MIZORAM
The origin of the Mizos, like those of many other tribes
in the North Eastern India is shrouded in mystery. The generally accepted as
part of a great Mongoloid wave of migration from China and later moved out
to India to their present habitat.
It is possible that the Mizos came from Shinlung or Chhinlungsan located on
the banks of the river Yalung in China. They first settled in the Shan State
and moved on to Kabaw Valley to Khampat and then to the Chin Hills in the
middle of the 16th century.
The earliest Mizos who migrated to India were known as Kukis, the second
batch of immigrants were called New Kukis. The Lushais were the last of the
Mizo tribes migrate to India. The Mizo history in the 18th and 19th Century
is marked by many instances of tribal raids and retaliatory expeditions of
security. Mizo Hills were formally declared as part of the British-India by
a proclamation in 1895. North and south hills were united into Lushai Hills
district in 1898 with Aizawl as its headquarters.
The process of the consolidated of the British administration in tribal
dominated area in Assam stated in 1919 when Lushai Hills along with some
other hill districts was declared a Backward Tract under government of India
Act. The tribal districts of Assam including Lushai Hills were declared
Excluded Area in 1935.
It was during the British regime that a political awakening among the Mizos
in Lushai Hills started taking shape the first political party, the Mizo
Common People's Union was formed on 9th April 1946. The Party was later
renamed as Mizo Union. As the day of Independence drew nearer, the
Constituent Assembly of India set up and Advisory Committee to deal with
matters relating to the minorities and the tribals. A sub-Committee, under
the chairmanship of Gopinath Bordoloi was formed to advise the Constituent
Assembly on the tribal affairs in the North East. The Mizo Union submitted a
resolution of this Sub-committee demanding inclusion of all Mizo inhabited
areas adjacent to Lushai Hills. However, a new party called the United Mizo
Freedom (UMFO) came up to demand that Lushai Hills join Burma after
Independence.
Following the Bordoloi Sub-Committee's suggestion, a certain amount of
autonomy was accepted by the Government and enshrined in the Six Schedule of
the constitution. The Lushai Hills Autonomous District Council came into
being in 1952 followed by the formation of these bodies led to the abolition
of chieftanship in the Mizo society.
The autonomy however met the aspirations of the Mizos only partially.
Representatives of the District Council and the Mizo Union pleaded with the
States Reorganization Commission (SRC) in 1954 for integrated the Mizo-dominated
areas of Tripura and Manipur with their District Council in Assam.
The tribal leaders in the North East were laboriously unhappy with the SRC
Recommendation s : They met in Aizawl in 1955 and formed a new political
party, Eastern India Union (EITU) and raised demand for a separate state
comprising of all the hill districts of Assam. The Mizo Union split and the
breakaway faction joined the EITU. By this time, the UMFO also joined the
EITU and then understanding of the Hill problems by the Chuliha Ministry,
the demand for a separate Hill state by EITU was kept in abeyance.
Places of Interest
There are quite a number of places in Mizoram which may be described as
'must see' for tourist sports, anyone wishing to see a little more than the
conventional tourist sports, anyone interests to know about the local
culture and traditions is advised/expected to to do /visit some of the
Mizoram's historic memorials and fabled caves scattered all over the State.
Traveling in Mizoram, not unlike in any other mountainous regions, is pain
staking and little hazardous at times, but it has its own rewards.
Blue Mountain: The Highest peak in Mizoram, The Blue Mountain (Phawngpui) is
situated in Chhimtuipui district overlooking the bend of the river Koldyne (Chhimtuipui)
close on the state's border with Myanmar. The peak 2,157 metre in height and
encircled by bamboo groves at the top where there is a level ground of about
200 hectares, offers a grand view of the height hills and the meandering
undulated valleys. The woods around are home to various species of beautiful
and rare flora and fauna.
Pukzing Cave: The largest cave in Mizoram, it is situated at Pukzing village
near Marpara in the district of Aizawl district (Mamit). Legend has it that
cave was carved out of the hills with the help of only a hair pin by a very
strong man called Mualzavata
Milu Puk: In the Mizo language, puk means a cave. Situated near Mamte
village over 100 kms, from Lunglei town, the Milu Puk, which is a large
cave, was found many years ago to contain heaps of human skeleton.
Lamsial Puk: Sitiuated near Farkawn village in Aizawl (Champhai) district,
the cave as a silent testimony to a battle between two neighboring villages
in which many lost their lives. The bodies of the fighters from village
Lamsial are said to have been kept in the cave.
Kungawrhi Puk: Another cave in Aizawl district, it is situated on a hill
between Farkawn and Vaphai Villages. According to the folktales, a beautiful
young girl by the name of Kungawrhi was abducted and kept confined in the
forlorn cave by some evil spirits when she was on her way to her husband's
village. Kungawrhi, however, was later rescued by her husband from the
prison of the spirits.
Sibuta Lung: Erected about three hundreds years ago by a tribal chief, this
memorial stone is named after him. The memorial offer a story of jilted love
and lust for revenge. Having been rejected by a girl he fell headlong in
love with, Sibuta went mad for revenge and decided to raise a memorial to
himself in a manner which displayed an insane mind. A huge rock awash with
the blood of three people sacrificed by Sibuta was carried over a distance
of 10 km from the Tlawng river. Darlalpuii, a beautiful young girl, was
crushed alive in a pit dug to erect the mausoleum. The memorial was raised
over Darlai who lost her life under weight of the stone.
Phulpui Grave: A tale of love and tragedy also hangs by this grave located
at Phulpui village in Aizawl District. Tualvungi, a raging beauty in her
time, was married to Zawlpala, the Phulpui chief. She was later forced by
circumstances to marry Phuntia, chief of another village. But Tualvungi
could not forget her first love. She came to Phulpui years after Zawlpala's
death, hah a pit dug by the side of his grave and persuaded an old woman to
kill and bury there.
Chhingpuii Memorial: Raised to the memory of a young woman called Chhingpuii
who was exceedingly beautiful, it is situated between Baktawng and
Chhingchhip villages on the Aizawl - Lunglei Road. Chhingpuii, born to an
aristocratic family, selected Kaptluanga as her husband from among her many
suitors. But her happiness was short-lived, as a war broke out afterwards.
Chhingpuii was abducted and killed. A grief-stricken Kaptluanga took his own
life. The stone memorial reminds one of the legendary love story of
Chhingpuii and Kaptluanga.
Mangkhai Lung: A large memorial stone, it was erected about three hundred
years ago at Champhai to the memory of a well-known Ralte chief, Mangkhaia.
Budha's Image: An engraved image of Lord Buddha, with those of dancing girls
on either side, was found at a site near Mualcheng Village about 50 km from
Lunglei town. The site also has another stone slab on which some human
footmarks and a few implements like spearhead and Dao are engraved. The area
is close to the Chittagong Hill Tracts which was under which the Buddhist
influence a few centuries ago. It is assumed that some visiting Buddhists
from the Hill Tracts were responsible for the Buddha engraving.
Suangpuilawn Inscriptions: A stone slab lie by a stream at Suangpuilawn
village in Aizawl district with strange words inscribed on it. The
inscription remain to be deciphered till date. However, it is believed that
the inscription were done by some people who inhabited the area in ancient
times.
Thangliana Lung: Captian T.H.Lewin was one of the first Englishmen to come
to Mizoram. The District Commissioner of the Chittagong Hills Tracts, who
entered Mizoram by way of Demagiri (Tlabung) in 1865, became so popular with
the local tribesmen that as a mark of respect, he was called Thangliana
which meant 'greatly famous'. He lived with the Mizos for nine years and
authored the first Lushai book. His memorial stone at Demagiri remains as
evidence of the extent of his popularity with the Mizos. |