Tribes of Mizoram

A major chunk of the State population belongs to the Kuki Chin group of Tibeto-Burman branch of Indo-Mongoloid race. Through the influence of events and time, this group widely dispersed spatially before administrative delimitations were carried out. As a result, the inhabitants of this group were found to be dispersed in significant percentages in the Churachandpur district of Manipur, Cachar district of Assam, eastern part of Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya and in north Tripura districts. Besides, they are also found in a large number across the frontiers in Burma and Bangladesh. These apart, there is a substantial representation of non-Mizo tribes, such as, the Chakmas and Riangs in the southern and south western part of the State.

The historical pattern of settlement of the regions illustrates the operation of various processes which are significant in not only identifying the content of the population of the State but also the conditions that were earlier superimposed on the State’s geographical landscape. This later aspect was, to a substantial extent, responsible for extending crisis parameters which emerged with persistent regularities. The pattern of migration, and the distribution of various Mizo tribes and other cognate sub-groups go a long way in explaining the phenomena of change and the inbuilt dynamism in the State’s policy. In this regard, it can also be stated that some of the geopolitical compulsions as well as impulses also evolved simultaneously. It also provided the State with characteristics that were at once conductive to divide the State policy.

The migration of the Mizo tribes from the North-West Burma to south and then to west and finally the present Mizoram (earlier Lushai Hills District) took place due to several reasons. The tribes moved to the new place for better and adequate land for cultivation. The other causes can be the fear of insecurity which they felt during their habitation. The frequent inter-tribal disputes and pressure from the powerful bears compelled them to migrate to the safer places. History bears evidence that they moved to Kabaw Valley from North-West Burma in 1814. Further, they had to face famine (Mautam) at a regular interval of 50 years. Consequently, these tribes had to change their places of habitation. The great famines of 1882, 1991 and 1959 bear testimony to the fact.

The 'Mizo Tribals' of Mizoram

The first Mizo migration took place in the present Shan State of Kabaw Valley in Burma after they left Chhinglung.

Chin Hills Settlement

The life at Khampat was miserable due to natural constraint and other calamities like famine, shortage of food materials, etc. The Lushais decided to move westward in search of better source of livelihood . They moved towards north and north-west in organized clan-wise form. They occupied areas along the Indo-Burmese frontiers in Chin Hills in the early 14th century A.D. They settled and established villages clan-wise. Some of these villages are still in existence such as Seiport, Suaipui, Saipui, Saihmun and Bochung.

During the mid 16th century A.D. the first batch of the Mizo crossed Tiau river and settled in the area of present day Mizoram and they were called as Kukis. The word Kuki has assumed different meanings. The term (Kuki) was given by the Bengalis to distinguish the tribesmen from the plain settler. Major Shakespear has reffered the term ‘old Kuki’ and ‘Khawtlang’ to differentiate them from the Lushai. These old Kukis migrated from Burma and went as far as Chittagong Hill Tracts and Hills of Tipperah. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the term Kuki mean the inhabitants of the interior and inaccessible mountain tracts. In Cachar (Assam), it generally means some family of the ‘Thado’ or Khawtlang clan. It is categorized as new and old Kuki-Chin people which constitute the eastern most group of Indo-Mongoloid branch and are linguistically similar to the Burmese, Lolos and Kachins (Singphos) but culturally different and are akin to the Nagas and Bodos. The Luseis are one of well known tribes of the Kuki-Chin group of the people. The first batch of Mizo tribes who migrated from Chin Hills into the present Mizoram and then to Cachar were the Rangkhols, Betes or Hmars with their sub-clans. These were called Old Kukis. Even today, many village settled by these people in Mizoram are still in existence such as Khawbung, Zote, Biate, Khelte, Darngawn, Leiri, Lungtan. Broadly speaking, there are five major tribes – Lushei, Ralte, Hmar, Pawi etc. The minor sub-tribes are commonly known as ‘Awzia’.

Lusei

The Lusei sub-group consists of ten commoners and six chief clans (Thangura Chief). The commoners are Pachuau, Chhangte, Chawngthu, Hauhnar, Chuanga, Chaunghang, Hrahsel, Tochhawng, Vanchhawng and Chhakchhuak. The chief clans are Zadeng, Palian, Thangluah, Rivung, Rokhhum and Sailo. Search for economic livelihood compelled them to migrate westward. Thangluah and Rokhum passed through the Hills and moved west as well as to Tripura and Sylhet border. They were followed by the Zadeng, who penetrated into the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The Thangluah moved west-ward as far as Demagiri and barkhal. Palian followed the same route as the Zadeng. The Lushei tribes moved forward from SouthEast round about 1810 and established complete supremacy over the North Lushai Hills between 1840 and 1850 A.D. The Sailo clan into prominence and successfully subdued all their rivals.

Paite

The Paites belonged to old Kuki group. (Paite means goer). In Mizoram, they are confined to an area between two rivers Tiau and Run, in the north-eastern Mizoram., Paites living in central part of Mizoram have lost their language but those living in Manipur (Churachandpur) and north-east Mizoram have preserved their traditional traits.

Ralte

The Raltes belong to Kuki group whop came from the north. They were subjugated by the Dulien who migrated from Chin Hills. They had distinct social customs and had noticeable different in the dialects. They were allotted a separate portion of village land. They were predominantly settled in western Lushai villages in Lenkhuang, Kalkhom and Lalhrima. The Ralte sub-group accepted the dominance of the Duliens but continued to maintain their traditional customs and language. Among the Duliens, the Ralte language is understood and the Sailo chiefs habitually use Ralte language.

Rankhol and Thado

About the middle of 16th century, the Rankhol settled down in the area (near the Cachar border) but were subsequently pushed northward by the Thado tribes. The Thado tribe had settlements in the Lushai and Chin Hills after dislodging Rankhol and Bete tribes. But the Thados, like those whom they replaced, could not resist the advancing waves of Lushai tribes. The Lushai clans moved northward by about 1810 A.D. and the Thado were gradually pushed northward of Lushai Hills were similarly, conquered by the Sokte and were driven towards north into Manipur where they settled in southern region of Manipur.

Shendus

The Shendu tribe includes all the Haka-Chin tribes including the Lakhers (Klangklanga) and also other Chin tribes such as Maras. The British called them Shendus. Lt. Phayrs (1841) refers to the Tseindus and gives a list of 13 Tseindus clans, some of which can be identified with Mara clan, and others appear to be Poi. The Shendus, according to Mackenzie were a formidable nation living to the North-East of Blue mountain. These tribes appeared to be more numerous as a people than any other Indo-Chinese Hill race who extended over a large part of the country. The Lakhers, as a separate tribes were first mentioned in 1852. Cap. Tickell refers to the tribes as Heuma or Shandus. Heuma is the name of the Lakher village in north Arakan known to the Lushais as Vaki.

Lakher

The Lakhers inhabited south-eastern corner of the Lushai Hills district and south of Haka sub-divisions of the Chin district of Burma. Geographically, this tribe was located west of Kolodyne river and south of Blue Mountain. The Lakher villages were located in the large bend of the river. The principal Mara tribal groups were Tlongsai, Howthai, Zeuhnanh, Lialai, Sabeu, and Heima. The Shendus covered Poi as well as Lakher tribes. The Lakhers were surrounded by the Fanais and Lushais in west, Chins in the east and north and the Khumis, Matus and Khyengs in the south. These were a branch of the ‘Lai’ tribe of Chin and spoke a language/dialect which was similar to ‘Lai’.

Chakmas

The Chakmas are a distinct tribes localized in the south-western part of Mizoram. This tribe belongs to Eastern group of the Indo-Aryan family whose dialect is Chakma, It is a corrupt form of the Bengali language written in corrupt Burmese-script. Risley, a noted Census Commissioner classified them in the group of the Mongolian racial types. The Chakmas emigrated from Arakan and then moved to Chittagong Hill Tracts (now Bangladesh) in the last quarter of 19th century

Among other tribes (whose reference has been made earlier) the Hmar, Paite and Riang figure most on the demographic map of Mizoram. The Riangs are mostly in the morthwest part of Mizoram along the Tripura border, while, the Hmars and the Paite are in the north-east coener of Mizoram. Similarly, the Pangs, Bawms, and Tlanglau are in the south and south-eastern part of Mizoram, mostly in the Poi and the Chakma areas.

Thus, different tribes and sub-tribes came down to the present Mizoram, in successive waves and settled down in different parts of the present Mizoram. (see Map 5). However, the settle life was disturbed by perpetual fear of raid and inter-tribal feuds. The advent of the British rule and the Missionaries activities implanted a sense of love, value, sacrifice, in their minds. Even then, inter-tribal raids and feuds did not stop.

The word ‘Mizo’ is a generic term applying to all the Mizos living in Mizoram and its adjoining areas of Manipur, Tripura, the Chittagong Hill Tract and the Chin Hills. ‘Mizo’ literally means (People of the Highland), ‘Highlander’, an apt term to describe the short, stocky, muscular people who, with great physical vigour, easily climb the steep hills. The Mizos include several sub-tribes. The Military Report of 1930 recorded 15 sub-tribes such as :

Lushai
Punte
Poi
Khawlhring
Renthlei
Lakher
Khiangte
Chawngthu
Paihte
Roite
Ralte
Hmar
Darlong
Ngente
Thado

To this list, Zatlua nga , a Mizo historian adds four more sub – tribes –

Pautu,
Tlau,
Zawngte, and
Vangchhin

Other reputed historians add some more sub- tribe s such as

Mirawng,
Darlawng,
Bawng,
Biate,
Hrangkawl,
Dawn,
Tlanglau and

Ethnological evidence indicates that the Mizos are of Mongoloid stock having “straight, coarse black hair, dark brown eyes, sparse beard, complete and sharp fold of the eyelid”.