Mizo Tribes North East India

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The term Mizo, meaning highlander, refers to a conglomeration of tribal communities sharing certain cultural specificities. Initially each community was eager to maintain its distinctive identity in respect of dialect, religious beliefs and social customs. But subsequently a process of integration and assimilation came into play, and there has now developed among them a common identity the Mizo. An inherent spirit of self-help was nurtured. Widespread acceptance of Christianity and a high percentage of literacy have aroused the Mizo society to move faster along the path of modernity. Mizoram-"the land of highlander" is a gentle pastoral land. An interesting tradition amongst the Mizos is the code of Ethics which revolves around tlawmngaihna, a term that means that every Mizo is duty bound to be hospitabel, kind, unselfish, and helpful to the poor and needy. The Mizo is a term of identification of several groups viz- Lushai, Pawi, Paite, Ralte, Pang, Hmar, etc. Previously believers of the good spirit pathian, the Mizo community today is greatly influenced by Christianity. Though the Mizo have accepted English as the medium of instruction, but the Mizo language is widely spoken and written in Roman script. The hill people have kept alive their rich cultural heritage, colourful customs and lively traditions. Festivals and dances of Mizo have a unique tribal flavour.

Dr. S.H.M. Rizvi, Ph. D (Delhi University) has been engaged in bio anthropological researches since 1986. His involvement in various research projects enabled him to conduct field work in the remotest areas of Western and North-Eastern India and study various tribes and communities living in the arid zone of Barmer districts of Rajasthan to human groups living in hilly inhospitable forests of Manipur bordering Burma.

Dr. Shibani Roy, Ph. D. (Delhi University) is actively engaged in field base empirical research among the Muslims of Northern and Western India besides doing field work-oriented research on tribes of Western and North-eastern India.

The natural resources of a country and its cultural heritage belongs to its people. Each individual has a right over it and they are also vested with the responsibility to understand appreciate and practice it for its conservation. Cultural heritage conceptually is a term which encompasses the entire cultural environment with landscapes, historical places, art forms, celebrations, biodiversity, collections, the traditional and continuing cultural practices, knowledge, wisdom and living experiences. All these are achieved over a long process of historic development forming the essene of a highly diversified national, regional, indigenous and local specificities which becomes an integral part of contemporary living. Thus, it is a collection of dynamic referral points and positive instrument for growth and change. Heritage along with collective memory are area based or community based which are irreplaceable and form the main bulwark for present and future development. India is a country which portrays variety of cultural norms and practices reflecting its diversity and character.

Tourists in thousands through all the six seasons flock here not for the airports, hotels, recreational facilities, Gambling havens, geographic locations, palaces, temples and the people. Each of the above mentioned aspects of tourism in India is much below the mark of world standard. Other countries have better infrastructural and logistic support for comfort of the tourists, Popularity of India in world tourism is because of its vibrant culture and still alive cultural heritage which are manifested in the mundane affairs of the people in their day to day living style; whether they are Hindu, non-Hindu or tribal. All these collectively is an aspect of life to be experienced and not only seen.

The Mizo are transborder people and inhabit Mizoram, Manipur and Assam states of India, Kale, Tamu townships, Northern and Southern Chin states of Burma besides south eastern hills of Bangladesh. They are held high in the opinion of other tribes of north-east India. The reasons are manifold. However, their achievement in field of education, their armed struggle for creation of Mizoram, swelling number of Mizo in Indian Administrative services, doctors, engineers, contractors put them apart from rest of the tribes. The Mizo groups of hymn singers, can be viewed performing before the Indian television specially during Christmas celebrations. The Mizo youth pursuing higher studies in metropolis like Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras present a sight which compel the citizens to associate these youth with countries like Japan, Korea and China. This may be due to their Mongoloid features, modern attire, different behavioural pattern, language and Christian religion which they proudly profess. A Khasi tribal youth may often be heard saying that Mizo is most advanced and developed society. Thus Mizo are not only considered advanced and developed by their cognate tribes but people of plains living in towns and cities.

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