LAND:
Mizoram, in the local language, means the land of Mizos. Mizo itself means highlander. Under the British administration, Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills district. In 1954 by an Act of Parliament, the name was changed to Mizo Hills district. In 1972, when it was made into a union territory, it was named Mizoram. Mizoram became the 23rd state of the Indian union on February 20,1987.

Mizoram is situated between 21-58o to 24o 29' north latitude and 92o 29' to 93o 22' east longitude. The tropic of Cancer passes near the capital, Aizawl town. Mizoram occupies the north east corner of India. In shape it is rather like a narrow and inverted triangle. It is bounded on the north by the district of Cachar (Assam) and the state of Manipur, on the east and south by Chin Hills and Arakan (Myanmar) on the west by the Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh and the state of Tripura. Mizoram borders three states of India - Assam , Manipur and Tripura. Its geographical borders with Assam, Manipur and Tripura extended over 123 km, 95 km and 66 km, respectively. Mizoram is a land of hills. The hills run in ridges from north to south. They have an average height of 900 metres, the highest point being the Blue Mountain (2165 metres).

History and Geography

Mizoram is a mountainous region, which became the 23rd state of the Indian Union in February 1987. It was one of the districts of Assam till 1972 when it became a Union Territory. After being annexed by the British in 1891, for the first few years, Lushai Hills in the north remained under Assam, while the southern half remained under Bengal. Both these parts were amalgamated in 1898 into one district called Lushai Hills District under the Chief Commissioner of Assam. With the implementation of the North-Eastern Reorganisation Act in 1972, Mizoram became a Union Territory and as a sequel to the signing of the historic memorandum of settlement between the Government of India and the Mizo National Front in 1986, it was granted statehood on 20 February, 1987. Sandwiched between Myanmar in the east and the south, and Bangladesh in the west, Mizoram occupies an area of great strategic importance in the north-eastern corner of India. Mizoram has great natural beauty and an endless variety of landscape. It is rich in fauna and flora.

The origin of the word ‘Mizo’ is not known. The Mizos came under the influence of the British Missionaries in the 19th Century. Now most of the Mizos are Christians. Mizo language has no script of its own. The missionaries introduced the Roman script for the Mizo language and formal education.

Agriculture
About 60 per cent of the people of Mizoram are engaged in agricultural pursuits. The main pattern of agriculture followed is Jhum or shifting cultivation. Out of the estimated potential available area of 4.4 lakhs hectares for horticulture, the area put under plantation is around 25,000 hectares only. The main horticulture crops are orange, lemon, kagzi lime, passion fruit, hatkora, jamir, pineapple and papaya. Other crops are sugarcane, tapioca and cotton. People have started extensive cultivation of ginger and fruit crops.

Industry
The entire Mizoram is a Notified Backward Area and is categorised under ‘No Industry District’. However, concerted efforts were made in the last decade to accelerate the growth of industries in Mizoram. For the development of industries in the state, Government framed industrial policy in 1989. In the policy resolution, priority industries identified are: agro and forest-based industries, followed by handloom and handicrafts, electronics, consumer industries. Sericulture is operating at Aizawl with two wings, viz., handloom and handicrafts wing and geology and mining wing.

In the field of industrial development, the Government has already announced new policy supports, on the basis of which, cottage and small industrial units will continue to receive assistance.

The completed projects of fruit preservation factory at Vairengte, Mizo Milling Plant at Khawzawl and Fruit Juice Concentrate Plant at Chhingchhip were transferred to the incorporated Mizoram Food & Allied Industries Corporation (MIFCO) for commercial operation. Maize Milling Plant has also been completed and commissioned by MIFCO.

TOURISM

Phawngpui | Sibuta Lung | Phulpui Grave | Memorial of Chhingpui | Pangzawal | Mangkahia Lung | Tomb of Vanhimailian | Tualchang | Eastern Villages | Lungvandawt | Khawnglung Run | Buddha's Image | Thangliana Lung | Suangpuilawn | Thansiama Sena Neihna | Aizawl | Caves | Lakes

Mizoram has a number of places which are of historical interest and are associated with folklore, legends and stories which are passed on from generation to generation.

Phawngpui
The Blue Mountain, which is the highest mountain peak in Mizoram, 2165m in height, is known as Phawngpui to the people of Mizoram. It is situated close to the Burma border, on the curve of the river Kolodyne, in the Chhimtuipui district. It is famous for Orchids and rhododendrons.

Sibuta Lung
This is a memorial stone found at Tachhip village, 20 Km from Aizawl town. It was erected by a Palian chief about 300 years ago. A young orphan, Sibuta, was adopted by the chief. He killed his adoptive father and became the chief of over 2,000 houses. But he failed in his love life and was jilted by a girl. For having his revenge he put a young and beautiful girl, Darlai, in a big pit on which he wanted to erect a memorial for himself. The huge rock was dragged with great pains from the bed of the Tlawng river, 10 Km away. The stone was bathed with the blood of three human beings who were sacrificed. The stone was erected putting Darlai alive on the pit below the stone.

Phulpui Grave
There are two graves at Phulpui village in Aizawl district. Zawlpala, Chief of Phulpui village, married the legendary beauty, Talvungi of Thenzawl. She was subsequently married to the chief of Rothai, Punthia. But she could not forget Zawlpala. After many years when Zawlpala died, grief stricken Talvungi came to Phulpui, dug a pit by the side of Zawlpala's grave and induced an old woman to kill her and bury her in the grave. The love story, the graves and other associated places at Phulpui are attractions to visitors.

Memorial of Chhingpui
There is a memorial stone for a beautiful young woman called Chhingpui in a place between Baktawng and Chhingchhip village on the Aizawl-Lunglei road. Chhingpui came from a noble family and was extraordinarily beautiful. From among the many young men wanting to marry her. She chose Kaptuanga and married him. They were very happy. But bad days came upon them when war broke out between the rival chiefs. Chhingpui was kidnapped and killed. For days all the villagers mourned her death. Kaptuanga could not bear the loss and killed himself. Chhingpui's memorial has kept the love story alive among the people.

Pangzawl
Pangzawl village of Lunglei district is associated with the tragic folklore of Chawngungi. She was a very beautiful girl sought for, by all young men. But her mother demanded a very high bride price which could not be afforded by anyone. Ultimately, the Chief's son, Sawngkhara, won her by using a magic drug. However, she died soon after the marriage. Sawngkhara lived the rest of his life mourning the death of his beautiful, young wife.

Mangkahia Lung
At Champhai in Aizawl district, near the Burma border, there is a very large memorial stone called Mangkahia Lung( Mangkhaia's stone). It is 5m high with heads of mithun engraved on it. This was erected around AD 1700 in memory of Mangkhaia who was a very prominent chief of the Ralte tribe.

Tomb of Vanhimailian
Vanhimailian Sailo was a great chief who ruled over Champhai. A tomb was erected in his memory overlooking the vast Champhai plain.

Tualchang
Near Tualchang village in the eastern part of Aizawl district, there is a row of stone slabs. The largest of the rocks is 3m wide 1m thick and 4.5m high. It is the biggest monolith in the state.

Mizos included the following tribes - Ralte, Paite, Dulien, Poi, Sukte, Pankhup, Jahao, Fanai (Molienpui), Molbem, Taute, Lakher, Dalang, Mar, Khuangli, Falam (Tashous), Leillul and Tangur.

The three main sub groups are Lushais, Pawis and Lakhers.

LUSHAI
There has been a lot of speculation as to the meaning of the word Lushai. It was, at one time, interpreted to mean head cutters ( 'Lu' in Lushai language means head and 'shai' means cutter). Some suggest the meaning of Lushai as persons with long heads (Shei meaning long), pertaining to the fact that Lushais bind their hair in knots at the back of their head.

In the north Lushai Hills, the predominant tribes were the Lushais, Raltes and Pawis. The Raltes belonged to the Kuki tribe and were brought under subjugation by the Lushais, who migrated from the Chin Hills. They had distinct social customs and marked differences in dialects. They used to live in a separate portion of the village assigned to them.

Physical features

The Lushais were described as short, sturdy and heavy people of Mongolian type. Generally the height of men were between 162cm to 170cm and the women's height varied from 140cm to 160cm. The complexion varied from dark brown to light yellow.

In the Lushai clans both the sexes are slight in build. The colour of their skin varied from dark yellow, brown, dark olive, copper and yellow olive. Beards and whiskers were almost unknown and a Lushai, when he could grow a moustache, would pull out all the hairs except at two ends. The hair was worn by both sexes in a knot over the nape of the neck, and carefully parted in the middle. The children's hair were left to grow freely till it was long enough to be tied in a knot. The young men dressed their hair with much care using pig's fat. Widows allowed their hair to hang loose.

An average woman bore five to ten children. However, infant morality being high, only two to three children in a family would survive to become adults. Both men and women could walk long distances and they were able to swim. They also climbed hills with ease which was natural in the hilly terrain of the Lushai hills.

Some mental abnormalities were found in the people of Lushai Hills. There were common cases of transvestites, when some men would dress and live like women. They were accepted as such in the society. One would also come across cases of lunacy rather frequently. Suicide, particularly amongst old people, was also quite common.

The difference between the clans was mostly evident in the different methods of performing the Sakhua sacrifice to the guardian spirit of the household. Some of the clans were not yet absorbed by the Lushais but they were much influenced by the Lushais. These tribes were the Fanai, the Ralte, the Paite and the Rangte.

Language

Although several languages were spoken in the Lushai Hills, the main language was Lushai. Other languages of the Kuki-Chin groups spoken by the different tribes were Zahao, Lakher, Hmar, Paite, Lai and Ralte. Many of the smaller tribes used their own language amongst themselves but used Lushai for conversation with persons of other tribes or with outsiders. Lushai language was a spoken language and did not have any written literature.

FESTIVALS

In Mizoram, there are three main festivals in a year. Festivals are called Kut in Mizo language. The three Kuts are Chapchar Kut, Mim Kut and Pawl Kut. All the three festivals are connected with agricultural activities. The festivals are celebrated with feasts and dances.

Chapchar Kut

Chapchar Kut was celebrated after completion of the cutting of jhums. It was a thanksgiving festival. The villagers faced many dangers and difficulties in cutting down dense forests with their simple Daos and axes. They would organise a big feast in the month of March to celebrate the success in jhum cutting. The festival continued for seven days and even beyond if the villagers would afford it. A few days before the day is fixed for the festivities, hunting parties from the village would go out in the forests and rivers for hunting wild animals, trapping birds and catching fish. On this occasion Zu would be brewed in a large quantity.

On the first day of the festival, pigs would be killed by the members of the chief's clan for the feast. Pork in big quantities would be eaten and lot of Zu would be consumed. This day was called Lushai Vawk Tlah Ni which literally means the day on which the Lushias kill pigs.

On the second day, members of the other clans in the village would kill their pigs for the village feast. On the third day, which was known as Kut day, Zu would be taken in the houses in which someone had died during the year. On this day before sunset in the evening people particularly mother and children dressed in their best would gather in the open space in the village at the Lungdawh, which is a stone platform put up as a memorial to the dead, bringing with them rice, boiled eggs and meat. One would try to force the food down the throat of one's friends. This was known as Chhawnghnawt. After sunset the young boys and girls would get together in the houses of well-to-do-villagers. They would spend the night in drinking, singing and dancing.

The next day was known as Zupui Ni which was the day of drinking a particular type of liquor called Zupui which was brewed from well husked rice. In the evening before sunset, young men and girls dressed in their best would gather in the open space of the village for singing and dancing. They formed a circle in which the young men would have their arms across girls who would alternate between the boys. Within the circle would be the drummer or gong beater, who would chant while the young people would sing and move slowly keeping time with the song. This dance was known as Chai dance. During the dance, the children of the village would go on serving the dancing boys and girls Zu of the best variety in bamboo cups.

The next day was called Zuthingni or the day of drinking a special type of Zu. On this day there would be a general dance in the village. Zu drinking would go on. The dance would continue day and night until the Zu supply would run short.

The last day of the festival was known as Ziapur ni or the day of rest after eating and drinking. On this day people would relax after hectic days of festivals. They would not go out to the jungle which was believed would bring bad luck.