Mizo
Encyclopedia
The Mizo people are linguistically of the Kuki peoples native to north-eastern India
, western Burma (Myanmar) including Tahan and eastern Bangladesh
; who speak the Mizo language
. 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.
(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).
(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
.
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.
: Tuikuk), and the Chakma (Mizo
: Takam).
. 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.
, 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
.
, 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.
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.
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.
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
North-East India
Northeast India refers to the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States, Sikkim, and parts of North Bengal...
, western Burma (Myanmar) including Tahan and eastern 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...
; who speak the Mizo language
Mizo language
The Mizo language is natively spoken by Mizo people in Mizoram, a state in the Indian Union; Chin State of Burma and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The language is also known as Lushai , as Lusei people are the first clan who have an external exposure...
. The Mizo are recognised as Scheduled Tribe under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
.
The present 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...
(literally "Mizoland") was called the Lushai Hills
Lushai hills
The Lushai Hills are part of the Patkai range in Mizoram and partially in Tripura, India.-Flora & Fauna:The hills are for the most part covered with dense bamboo jungle and rank undergrowth; but in the eastern portion, owing probably to a smaller rainfall, open grass-covered slopes are found, with...
and was a district of 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...
, before it became a Union Territory and afterwards a full-fledged state. The Lushai
Lushai
The Lusei people are one of the eleven tribes of the Mizo people, native to Mizoram in Northeast India, Chin Hills in western Myanmar and Chittagong Hill Tracts of eastern Bangladesh.-The name:...
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
Lushai
The Lusei people are one of the eleven tribes of the Mizo people, native to Mizoram in Northeast India, Chin Hills in western Myanmar and Chittagong Hill Tracts of eastern Bangladesh.-The name:...
, the Ralte
Ralte
The Ralte tribe is found scattered in the Lushai villages to the north of Aizawl, India. About 200 years ago the Raltes lived mostly near Champhai. Mangkhaia was an important Ralte chief there. He was killed in course of events following his clash with a Lushai chief. Mangkhaia's memorial stone has...
, the Hmar
Hmar
Hmar is the name of one of the numerous mizo/kuki/chin tribes of India, spread over a large area in the northeast. The Hmars belong to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of tribes, and are recognised as Scheduled Tribe under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India. Literally, Hmar means North or...
, the Paite
Paite
The Paites are one of the constituting tribes of the Zomi who inhabit Burma, India and Bangladesh. The word paite means " a group of people marching " or 'Walkers' in a word,. The Paites are a recognised scheduled tribe in Manipur as well as in Mizoram. The Paites concentrated in Manipur, a...
, the Mara
Mara people
The Mara people are a recognised scheduled tribe in India, native to northeastern India, primarily in the Mara Autonomous District Council of the state of Mizoram, where they form the majority of the population. Significant numbers of Maras are also found living south-eastern part of Burma, in Chin...
, and the Pawi. Their languages (of which the largest is Lusei Duhlian dialect) belong to the Tibeto-Burman
Tibeto-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 ....
, and are closely related to those of the Chins in the adjacent Chin State
Chin State
Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The 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...
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 ChakmaChakma people
The Chakmas , also known as the Changhma , are a community that inhabits the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and the North-East India. The Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, making up more than half the tribal population. Chakmas are divided into 46 clans or...
(Mizo
Mizo language
The Mizo language is natively spoken by Mizo people in Mizoram, a state in the Indian Union; Chin State of Burma and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The language is also known as Lushai , as Lusei people are the first clan who have an external exposure...
: 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 PresbyterianMizoram Presbyterian Church
Mizoram Presbyterian Church is the largest Church in Mizoram state in Northeast India. It is one of the constituent bodies of a larger denomination Presbyterian Church of India which has its headquarters in Shillong, Meghalaya in Northeast India. Mizoram Synod, as it is known, is one of the three...
(majority), Baptist
Baptist Church of Mizoram
Baptist Church of Mizoram, abbreviated BCM is a Protestant denomination of India and the second biggest Church in Mizoram state in Northeast India....
, The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
, Seventh-day Adventist
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, Evangelical Church of Maraland
Evangelical Church of Maraland
Evangelical Church of Maraland is a Church in southern Mizoram in Northeast India. It was founded by English missionary Rev. & Mrs Reginald Arthur Lorrain in 1907. It is the largest Church among Mara people. It is one of the three Mizoram Churches pioneered by English Missionaries in the 19th century...
(ECM), Congregational Church of India (Maraland) in the southern district of Saiha
Saiha
Saiha or Siaha is a census town in Saiha district in the Indian north-eastern state of Mizoram. It is the Headquarters of the Mara Autonomous District Council, one of the three autonomous district councils within Mizoram. It is located in the South Central part of the state...
, Roman Catholic and Pentecostal. Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
also has a good number of members. In recent generations a small group of Mizo have claimed themselves as Jews; see Bnei Menashe
Bnei Menashe
The Bnei Menashe are a group of more than 9,000 people from India's North-Eastern border states of Manipur and Mizoram who claim descent from one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. The claim appeared after a Pentecostalist dreamt in 1951 that his people's pre-Christian religion was Judaism and that...
.
Historical Perspective
During the later part of the British rule, the people in Lushai Hills as well as in ManipurManipur
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...
Hills felt that the British administration
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
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
Mizo Union
Mizo Union, a political party in Mizoram, north-eastern India. Founded on April 6, 1946 as the Mizo Common People's Union. At the time of Indian independence in 1947 Mizo Union was the major political force in the Lushai Hills...
, 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
Chakma people
The Chakmas , also known as the Changhma , are a community that inhabits the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and the North-East India. The Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, making up more than half the tribal population. Chakmas are divided into 46 clans or...
community wanted to be part of the Indian Union which could be materialized only partially as the stretch bordering then East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
, 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.
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 (MizoMizo language
The Mizo language is natively spoken by Mizo people in Mizoram, a state in the Indian Union; Chin State of Burma and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The language is also known as Lushai , as Lusei people are the first clan who have an external exposure...
: Tuikuk), and the Chakma (Mizo
Mizo language
The Mizo language is natively spoken by Mizo people in Mizoram, a state in the Indian Union; Chin State of Burma and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The language is also known as Lushai , as Lusei people are the first clan who have an external exposure...
: 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 IndiaConstitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
. Lawngtlai was created as the Headquarters of Lai Autonomous District Council
Lai Autonomous District Council
Lai Autonomous District Council is one of the three Autonomous District Councils in Mizoram state in North-east India. It is an Autonomous District Council for ethnic Lai people earlier known as Pawi, living in South-eastern Mizoram bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh. The L.A.D.C. has its...
. 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
MaraMara people
The Mara people are a recognised scheduled tribe in India, native to northeastern India, primarily in the Mara Autonomous District Council of the state of Mizoram, where they form the majority of the population. Significant numbers of Maras are also found living south-eastern part of Burma, in Chin...
, earlier known as Lakher, is the predominant community of the southeastern district of Saiha
Saiha
Saiha or Siaha is a census town in Saiha district in the Indian north-eastern state of Mizoram. It is the Headquarters of the Mara Autonomous District Council, one of the three autonomous district councils within Mizoram. It is located in the South Central part of the state...
. 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
Mara Autonomous District Council
Mara Autonomous District Council is one of the three Autonomous District Councils within Mizoram state of Union India. Primarily, an autonomous administrative government meant for the Mara people living in the state. It is situated in the southern tip of Mizoram state bordering Myanmar...
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
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, 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
Mizo language
The Mizo language is natively spoken by Mizo people in Mizoram, a state in the Indian Union; Chin State of Burma and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The language is also known as Lushai , as Lusei people are the first clan who have an external exposure...
.
Hmar
Hmar people are amongst the second Mizo tribes to have entered Mizoram. This is evident from the names of villages and towns (Ţhiak, Zote, Khawbung, KhawzawlKhawzawl
Khawzawl is a census town in Champhai district in the Indian state of Mizoram.It was announced as a district capital of Mizoram since August 2008-Demographics:...
, 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
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
. In 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...
, 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
Ralte
The Ralte tribe is found scattered in the Lushai villages to the north of Aizawl, India. About 200 years ago the Raltes lived mostly near Champhai. Mangkhaia was an important Ralte chief there. He was killed in course of events following his clash with a Lushai chief. Mangkhaia's memorial stone has...
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 MizoramMizoram
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...
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
Aizawl
Aizawl is the capital of the state of Mizoram in India. With a resident population 228,280 , it is the largest city within the state. It is also the center of all important government offices, state assembly house and civil secretariat...
, due to the feeling that the involvement of the Assam Government during the mautam famine was unsatisfactory. The introduction of Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
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
March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising
The March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising was a revolt against the Government of India, aimed at establishing a sovereign state for the Mizos. On 1 March 1966, the Mizo National Front made a declaration of independence, after launching coordinated attacks on the Government offices and security...
, resulting in the attack of the military installations in Aizawl, Lunglei
Lunglei
Lunglei is a town, situated in the south-central part of Mizoram state, northeastern India. Lunglei, sometimes spelled Lungleh, literally meaning 'bridge of rock' got its name from a bridge like rock found in the riverine area around Nghasih - a small tributary of the river Tlawng...
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
Pu Laldenga
Pu Laldenga was Chief Minister of Mizoram state in North-eastern India from 1986 till 1988. Prior to that he had led the secessionist Mizo National Front from 1960 until its disbanding following Mizo accord with Rajiv Gandhi in 1986.-Early years:...
, the President of Mizo National Front
Mizo National Front
Mizo National Front is a regional political party in Mizoram, India. MNF emerged out of the Mizo National Famine Front, which was formed by Pu Laldenga to protest against the inaction of the Indian central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of the Assam state in 1959. It...
, 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 per cent literacy, the second highest in Indian states, Mizoram is now leading towards the spread of educationEducation
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
in a substantial manner, the recognition of Mizo Ţawng
Mizo language
The Mizo language is natively spoken by Mizo people in Mizoram, a state in the Indian Union; Chin State of Burma and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The language is also known as Lushai , as Lusei people are the first clan who have an external exposure...
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
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
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
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
. Due to the fear of being assimilated
Cultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
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 MizoramMizoram
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...
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
Government of Mizoram
The Government of Mizoram also known as the State Government of Mizoram, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Mizoram and its 8 districts...
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
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