For study on any aspect of Mizo society, it is imperative that its historical and cultural background need be understood in its right perspective. For this purpose it is all the more imperative to know that the appellation ‘Mizo’ is comparatively a new phenomenon that should be understood in that in as much the same manner as ‘Israel’ signifies the people of ‘Hebrew’ origin, so, is the word ‘Mizo’ for the people of ‘Kuki Origin’. Therefore, historical and cultural background of the ‘Kukis’ need to be well established first in order to study ‘Mizo’ society profitably as reflected through their customary laws.
The study of History and Culture together of any society is of rare combination, more so, in the case of Mizos whose history, in the real sense of the term and with due regard to the people directly concerned, is no history but anecdotes of population movements for generations together except that one group or the other of the Mizo tribes are engaged in sporadic encounters with enemies of their allies or supporters of one authority or principality.
There had not been an instance of an independent Mizo authority engaged in a warfare with its independent counterpart either to defend his political territorial integrity or to wage war against any neighbouring authority in the entire length of their en masse population movements except that there were incidents wherein there were isolated raids and skirmishes with the subjects or armies of some independent authorities, over whom they either won or lost in such encounters that resulted in no question of annexation or subjugation of enemy’s territories or possessions thereon.
This is mainly so due to absence of a Central Authority under whom several Mizo tribal groups subordinated themselves as constituent segments in an organized hierarchical order. Notwithstanding, British anthropologists, colonial bureaucrats, army Officers, in their various writings at different period of times collectively called them KUKI who were found to have occupied certain areas in Tripura, North Cachar Hills District, Lushai Hills District, Naga Hills District, Manipur, etc., in India and in Arakan and Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.
Similarly, same groups of Kuki tribes are given the name CHIN when they are in Burma. They did so exclusively in view of their homogeneity in regard to their culture, customs and customary laws, tradition, rites, rituals, beliefs, linguistic affinity, uniformity in their system of administration, method of cultivation, etc.
However, after Lushai Expedition in the Lushai Hills District in 1872-73, use of the term KUKI was superseded by LUSHAI, the dominant clan which took prominent role against the British during the Expedition.
Thus Shakespear in his work on LUSHAI KUKI CLANS divided the entire Kuki tribes into six groups as detailed here in below:
1. In the first group he put the Lushei Clans, based from Thangura the pedigree of all the living Chiefs who were accurately established to have been included under six lines of Chiefs.
They are –
- Rokhum
- Zadeng
- Thangluah
- Pallian
- Rivung and
- Sailo
2. In the second group are included the Clans that are included under the term Lushai though not Lusheis, having been absorbed.
They are -
- Chawte (Chothe in Manipur),
- Chongthu,
- Hnamte,
- Kawlni,
- Kawhring,
- Khiangte,
- Ngente,
- Rentlei,
- Roite,
- Vangchhia and
- Zawngte.
3. In the third group are included Clans which, though not absorbed, have been much influenced by the Lusheis.
They are –
- Fanai,
- Ralte,
- Paihte or Vuite,
- Rangte (Gangte in Manipur).
4. In the fourth group are included the Old Kuki Clans.
They are –
- Aimol,
- Anal,
- Chawte,
- Chiru,
- Kolhen,
- Kom,
- Lamgang,
- Purum,
- Tikhup (Mantak),
- Vaiphei,
- Rhangkol,
- Khelma,
- Baite and
- Hrangchal (Hallam).
5. In the fifth group are included the Thadou Clans among whom were –
- Doungel,
- Sitlhou,
- Singson,
- Kipgen,
- Haokip,
- Chongloi,
- Hangshing and
- some non-Thadou groups
who have been absorbed among the above mentioned Thadous having for all practical purposes embraced all customs, culture, language, religious beliefs, rites, rituals, etc.
Yet, they are the only groups who do not claim to be the descendants of Chongthu with a tradition of Khul or Khur origin, instead, posing as from ‘Celestial origin’.
They are –
- Lianthang and his brother Thlangum(Lhangum), and
- Lunkim and his brother,
- Changsan who also claimed to have survived the ‘Thimzin’ trauma.
6. In the sixth group are included only the Lakhers or Mara. They are closely allied to the Southern Chins. They call themselves Mara, Lakher being the name used by the Lushais. The Chins call them Zo, and the Arakan name for them is Klongshai.
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to be continued ..
* Priyadarshni M Gangte wrote this article for The Sangai Express .
This article was webcasted on November 2 , 2007 .
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