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Zo mi (literal translation of Zo people/Zo tribe) is the correct original historical name of the zo people who use to refer themselves since the days of Myanmar settlement as ZOU or YO or YAW, having a common ancestry and smilar dialects. The different Zo tribes hold the common belief that they originally emerged out of a cave or hole. Th...is mythological cave is known by various names like Khuul, Khur, Khurpui, Khurtu-bijur, Sinlung, Chinlung, Chhinlung etc. by various tribes like Thadou (Shaw 1929:24-26), Lushai (Shakespear: 1912), Lakher (Parry 1976:4), Tedim/Paite-Chin (Kamkhenthang 1967:1-2) , Moyon-Monsang, Hmar etc.
The name Kuki and Chin is not used by the tribes themselves, it is a name merely given to them by the neighbouring foreigners. (source: G.A. Grierson, Dr., Linguistic Survey of India vol. III, part 3, p.2)
Probably the first recorded used of the name “Kuki” appeared in the History of Tripura as early as 1512 AD . During the reign of Tripura Raja Dhanya Manikya (around 1490 AD), it was pointed out that, wild race called Kukees live Thannangchi Forest of Tripura. (Source: GA Gierson, op. cit., p.1, Bhattacharya, A.C.: Progressive Tripura, New Delhi, 1992, p.44-58). Lt. Col. J. Shakespeare in his book "The Lushai Kuki Clans" put the Hmars under the common name of 'Old Kuki' and 'Khawtlang' to 'differentiate them from the Lushais and those currently known as Kukis'. J. W. Edgar, a Civil Officer who accompanied the British column to Tipaimukh on 3rd April 1872 writes that the term 'Kuki' was used by the Bengalis to refer to the hill people but that none of the people wanted to be called by this term.
In Burma the Zomi are known as Chin, Prof. F. K. Lehman was of the view that the term might be from the Burmese word ‘Khyan” which means ‘basket’, saying,
“The term ‘Chin’ is imprecise. It is a Burmese word (khyan), not a Chin Word. It is homologous with the contemporary Burmese word meaning basket”.
‘Mizo’ became the official name of the people of Mizoram after 1946 only when the Lushai Hills was changed to ‘Mizo Hills’ and the first political party, the Mizo Common People's Union was formed on 9th April 1946. The Party was later renamed the Mizo Union, and wanted to change the name Kuki/Chin/Zomi to Mizo.
The Mizo union wanted the Lushai hills to be called Mizo hills and the people to be oficially called Mizo.
Extract from the “Memorandum of the Mizo Union 1947 SUBMITTED TO HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (source: True copy):
“The Mizo people have been known under different names. The nomenclature of the word ‘KUKI’was and is known to the Mizos; it was a name merely given to them by the neighbouring foreigners.
“Again, it was wrong that the word Lushai should be used as covering all the Mizo tribes since it is misrending of the Lusei, only sub-tribe of the Mizo race. Hence though perhaps, not originally intended, it has created a division. Only the word ‘Mizo’ stand for the whole group of them all : Lusei, Hmar, Ralte, Paite, Zo, Darlawng, Kawm, Pawi, Thado, Chiru, Aimol, Khawl, Tarau, Anal, Puram, Tikhup, Vaiphei, Lakher, Langrawng, Chawrai; Bawng, Baite, Mualthuam, Kaihpen, Pangkhua, Tlangau, Hrangkhawl, Bawmzo, Miria, Dawn, Kumi, Khiangte, Khiang, Pangte, Khawlhring, Chawngthu, Vanchiau, Chawhte, Ngente, Renthlei, Hnamte, Tlau, Pautu, Pawite, Vangchhia, Zawngte, Fanai, etc, all closely related to one another culturally, socially, economically and physically thus forming a distinct ethnical units.”
[My conclusion:
Didn't William Shakespeare rightfully say:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet."
No matter what, i believe that we all accept that we have a common ancestry and that we have a brotherhood that binds us together in terms of language and culture similarities. No matter what we call ourselves, we are not going to change.
This is a never ending DISCOURSE. Personally I accept the term ZOMI, if we are going to choose a name for the unification of the zo tribes, but why we all must be called MIZO (and not KUKI/ZOMI/CHIN) is because there is a land called MIZORAM and a people recognized as a nation called MIZO in it, if we can accept this term then we all have a home (emotionally) and there will surely be a morale boost for everyone, from this will then spread awareness of the different clans and dialects within our tribe. I believe this is the first step in reuniting.
MIZO is a very new term but it cannot be erased now that it is part of the Indian Constitution’s official name for a state tribe. So, let’s have an open heart, the choice is ours. Debate or The end :-) ]
The name Kuki and Chin is not used by the tribes themselves, it is a name merely given to them by the neighbouring foreigners. (source: G.A. Grierson, Dr., Linguistic Survey of India vol. III, part 3, p.2)
Probably the first recorded used of the name “Kuki” appeared in the History of Tripura as early as 1512 AD . During the reign of Tripura Raja Dhanya Manikya (around 1490 AD), it was pointed out that, wild race called Kukees live Thannangchi Forest of Tripura. (Source: GA Gierson, op. cit., p.1, Bhattacharya, A.C.: Progressive Tripura, New Delhi, 1992, p.44-58). Lt. Col. J. Shakespeare in his book "The Lushai Kuki Clans" put the Hmars under the common name of 'Old Kuki' and 'Khawtlang' to 'differentiate them from the Lushais and those currently known as Kukis'. J. W. Edgar, a Civil Officer who accompanied the British column to Tipaimukh on 3rd April 1872 writes that the term 'Kuki' was used by the Bengalis to refer to the hill people but that none of the people wanted to be called by this term.
In Burma the Zomi are known as Chin, Prof. F. K. Lehman was of the view that the term might be from the Burmese word ‘Khyan” which means ‘basket’, saying,
“The term ‘Chin’ is imprecise. It is a Burmese word (khyan), not a Chin Word. It is homologous with the contemporary Burmese word meaning basket”.
‘Mizo’ became the official name of the people of Mizoram after 1946 only when the Lushai Hills was changed to ‘Mizo Hills’ and the first political party, the Mizo Common People's Union was formed on 9th April 1946. The Party was later renamed the Mizo Union, and wanted to change the name Kuki/Chin/Zomi to Mizo.
The Mizo union wanted the Lushai hills to be called Mizo hills and the people to be oficially called Mizo.
Extract from the “Memorandum of the Mizo Union 1947 SUBMITTED TO HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (source: True copy):
“The Mizo people have been known under different names. The nomenclature of the word ‘KUKI’was and is known to the Mizos; it was a name merely given to them by the neighbouring foreigners.
“Again, it was wrong that the word Lushai should be used as covering all the Mizo tribes since it is misrending of the Lusei, only sub-tribe of the Mizo race. Hence though perhaps, not originally intended, it has created a division. Only the word ‘Mizo’ stand for the whole group of them all : Lusei, Hmar, Ralte, Paite, Zo, Darlawng, Kawm, Pawi, Thado, Chiru, Aimol, Khawl, Tarau, Anal, Puram, Tikhup, Vaiphei, Lakher, Langrawng, Chawrai; Bawng, Baite, Mualthuam, Kaihpen, Pangkhua, Tlangau, Hrangkhawl, Bawmzo, Miria, Dawn, Kumi, Khiangte, Khiang, Pangte, Khawlhring, Chawngthu, Vanchiau, Chawhte, Ngente, Renthlei, Hnamte, Tlau, Pautu, Pawite, Vangchhia, Zawngte, Fanai, etc, all closely related to one another culturally, socially, economically and physically thus forming a distinct ethnical units.”
[My conclusion:
Didn't William Shakespeare rightfully say:
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet."
No matter what, i believe that we all accept that we have a common ancestry and that we have a brotherhood that binds us together in terms of language and culture similarities. No matter what we call ourselves, we are not going to change.
This is a never ending DISCOURSE. Personally I accept the term ZOMI, if we are going to choose a name for the unification of the zo tribes, but why we all must be called MIZO (and not KUKI/ZOMI/CHIN) is because there is a land called MIZORAM and a people recognized as a nation called MIZO in it, if we can accept this term then we all have a home (emotionally) and there will surely be a morale boost for everyone, from this will then spread awareness of the different clans and dialects within our tribe. I believe this is the first step in reuniting.
MIZO is a very new term but it cannot be erased now that it is part of the Indian Constitution’s official name for a state tribe. So, let’s have an open heart, the choice is ours. Debate or The end :-) ]
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