Mizos
Ethnic Mizo school children in Hnahthial, 2015
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 1,000,000(Mizoram), 5 million (worldwide) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Northeast India, Bangladesh, Burma | |
| Languages | |
| Mizo language Lusei (Duhlian) · Mara (Lakher) · Hmar · Laizo (Pawi) · Paite · Gangte · Bawm · Senthang · Thadou · Molsom · Darlong · | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Zomi · Chin · Kuki · Shan · Karen · Kachin |
The Mizo people (Mizo: Mizo hnam) are an ethnic group native to north-eastern India, western Burma (Myanmar) and eastern Bangladesh; this term covers several ethnic peoples who speak various Mizo languages. The Mizo are one of the hill tribe (Zo people).
The clan of Lusei people were the first Mizo people to become known to outside groups; the larger ethnic group was first named after them as the Lushai. The present Indian state of Mizoram (literally "Mizoland") was called the Lushai Hills and was defined as a district of Assam in the British Raj and independent India. The people of the Lushai Hills demanded a distinct political territory when India achieved independence. Due to continuing efforts by its people to gain autonomy, the national government approved Mizoram in 1972 as a Union Territory and in 1987 as a full-fledged state of India.
As the people organized, they chose to identify as Mizo, rather than by the individual clan names such as Hmar, Paite, Lushei, Ralte, Gangte, Mara, Pawi, etc. Their languages (of which the largest is Lusei Duhlian dialect) belong to the Tibeto-Burman language family. The state has one of the highest rates of literacy in India, at more than 91%. The mizo people are mostly 88.00% Christian, following a wide variety of denominations.
The term Mizo is derived from two Mizo words-Mi and zo. 'Mi' in Mizo means 'person'. There is dispute on the term 'zo'. According to one view, 'zo' means 'highland' and Mizo means highlander or people living in high hills. Historian Lalthangliana says 'zo' may also mean 'cold region' and therefore, Mizo signifies people of the cold region.
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