Chin leaders, along with Burman
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
, Shan and Kachin
Kachin people
The Kachin people are a group of ethnic groups who largely inhabit the Kachin Hills in northern Burma's Kachin State and neighbouring areas of China and India. More than half of the Kachin people identify themselves as Christians - while a significant minority follow Buddhism and some also adhere...
leaders, participated in the Panglong Conference
Panglong Conference
The Panglong Conference , held in February 1947, was an historic meeting that took place at Panglong in the Shan States in Burma between the Shan, Kachin and Chin ethnic minority leaders and Aung San, head of the interim Burmese government...
which discussed the future of an independent Union of Burma. Because of the region's heavy economic dependence on Burma Proper, Chin leaders, unlike Shan and Kachin leaders, asked only for a "special administrative division", not a full fledged state. As a result, when the 1947 Constitution of Burma
Constitution of Burma
The Constitution of Burma ) has changed several times since the country became independent from the United Kingdom. Burma's third and current constitution was published in September 2008 after a referendum.-1947 Constitution:...
granted the right of secession to states after a period of ten years after the independence, the Chin did not get a state (no right to secede). (Ironically, the Karen
Karen people
The Karen or Kayin people , are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma . The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people...
who did not even participate in the conference received a state, along with the right to secede.)
Post independence
Upon independence from the United Kingdom in 1948, Chin Hills Special Division was created out of Arakan Division, with the capital at FalamFalam, Burma
Falam is a town in north-western Burma near Burma's western border with the Indian state of Mizoram. The town was originally founded by the British in 1892, and became an important place for the British government to rule the whole Chin Hills at that time...
. On January 4, 1974, it was granted the state status and became Chin State. Today, the state has little infrastructure and remains extremely poor and undeveloped.
Administrative divisions
Chin State consisted of two districts North (now Falam) and South (now Mindat) and was further subdivided into nine townships. Falam had been the state capital since the British Colonization, but after the military coup in 1962, the junta in the 1974 reorganization shifted the state capital to Hakha. The township borders have been adjusted a couple of times, most recently in a reorganization of Falam District in 2008 where Falam Township lost area in its northeast to Tiddim Township, but gained territory from Tiddim in the northwest, extending northward as far as the developing town of Rihkhawdar (Reehkawdar) on the Indian border. In that reorganization Falam also lost a small area in its southwest back to Htlantlang Township from which it had recently been shifted.Districts and townships
- Falam DistrictFalam DistrictTedim District is a district of the Chin State/Zogam in Burma. It consists 5 townships and 515 villages. The major towns include: Chikha , Tonzang , Tiddim, Fort White, Falam and Hakha They call themselves Zomi .-Borders:...
of Northern Chin State- Falam TownshipFalam TownshipFalam Township is a township of Falam District in the Chin State of Burma . Its administrative seat is the town of Falam.Falam Township is mountainous, running east-west from the foothills above the Neyinzaya and Myittha rivers to the high peaks of the Chin Hills in the Arakan Mountain Range and...
- Hakha Township
- Thantlang Township
- Tedim (Tiddim) TownshipTiddim TownshipTedim or Tiddim Township is a township in Tedim District of the Chin State of Burma .There are 55 village-tracts and 132 villages in 2011. -External links:* map, Myanmar Information Management Unit , 6 August 2009...
- Tonzang TownshipTon Zang TownshipTon Zang Township is a township of Falam District in the Chin State of Burma .-External links:* map ID: MIMU249v1, created 06 August 2009, Myanmar Information Management Unit * Maplandia World Gazetteer...
- Falam Township
- Mindat DistrictMindat DistrictMindat District is a district of the Chin State in Myanmar. It consists of four townships and 840 villages.-Townships:The district contains the following townships:*Mindat Township*Matupi Township*Kanpetlet Township*Paletwa Township...
of Southern Chin State- Kanpetlet TownshipKanpetlet TownshipKanpetlet Township is a township of Mindat District in the Chin State of Myanmar. Its principal town is Kanpetlet.There are 26 village-tracts and 117 villages in the township, only about 13 villages have access to motor roads and the remaining over 100 villages have to rely on foot to travel from...
- Matupi (Madupi) TownshipMatupi TownshipMatupi Township is a township of Mindat District in the Chin State of Burma . Matupi is the administrative center for the township.-Ethnic groups:The Matu Chin are the predominant tribe in the area....
- Mindat TownshipMindat TownshipMindat Township is a township located in Mindat District in the Chin State of Myanmar. The township is located between latitude 21.19 and 21.47, longitude 93.23 and 94.29. The third highest peak in Myanmar, Nat Ma Taung at 3053 meters, is located here.The "Kcho" or "Cho" people are the main...
- Paletwa TownshipPaletwa TownshipPaletwa Township is a township of Mindat District in the Chin State of Myanmar.The population of it was 85,893 according to an answer in Myanmar parliament on 8 Sep 2011....
- Kanpetlet Township
Cities
- HakhaHakhaHakha is the capital of Chin State in Burma. Its located in the northeast in Chin State. The vernacular name of the city was Halkha. The total area of Hakha is about . The town of Hakha, more than 6,000 feet above the sea level, is founded on a small highland plateau...
, The Capital of Chin State - TedimTedimTedim is a town in Chin State in the northwestern part of Myanmar. The name "Tedim" was derived from a pool on the top of the hills that used to be twinkling under sun's light, therefore, called "te " and "dim " in local Paite dialect.-Early history:As a result of lack of a formal writing system...
, capital of the Northern Chin District
Geography
Nat Ma Taung (Burmese), Thuamvum (Tedim), (Mount Victoria, English)Nat Ma Taung
Nat Ma Taung , is the highest mountain in the Chin State of western Burma. Located in Kanpalet Township, Mindat District, Mount Victoria is part of the Chin Hills range, and rises to above sea level....
, 10500 feet (3,200.4 m) high, is the highest peak in Chin State and the second highest peak in Burma. Many natural watercourses flow among mountain ranges running from north to south forming a number of valleys and gorges. The state has a lot of rivers and the Manipur River
Manipur River
-See also:*List of rivers of Burma...
flows through its northern half. The Tayawbar River (Tiau River) forms much of the border with India for the northern half of the state. The Boynu River, as the Kaladan River
Kaladan River
The Kaladan River is a river in eastern Mizoram State of India, and in Chin State and Rakhine State of western Myanmar. It forms the international border between India and Burma between 22° 47′ 10" N and 22° 11′ 06" N.-Geography:The river arises in central Chin State as the Timit, 22° 49′ 28″ N ...
is known upstream from its confluence with the Tayawbar, forms the border with India for the central portion of the state. In the southwestern part of the state, the Kaladan River enters from India and flows down past Paletwa
Paletwa
Paletwa is one of the westernmost towns of Burma , in Chin State 18 kilometres from the border with Bangladesh. It is the administrative seat for Paletwa Township.-External links:*...
and exits into Rakhine State
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
. The longest water fall in Chin state is the Bungtla Waterfall near Matupi
Matupi
Matupi is a town in Chin State in western Burma , in Southeast Asia.Matupi is the second capital City, one of the townships of Chin State of West Myanmar, South-east Asia...
.
Demographics
Chin State has a population of about 518,144 and a population density of 37 persons per square mile on December 12, 2006.The Chins are made up of many clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
s, which although historically related now speak divergent languages and have different cultural and historical identities. Some consider the name Chin seems an exonym, given by the Burmese and of unclear origin. These names are justified respectively by the fact that Chin are world known for Loyalty to the Masters and were well-known for their weaving skills and have been in trade relations with the lowlands for many years. The term "Zomi" represents one dialect group who once upon a time live together in a Ciimnuai Area represents Tedim, Tonzang, Kalay, Rih, Haimual, Cikha, Tamu and Lamka people while the term "Laimi" is the most common name for Haka, Thantlang.
Even though there is no common language in Chin State, Zopau @ Zokam is used as main communication languages in the Zomi habitat area whereas Duhlien is used in most parts of Haka and Falam habitat area of the Chin State. As Hakha and Falam dialects are from Dulien dialect and 85% of the phonetic and accent are exactly the same, people from Falam can easily communicate with Hakha language and vice versa.
Chin people are called by different names such as Zomi, Lusei, Kuki,and others based on their own different dialects. Zomi is widely used for their names amongst the known-said Chin like among the Tedim, Tonzang, Cikha, Haimual, Rih, Sagaing Division, Lushai Hills, Manipur and in the lowlands of Burma.
The Chin peoples [Zomi] escaped to Burma and then moved around until they reached the high-lands of the then Zogam, now the 'Chin States', Manipur, Nagaland, Assam (all three in India), Mizoram, Bangladesh, even until the Nepal land (the Gurkha gam). Therefore, though 'Chin' is not included in their word, each tribe of Chin people has its own name, e.g. Zomi, Mizo, These terms could well be cognates, but each has its own pronunciation and sometimes its own meaning. According to the record of Zam Sian Sang, Gualnam who'd surveyed the Seasons and Population of the called Chin (Zomi) Nationalities during the years 2004-2007 with the 'Zogam Survey' Researched team, the Different combination of all Chin peoples and their populations are as follows:
1. In Sagaing Division
- Chin (Lai & Zomi) (427800 + )
- Lai (Haka, Thantlang), Zomi (Tedim, Tonzong)
- Mizo (5000 -/+ )
- Paite (2100 -/+)
- Kuki (5000 -/+ )
- Matupi (3000-/+)
- Asho (40000 -/+ ), they live mostly in the lowlands and mixed with Burmans.
2. In Chin State
- numbered 500,000 in population.
- Plain Chin (340000 + ) all along the Chin States and in India.
3. In India (Census of India 2011)
- Zomi (280000 + )
- Mizo (1000000 -/+ )
- Kuki/zomi (250000 -/+ )
No one can say the exact population of Zomi (Chin) whilst they are dispersing in rush since the past 50 years even. Besides, the number of chin in Chin State has been decreasing at a rapid rate due to migration since early 2000s for economic and political reasons. Economically, making a living is getting much harder due to rapid population increase and unsustainable agricultural practice of Slash and Burn agriculture. Politically, since early 1990s, a large number of Burmese soldiers began moving into Chin State despite the fact that there hasn't been any movement of rebellion. It is estimated that from Falam region alone, approximately 100,000 have moved to other parts of Burma and a significantly large number has gone to neighboring countries of India, Malaysia and Thailand since year 2000. From Hakha and Thantland regions, no less than 100,000 people have migrated to Malaysia, India and other parts of Burma. This phenomenon of emigration of a large number of people is true for other townships in Chin State, with the exception of Mindat, Kanpetlet and Paletwa, three of the most isolated towns in Chin State. Since early 2000, a large number of chins living and working both legally and illegally have been resettled as refugees in third countries including Australia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Netherland, Canada, United States and New Zealand with the United States taking in the largest numbers of them.
The ethnic Lai Chin use the word 'Salai' indicates 'Mr.' (Mister) and 'Mai' as 'Miss since early 1970s under the leadership of Salai. Tin Maung Oo. Though the Hakha of ethnic Chin use 'Leng' as Miss and 'Val' as Mr. The Tedim (Zomi) ethnic group use 'Tang' as 'Mr' and 'Lia' as 'Miss'. Matu use 'Mang' and 'Tuem' for (Matu woman)and 'Pu' and 'Pi', and 'Pa' and 'Nu', are used commonly for elderly Chin and Chin leaders such as Pu. Hrang Thio (famous for is courageous in the nation wide). The title of 'Pu' is a term of respect, failure to use it where it might be expected may be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. The word 'Pi' is used to address elderly Chin women. Different tribes also practice different ways in naming people.
Owing to missionaries' work over the last hundred years, a great deal of the population now identifies itself as Christian. A sizable minority, however, adheres to Theravada Buddhism and also Animism
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
.
Transport
The Government has been building many new miles of roads in the mountainous region. Earth roads have been upgraded into metalled ones, and the metaled roads to bituminous facilities. The 115 miles (185.1 km) Kalay-Falam-Haka road is already completed. Bituminous roads include- 70 miles and four furlong Gangaw-Haka road
- 102 miles Mindat-Matupi road
- 172 miles and seven furlong Haka-Matupi road
- 115 miles and one furlong Kalay-Falam-Haka road
- 53 miles long Haka-Hmandaw road is under construction and almost completed by the donation of Chin (Laimi peoples) communities around the world.
- Kyaukhtu-Mindat road linking Chin State and Magway Division
have been built.
ASEAN Highway crosses through the center of Zomi settling areas of Madalay-Kalay-Tamu-Lamka/Behiang
The sector wise upgrading of the gateways to Chin State
- Mandalay-Sagaing-Monywa-Gangaw-Haka road
- Pakokku-Pauk-Tabyin-Kyaukhtu-Mindat road
is in progress at present.
The Kyaukhtu Airport, built by Directorate of Military Engineers of the Ministry of Defence in Kyaukhtu, Saw Township, Gangaw District, Magway Division, was commissioned into service on July 10, 2004. The airport has helped develop the transport sector of southern Chin State linking Yaw and Pakokku regions in Magway Division. Cars can reach Kanpetlet from Magway (capital of Magway division) via Saw and from Kyautthu and Mindat and Matupi in southern Chin State from Pakukku via Kyaukhtu.
In 1988, the state has two over 180 feet (54.9 m) bridges:
- 270 foot Natzan Bridge in Tonzang Township
- 240 foot Lemro Bridge in Matupi Township.
The Military Government has built the 340 feet (103.6 m) Var Bridge across Manipura River on Kalay-Haka Road in Falam Township in 1998 and 480 feet (146.3 m) 'Mansuang Hlei' Bridge across River Manipura on Tiddim-Kaptel-Rih Lake road in Tiddim District in 2002. The 460 feet (140.2 m) Manhsaung Bridge is being built across Manipura River on Tiddim-Rih Lake section.
List of bridges in Chin State
Naakzang Bridge Narkzang Lei in Tonzang Township Lemro Bridge Lemro Lei in Matupi Township Var Bridge Var Lei in Falam Township Kaptel Bridge Kaptel Lei in Tiddim Township Manhsuang Bridge Mansuang Lei, or Mansuangpi Lei, or Laitui Lei crossing the Manipur River near Laitui- Vuephu Bridge Vuephu Hlei, Vuephu Due in Zotung(Rezua) Township Boinuva Bridge Biinuv hlei conect to Khuahrang village from Hakha-Matupi Road(Hakha-Matupi lam in Khuahrang khua lei.
Communication
Development in the communication sector of Chin State1.Vontawi Compute in Sakollam_PaNangSuanGin
2.Will Computer in Lawibual
Electricity
The effective utilization of land and water resources in the state has helped develop the power generation capacity of the state.In 1988, the state has four small scale hydro-power stations
- the Zarlwi in Tiddim Township
- the Daungvar in Haka Towhship
- the Ngasitvar in Falam Township
- the Paletwa in Paletwa Township.
The Military Government has built another 12 diesel power stations and six new hydel power plants, helping increase the power consumption of the state.
The four new hydraulic power plants are
- the 0.2 megawatt Namhlaung Creek plant in Matupi Township
- the 0.6 megawatt Laiva plant in Falam Township
- the 0.2 megawatt Htweehsaung plant in Tonzang Township
- the 0.2 megawatt Chichaung plant in Mindat Township.
The Manipura Multipurpose Dam Project will be implemented in chin State. The Table informs the reader about the development of the state's electricity sector.
Development in the electric power sector of Chin State
List of Hydel power plants
- Zalui 0.40 megawatt
- Dongva 0.40 megawatt
- Ngasipva 1.00 megawatt
- Paletwa 0.05 megawatt
- Nanlaungchaung 0.20megawatt
- Laiva 0.60 megawatt
- Htwihsaung 0.20 megawatt
- Chichaung 0.20 megawatt
- Thinthe 0.05 megawatt
- Linebon 0.05 megawatt
Industrial sector
Due to the facilitation of the transport and communication sectors and increase in the power generation in the state, many new private industries have emerged in the region. The state now has 522 private industires, 179 more than 343 in 1988. The number of State owned industries has now reached nine from five in the past. The Government has been striving to develop the industrial sector of the state which will become a major tea-growing region in the future.Education
According to official statistics, Chin State had only 25 high schools in 2003. The state does not have any secular colleges or universities. Students have to go outside the state to pursue higher education. The majority attend university in Tahan-Kalay, Sagaing DivisionSagaing Division
Sagaing Region is an administrative region of Burma , located in the north-western part of the country between latitude 21° 30' north and longitude 94° 97' east...
. However, there are few private theological colleges in Chin state and they are:
- Chin Christian College (CCC, Haka)
- Union Theological College (UTC, Matupi)
- Zomi Theological College (ZTC, Falam)
- Government Technology of Institute (GTI,Hakha)
- Bethel Bible College (BBC, Tedim)
- Kalay University
- Technological University (Kalay)Technological University (Kalay)Technological University is situated on the west side of Kalay-Gangaw Road, near Tharyarwady Village, Htomar village-tract, in Kalay Township, Chin State. It was upgraded to the Government Technological College on October 5, 2001...
- Computer University, Kalay
AY 2002-2003 Primary Middle High Schools 1058 83 25 Teachers 2708 818 333 Students 66,000 30,600 9900
Health care
The general state of health care in Myanmar is poor. The health care infrastructure outside of YangonYangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
and Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
is extremely poor. Although health care is nominally free, in reality, patients have to pay for medicine and treatment, even in public clinics and hospitals. Public hospitals lack many of the basic facilities and equipment. The following is a summary of the public health system in the state.
| 2002–2003 | # Hospitals | # Beds |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist hospitals | 0 | 0 |
| General hospitals with specialist services | 1 | 150 |
| General hospitals | 9 | 314 |
| Health clinics | 12 | 192 |
| Total | 22 | 656 |