Mizo culture

The culture of the Mizo people has been heavily influenced by Christianity during the colonial era of the British Raj and the rise of Mizo nationalism with the Mizo Insurgency of 1966-1986. Mizo culture is rooted in the arts and ways of life of Mizos in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Mizo culture has developed in plurality with historical settlements and migrations starting from Southern China to the Shan states of Burma, the Kabaw valley and the state of Mizoram under the British and Indian administrations.^[1]

Despite significant westernization of Mizo culture due to Christianity and British influence, efforts have been made to revive pre-missionary traditions such as Chapchar Kut.^[2]

The Mizo people (Mizo: Mizo hnam) are an ethnic group native to north-eastern India, western Burma (Myanmar) and eastern Bangladesh; this term covers several ethnic peoples who speak various Kuki-Chin languages. Though the term Mizo is often used to name an overall ethnicity, it is an umbrella term to denote the various tribes and clans, such as the Hmar, Ralte, Lai, Lusei etc. A number of dialects are still spoken under the umbrella of Mizo;^[3]

The history of these tribes is varied, with the largest one being the Lushai. The Lushai migrated and established dominance in the Northern Lushai hills between 1840 and 1850.The Paite are spread between Northern Mizoram and Southern Manipur, the difference is that the Paite in Central Mizoram have lost their original language as opposed to Churachandpur and North-East Mizoram. The Hmar people settled historically in the northern cities of Biate, Champhai and Vangchhia. Like the Lushai, they were composed of royal sub-clans and chiefdoms. The Maras in the South-East are known as Lackher by the Lushai.^[4] The Chakma people are split between South-West Mizoram and Chittagong tracts in Bangladesh. Unlike other clans and tribes in Mizoram, they descend from the Arakan region of Burma, use the Chakma script and follow Buddhism instead of Christianity.^[5]

Before the advent of Christian missionaries, Mizo communities believed in the primeval Mizo religion known as Lushai Animism.

The Mizo religion is structured with a Supreme God known as Pathian and his wife the Goddess Khuanu. It is accompanied by many other beings both benevolent and malevolent. Benevolent spirits include Khuavang, Pu Vana, Vanchungnula, Sakhua and Khaltu. Malevolent spirits would include Ramhuai, Hmuithla, Phung and Khawring. ^[6]

Christianity was introduced via missionaries in 1984 via the Arthington Aborigines Mission. It marked the beginning of a cultural transformation in Mizoram through education and evangelisation. A Mizo alphabet was established in Roman script to allow the Mizo language to be written down. The missionaries also opened the first schools in Mizoram, which worked towards translating various gospels. The establishment of a Baptist Church under the Baptist Missionary Society of London expanded access to education and healthcare services.

One of the cultural symbols linked to Mizoram's Christian religion is the non-denominational Solomon's Temple which serves as a tourist attraction. The temple has been under construction for 20 years since the laying of its foundations in 1996 before inaugurating its opening in December 2017.^[7][8][9]

The Bnei Menashe also known as Shinlung are a community of Indian jews from the northeastern provinces. The movement was established in 1951 after a tribal leader had a dream of being one of the lost tribes of Israel and embracing the ideas of being Jews. Members of the Bnei Menashe mainly consist of Chin, Kuki and Mizo people. As a result of adopting Judaism, a significant number of approximately 5,000 of their 10,000 members have moved to Israel to continue their doctrine.^[10]

In 2005, the Shavei Israel organisation and the local council of Kiryat Arba supported the Bnei Menashe to open its first community centre in Israel. Several synagogues have been subsequently built in Mizoram, Manipur and other areas, including a mikveh (ritual bath) in Mizoram and Manipur with the guidance of Israeli rabbis.^[11]

Mizo folklore and mythology are varied and diverse across the several clans and tribes in the state. It ranges from stories of natural wonders and landscapes to individuals revered through oral legend. Several places in Mizoram often have a mythological story, including Kungawrhi puk, Sibuta Lung, Phulpui Grave and Chhingpui Memorial.^[12]

The origin myth of the Mizo people describes the creation of the natural world by the Goddess Khuazingnu. The story recounts how a representative couple of each human community and animal species were placed inside a cave sealed with the rock known as Chhinglung. The rock was lifted and the entrance was unsealed by Goddess Khuazingnu to repopulate the Earth. All the clans, tribes and different people exited this way until the Ralte clan exited with great noise. Due to this noise the Chhinglung rock was placed back and sealed. This also led to the coining of "Ralte bengchheng" meaning noisy/rowdy Ralte.^[13][14]

Mizo is the official language of Mizoram, along with English. Mizo language, or Mizo ṭawng, is a language belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages, spoken natively by the Mizo people in Mizoram states of India and Chin State in Burma.^[15]

Mizo ṭawng is a tonal language. It consists of four tones, a high tone, a low tone, a rising tone and a falling tone for a syllable to be expressed in four different meanings.^[16]

Restraints on vocabulary have also introduced many English words into the language. Words for objects, professions and other entities prefacing Mizo culture after the impact of Westernization are borrowed from English directly. As English is also an official language of Mizoram, established with the onset of Christianity, it is widespread in Mizoram and easy to integrate.^[17]

Mizo literature is the literature written in Mizo ṭawng, the principal language of the Mizo peoples, which has both written and oral traditions. It has undergone a considerable change in the 20th century. The language developed mainly from the Lushai language, with significant influence from Pawi language, Paite language and Hmar language, especially at the literary level.^[18]

A genre unique to Mizo history and culture is that of rambuai literature. Rambuai literature in Mizo means 'Troubled Land'. This is a reference to all poetry, songs and literature associated with the Mizo Insurgency 1966-1986.^[19] Rambuai literature normally deals with the social and cultural traumas associated with the era such as sexual violence, air attacks, village groupings and curfews.^[20]

To honour the contributions of Mizo poets and writers, the Mizo Hlakungpui Mual (Mizo Poets' Square) was established in 1986. The Committee nominates memorials for poets with exceptional contributions to Mizo culture and writers with 3-4 books with prolonged influence on Mizo culture. Four phases of monuments have been erected, totalling 36 notable literature individuals memorialized.^[21]

Mizo music consists of three periods, namely Pipute Hla of pre-missionary era music, Sakhaw thar hla music developed within the missionary era, and Tunlai hlate of the contemporary era.^[22]

Mizo folk music consists of vocals (singing) accompanied by traditional drums, gong and other native percussion instruments.^[24] Traditional Mizo songs are classified for different purposes. Dar hla were songs accompanied by the Dar (traditional Mizo gong). These songs tended to use simple lyrics to accompany the gongs. Hlado were songs associated with warriors to hunt and celebrate victory upon returning to their villages. Similarly Bawh Hla is sung by warriors upon successful war or raids that lead to the headhunting of enemies. Thiam Hla were religious songs taught in private to priests through oral teaching. They would be used for medicinal purposes, animal sacrifices or rituals involving the spirit world.^{[22] [25]}

Mizo music began to diverge from its traditional ways with the introduction of Christianity and the changes to Mizo culture. The folk music environment transitioned into hymns, gospels and choir instead. Many Mizo songs became direct translations of British English hymns incorporating worship. Parallel to the impact of Christianity on Mizo music, it also led to a new genre known as Hnam hla. This genre focussed on songs and music based around nationalism. It was significant from the early 20th century to the creation of the Mizo Union and the Mizo Insurgency of 1966-1986. Notable composers of Hnam hla are known as Rokunga and include, Laltanpuia, Kaphleia and Captain L.Z Sailo whose songs rally for solidarity and connection to the land.^[22]

Mizo people have a number of dances which are accompanied with few musical instrument like the gong and drum. The different dances of Mizoram are Cheraw dance, Khuallam, Chheihlam, Chailam, Tlanglam, Sarlamkai and Chawnglaizawn.^[26]

Mizoram shares characteristics to other regions of Northeast India and North India. The staple food of most of the Mizo people is rice, with meat and vegetables served on the side, ranging from the homely bai, a simple vegetable stew, non veg stew with sesame, garlic, onion and herbs.^[27]