Tedim
Encyclopedia
Tedim is a town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in 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...
in the northwestern part of Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. 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 (bright, shine)" and "dim (twinkling, sparkling)" in local Paite dialect.
Early history
As a result of lack of a formal writing systemWriting system
A writing system is a symbolic system used to represent elements or statements expressible in language.-General properties:Writing systems are distinguished from other possible symbolic communication systems in that the reader must usually understand something of the associated spoken language to...
in the past, the story of Tedim mostly depends on oral tradition
Oral tradition
Oral tradition and oral lore is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another. The messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants...
s. The first establishment of Tedim is ascribed to Gui Mang II, a powerful prince from the then ruling Guite
Guite
For other uses of the name "Guite" outside of this family group, see Guite .Guite is the name of a major family-group among the Zomi, also known as Chins in Myanmar and Paite in India. Depending on local pronunciation, the clan was also called differently such as Nguite, Vuite, and was also...
family in the region (c. 1600).
However, due to the untimely death of Gui Lun (the fifth generation from Gui Mang II), Tedim was deserted for two generations. By the time of Pum Go, Tedim was reestablished as the political base of the Guite family. At the time of Mang Suum II, son of Pum Go, the allied force of the Pawihangs began their advance in the region and attacked Tedim. Tedim was again deserted by many, though some local residents survived under the leadership of Mang Gin from the Hatlang family. In 1840, in order to secure peace, the remaining citizens invited the leadership of Kam Hau of Mualbem, of the emerging Sukte family, since they had good military and political ties with the Zahau family of the Pawis.
When British rule began in 1824, Tedim was chosen as the local residence for the district officer.
Geography
The geography is unique in its shape and slopes, and the climate is pleasant, since is lies on the Tropic of Cancer. There are three seasons: summer, winter, and autumn.The ranges of Hills of Thangmual include Kennedy's Peak, Lunglenkawl, the Rih Bual, the Hausapi, the Gullu Mual, the Zangmualli, the Tuikangpi, the Suangsuang, and the Lentangmual. There are dams, caves, peaks, and other attractions, including Lennupa Mual, the Twin Fairy Hill, and historic sites.
Demography, etymology and language
The native settlers were warriors and mighty fighters from ancient times. Sing Kho Khai, a native writer, writes that the people living in the Tedim region were referred to as 'Paite' by the Lushai, Falam Pawi, and other neighboring tribes. He states that it is possible that the term Paite could have been used by the people themselves even before Ciimnuai was founded by their chiefs. Ciimnuai was a place founded by the Zo people long before the present Tedim township was established by Gui Mang II.The name Tedim is the official name used for the town; but the written Tiddim,Thiddim, or Chindits (used during World War I and II) have also been used in the past. The local people prefer to call the town "Tedim" rather than "Tiddim" of the Burmese based pronunciation.
The Tedim language is the most common version spoken and understood by the nearby ethnicities including the Kuki (Thados), the Manipur (Meitei and Paite), the Lusei (Mizo), the Laimi (Khalkha or Hakha and Thangtlang), and the Falam (Pawite).
Tedimkam or Tedimpau is the major language of the whole Chin or Zomi, Kuki, Mizo, Manipur, Paite, and Pawite tribes of people. It is not a mere dialect such as the Siyin or Sihzang or Saizangpau, but it covers the following 12 dialects: (1) Sizang, (2) Khuano (2) Saizang, (4) Zo, (5) Teizang, (6) Phaileng, (7) Paihte, (8) Thahdo (In Myanmar), (9) Losau, (10) Vaiphei, (11) Dim and (12) the Simte. Therefore it is unique among other spoken languages in the Chin State.
It is estimated that around 550,000 people speak this dialect and arguably is next only to Lusei (Mizo) in terms of number of speakers among the Zo people, who use 50 different dialects. Lusei is now spoken by close to 600,000 people.
Tedim is the only language of the Zo languages that has the word literature in its vocabulary. It is the word "lai" which also means, apart from literature and paper, middle or center.
The Zomi
Zomi
Zomi is the name of a major tribe found in various parts of South and South East Asia. The term Zomi meaning, 'Zo People' is derived from the generic name 'Zo', the progenitor of the Zomi. They are found in northwestern Myanmar, northeastern India and Bangladesh. Anthropologists classify them as...
includes these subgroups: Tedim, Pawite (Falam namte), Laizo (Laimite), NuaiZo, Zo Phei, Lusuang (Luseite), Paihte (Simte), Thahdo (Kuki), and Meitei (Manipurte).
The people who live in the Tedim area or Tedim Township call themselves Tedimmi. The residents of the town of Tedim are called Tedimte. The language spoken in the area is called Tedimpau or Tedimkam, the land and space area it covers is called Tedimgam or Tedim Uksung. The governor and or rulers are called Tedim Uk, or Ukpi, the styles and fashion they use and the way they live called Tedimdan,Tedimzia and Tedim zia leh tong.
Tedim, Tiddim, Ciimnuai
Languages spoken by the Tedim people are as follows:-
- Tedimpau
- Dimpau
- Khuanopau
- Losaupau
- Paihtepau
- Phailengpau
- Teizangpau
- Vaipheipau
- Vangtehpau
- Saizangpau
- Sihzangpau
- Zopau
History and legend
Here is a commemorative song said to be composed by Pum Go concerning the growing prosperity in Tedim:- Dimtui vang khua, khua munnuam aw, sial leh sawm taang a tunna,
- Sial leh sawm taang a tunna, siing tan’ lam bang eng nah e;
- Taang silsial e, taang silsial e, Dimtui vangkhua taang silsial e,
- Dimtui vang khua taang silsial e, kawi tawh laukha ka hualna (Pumgo: c. early 18th century).
(Translation)
- Very comfortable place is my native Dimtui (a poetic attribution to Tedim), where all my dreams fulfilled,
- Where all my dreams fulfilled, that everyone envies of my native;
- It's shining, yes, shining, my native Dimtui is shining modestly,
- My native Dimtui is shining modestly, where I made lasting vow to my beloved (dear wife).
The Tedimmi have been well known for their skills in black magic, ritual healing, white magic, witchcraft, occult, alchemy, and hunting, since ancient times. There is a legend and eye-witnesses that say a Wicca Pu-Ngul Tuan (the Father of Pu-Khampi) from Anlangh once stopped an avalanche on Mount Hiangtaam near his home village with his wiccan power.
Current leadership
Under the capable leadership of Kam Hau, Tedim became a safe place, assuming the position of commercial and political center of the region.Notable people from Tedim Township
- Pu Thuam Hang, the first Christian convert among people from Chin StateChin StateChin 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...
, Burma - Dr. Vum Khaw Hau, the first person from Zomi to serve as Ambassador
- Colonel Khen Za Mung
- Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Tuang Za Khai - Pu Lun Pum, Minister of Land Nationalization; the first among Zomi
- Rev.The ReverendThe Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. The Reverend is correctly called a style but is often and in some dictionaries called a...
DrDoctor (title)Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
Kam Khaw Thang; translated the Tedim Bible from English version - Rev.The ReverendThe Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. The Reverend is correctly called a style but is often and in some dictionaries called a...
DrDoctor (title)Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
Simon Pau Khan En; the first person from the Zomi to hold the position of the General Secretary of Myanmar Baptist Convention & Principal of Myanmar Institute of Theology - Prof Thang Za Tuan; Deputy Director General, Ministry of Education, Union of Myanmar