Mizoram
is one of the seven northeastern states of India, bordered
by Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) to the east and south,
Bangladesh to the west, and by the states of Manipur, Assam,
and Tripura to the north. Mizoram means, “Land of the Highlanders”
in the local language, Mizo. The Mizo Hills, which dominate
the state's topography, rise to more than 2000 m (6560 ft)
near the Myanmar border. Aizawl, the state capital, is 1220
m (4000 ft) above sea level.
An amalgam of the former north and south Lushai hill districts,
Mizoram is a land of great natural beauty, an endless variety
of landscape with rich flora and fauna, clusters of whispering
pines and quaint villages with houses on stilts.
The Tropic of Cancer runs through the heart of Mizoram,
and hence, it has a pleasantly temperate climate throughout
the year. A land of steep hills and deep gorges, Mizoram's
highest peak 'The Blue Mountain' rises to a height of 2165
meters. Important rivers that flow through this hilly state
are Tlawang, Sonai, Tuivawl, Kolodine and Kamaphuli.
Mizoram has a single-chamber Legislative
Assembly of 40 seats. The state sends two members to the
Indian national parliament: one to the Rajya Sabha (upper
house) and one to the Lok Sabha (lower house). The state
has eight districts.
History
Little is known of Mizoram's early
history. Between 1750 and 1850 the Mizo (formerly called
Lushai) tribes migrated from the nearby Chin Hills and
subjugated the indigenous population; these similar tribes
were assimilated into their own society. The Mizo developed
an autocratic political system based on some 300 hereditary
chieftainships.
The tribes of Mizoram remained unaffected by foreign political
influence until the British annexed Assam in 1826 under
the Treaty of Yandabo. During the next decades, Mizo raids
into British territory led to occasional punitive expeditions
by the British. Although not formally annexed until the
early 1890s, the region had come under British control
two decades earlier.
For the first few years after the British annexation,
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 Reorganization
Act in 1972, Mizoram became a Union Territory and as a
sequel to the signing of the historic memorandum of settlement
between Government of India and the Mizo National Front
in 1986, it was granted statehood on 20 February 1987.
Society and Culture
The Mizos are divided
into several tribes - the Lushais, Pawis, Paithes, Raltes,
Pang, Himars, Kukis etc. Society is based largely around
tribal villages. The chief's house and the zawlbuk (community
house for young, single men) are the focus of village
life. Mizo and English are the official languages. The
literacy rate in Mizoram is about 82 percent, one of the
highest in India. More than 80 percent of the population
is Christians; the great majority are Protestants who
were converted by missionaries during the 19th century.
There are Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu minorities. The
nomadic Chakmas practice a combination of Hinduism, Buddhism,
and animism (the worship of nature deities and other spirits).
Though mostly Christians, the hill people have kept alive
their rich cultural heritage, colorful customs and lively
traditions. An interesting tradition amongst the Mizos
is the code of Ethics which revolves around tlawmngaihna,
an untranslatable term which means that every Mizo is
duty bound to be hospitable, kind, unselfish and helpful
to the poor and needy.
Festivals and dances of the Mizos have a unique tribal
flavor. Other than Christmas and New Year's Day, which
are the most popular festivals, Chapchar Kut (after clearing
of jungles for cultivation of the jhum crop in February-March),
Pawl Kut (after the harvests when the granary is full
in December) and Mim Kut (dedicated to departed souls
after the maize harvest in September), are the other occasions
celebrated with much gusto. The most popular dances of
Mizoram are Cheraw (Bamboo dance), Khuallam (dance for
visitors or guests), Chheih Lam (at the end of a day's
work) and Solakar or Sarlamkai (prevalent among the Mara
and Pawl tribes).
Economy and Infrastructure
About three-quarters of the
population of Mizoram earn their living from agriculture.
Both terraced cultivation and jhum (shifting) tillage
(in which tracts are cleared by burning and sown with
mixed crops) are practiced. The greater number of
people farming has reduced the traditional eight-year
jhum cycle, and there has been an accompanying decline
in yields.
Mizoram is famous for the fibreless ginger. Paddy,
maize, mustard, sugarcane, sesame and potatoes are
the other prominent crops grown in this area. Small-scale
irrigation projects are being developed to increase
the crop yield.
There are no major industries in the state. Small-scale
industries include sericulture, handloom and handicrafts
industries, sawmills and furniture workshops, oil
refining, grain milling, and ginger processing.
The state's poor transport and communications are
a major obstacle to economic growth. Although a road
system is being developed, a single road links the
towns of Aizawl and Lunglei in Mizoram to Silchar
in Assam. There are no railways. Vayudoot, India's
low-capacity and short-haul domestic airline provides
service from Aizawl to Silchar and to Calcutta in
West Bengal. Concerted efforts have been made to accelerate
the growth of industries in Mizoram. The new industrial
policy of Mizoram was framed in 1989, under which
some priority industries were identified. These include
agro and forest based industries, handloom and handicrafts,
electronics and consumer industries. With the opening
up of border trade, the state would be able to be
a major business hub.
Hotels of Mizoram
The State has
hotels of star and non-star category catering to the
needs of the tourists visiting Mizoram. Besides it
has resorts, restaurants and cafés, which cater to
the needs of all segments of travelers.
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