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The Mizo people (Mizo: Mizo hnam) are an ethnic group of people, native to north-eastern India, western Myanmar (Burma) and eastern Bangladesh; who speak Mizo language. Mizo^[1] is the name of a tribe in India, and are recognised as Scheduled Tribe under the 6th Scheduled of the Constitution of India.

The present state of Mizoram^[2] 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 people were the first clan to have an external exposure and hence the people are 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 clan names such as the Lushai, the Ralte, the Hmar, the Khiangte, the Paite, the Mara people, and the Pawi. Their languages (of which the largest is Duhlian dialect) belong to the Tibeto-Burman, and are closely related to those of the Chin in the adjacent Chin State of Myanmar, as well as those of the Nagas, Kukis and others.

[edit] The Demography

Sandwiched between Myanmar in the east and south and Bangladesh in the west with a total of 630 miles, the place is inhabited by the Kuki-Chin linguistic group of the Tibeto-Burman sub-family and the minority Chakma 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 group 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).

[edit] 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 denominations are Presbyterian[1] (majority), Baptist[2], Salvation Army, Seventh-day Adventist[3], Evangelical Church of Maraland (ECM), Congregational Church of India (Maraland) in the southern district of Saiha Roman Catholic,Pentecostal and Jehovah's Witnesses. In fact, there is a Mizo language edition of the Watchtower, the primary magazine of Jehovah's Witnesses. In recent generations a small group of Mizo have claimed themselves as Jews; see Bnei Menashe.

[edit] Historical Perspective

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

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 the country, the secessionist group in MCPU favoured 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^[3].

[edit] Sociolinguistic Mosaic

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

[edit] Lai/ Pawih

With the promulgation of the constitution as a Sovereign Democratic Republic in 1950, the Lai—a semi-nomadic migratory community—have been given constitutional safeguards by granting them an autonomous Lai Regional Council under the sixth schedule of the Indian constitution. Lawngtlai was created as the Headquaters of Lai Autonomous District Council. Their language has been strictly maintained in the community ang even in their education. Maintenance of language as a symbol of identity has been inculcated up to Middle school atandard. 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.

[edit] Mara

Mara, earlier known as Lakher, is the predominant community of the southeastern district of Siaha. The demand for a separate Lakher hill 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.

[edit] Hmar

Hmar^[4][5] people are amongst the second^[6] Mizo clan to have entered Mizoram. This is evident from the names of villages and towns (Ţhiak, Zote, Khawbung, Khawzawl, etc. which are literally names of Hmar sub-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. But the partially assimilated Hmars, while identifying themselves as Mizo, are at the same time aware of their distinct identity, traditions, customs and language. It is among this group of partially assimilated Hmar that the search for a separate identity gained momentum.

[edit] Politico-Linguistic Scenario

Consequent to independence, the change in administrative set up of Mizoram led to an anti-chief movement. The agitation brought forward the general mass's feeling against the autocratic chiefs and that of the Mizo union's support. In 1955 the demand regarding the formation of a separate hill state was put forward in a tribal leader's meeting in Aizawl. 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 insurgency that took place in 1966 resulting in the attack of the installations in Aizawl and Lunglei. Mizoram was declared Union Territory on 21 January 1972. The whole atmosphere was still surcharged with the feelings of anti non-Mizo attitude. Mr. Laldenga, the MNF president, signed peace accord in 1986 with the government of India regarding certain issues. 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 20 February 1987.

[edit] Present demand for Inclusion in 8th Schedule

Mizoram is now leading towards the spread of education in a substantial manner, the recognition of Mizo Ţawng in the 8th Schedule of the Indian constitution is an undercurrent demand that is evident in various aspects of social and political life.

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

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

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

[edit] Note

Though the term Mizo is often used to name a nation, it should be noted that it is an umbrella term to denote the various tribes/clans who share lots of similarities. Meanwhile, it is important to know that the term Mizo was coined only recently (middle of 19th century) and it does not have a language as such which can be particularised as Mizo. A number of languages/dialects are still spoken under the umbrella of MIZO; they are Lusei (a dialect of the Lusei clan, which is an official language of Mizoram and a lingua franca of Kuki-Chin), Hmar, Paite, Thadou-Kuki, a sub-clan of Hmar clan like the Ţhieks who still speak their own dialect, Mara to name a few.

It is important that these clans under Mizo tribe be highlighted and documented as they are to safeguard from assimilation by the more popular wave of Western culture/modernisation.

But, contrary to the above statement regarding the term Mizo, the recent research work^{[citation needed]} 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/tribe which may have an ancient origin somewhere in Central Asia, and comprising 11 clans - they are Aso, Chho, Halam, Hmar, Lai (Pawi), Lusei, Mara, Miu-Khumi, Paite (Zomi), Ralte and Thado (Kuki). Each of them has numerous sub-clans, (e.g. Sailo, Chhakchhuak, Kawlni, Khupchawng, Ţhiak, Chawngthu, etc.). Again, these sub-clans have at least five of its own sub-sub-clan.

Till today, Mizo nation is under study by lots of historians - inside and outside their territory.

[edit] References

Other sources:

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

[edit] 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