Hmar people

Hmar people are a scheduled tribe ethnic group from the states of Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, and Meghalaya in Northeast India. They use the Hmar language as their primary language. In 2023, the Hmar Inpui, an apex body of the tribe 'reaffirmed' the identity of the Hmar people as Mizo.

Population

According to the 2011 Indian Census, there were 98,988 Hmar speakers. The Hmar population itself roughly stands at 200,000–300,000. Several critics and scholars point out that a significant population of the Hmar people are fully 'Mizonised' in Mizoram, hence do not reflect as "Hmar tribe" population, rather as "Any Mizo tribes" in census reports.

Language

Hmar people use the Hmar language, which closely resembles the Mizo language and uses the Roman script. The script was introduced by British missionaries, including 'Pu Buanga', during the colonial era in India and is locally known as the 'A Aw B.' Hmar language is within the Tibeto-Burman stock of languages.

Religion

The majority of the Hmar people practice Christianity. They were Christianized by Welsh missionaries in the 1910s. Animism was dominated among them.

Place of origin

The Hmar people believe Sinlung to be their ancestral origin.

Notable people

Name	Contribution
Lalremsiami	India women's national field hockey team player
Marina Lalramnghaki Hmar	India women's national field hockey team player
David Lalhlansanga	India national football team member
Alfred Lalroutsang	youngest ever player to play in the Indian Super League at the age of 16 years.
Lalrinliana Hnamte	Indian professional footballer.
Lalvarmoi Hmar	Indian professional footballer.
Lalram Luaha	Indian professional footballer
Hmar Zothanchhunga	Indian professional cricketer.
Nazareth Lalthazuala Hmar	Indian professional mixed martial artist.

Name	Notes
Mami Varte	Singer
Esther Hnamte	Singer
Lalruotmawi	Singer
Buonglienkung	Composer
Thangngur	Composer
Lienrum	Composer

Clans (Pahnam)

Saivate	Khawral	Khawkheng	Tuollai
Tuimuol	Bapui	Tusing	Khawlum
Sekong	Seling	Thlangnung	Salhmar
Dulien	Aimuol	Khawhrang	Sote
Thanghnieng

Fenate	Pangamte	Pazamte	Riengsete
Laising	Muolphei	Phunte	Bunglung
Sierthlang	Siersak

Athu	Amaw	Tuolor	Thilsong
Buhril	Hekte	Ralsun	Chawnghekte
Thluchung	Kungate	Selate	Tuolte
Ṭaite	Hnamte	Kangbur	Khawzawl
Lalum	Laldau	Saibung	Vankal
Pangote	Pangulte	Khawbuol	Pakhumate
Khumthur	Khumsen	Thlihran	Tamte
Hmante	Chawnnel	Zate

Legacy

The Hmar people are credited to be the first settlers of Champhai, Mizoram until they left the place and the Ralte people came in to later occupy it. Old stone structures, such as the Sikpui Lung can still be found to this day. The inscription on the monolith reads:
----
Rough Translation:
The Sikpui Hlapui is associated with the Hmar people. This folk song is used by the Bnei Menashe people of Northeast India to claim an alleged connection to the state of Israel.

Literature

Vanlal Tluonga Bapui

Bapui, VLT & Buruah, PN Dutta. 1996. Hmar Grammar. Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages. CIIL Press, Mysore.
Bapui, Vanlal Tluonga. 2012. Hmar Ṭawng Inchukna . Guwahati, Assam: The Assam Institute of Research for Tribals and Scheduled Castes. Hi-Tech Printing & Binding Industries, Guwahati

Lal Dena

Dena, Lal. 1995. Hmar Folk Tales. New Delhi: Scholar Publishing House. Bengal Printing Press, New Delhi.
Dena, Lal; In search of identity: Hmars of North-East India; New Delhi 2008.

L Fimate

Fimate, L. Thina Râpthlak.

RH Hminglien

Hmar, RH Hminglien. 1997. Hmangaitu Hmel.

FT Hminga

Hminga, FT. 1991. Hmar Pipu Thilhming Lo Phuokhai. Churachandpur, Manipur: Dr. FT Hminga.
Hminga, FT. 1993. Hmar Ṭawng Indiklem. Churachandpur, Manipur: Dr. FT Hminga.
Hminga, FT. 1994. Hming Umzie Neihai. Churachandpur, Manipur: Dr. FT Hminga.

HC Hrangate

Hrangate, HC. 1996. Pathien Kut.

Lalhmuoklien

Lalhmuoklien, 2009. Gospel Through Darkness. Churachandpur, Manipur: Rev. Dr. Lalmuoklien. SMART tech Offset Printers, Churachandpur

SN Ngurte

Ngurte, SN. 1991. Damlai Thlaler.
Ngurte, SN. 1994. Rengchawnghawi.
Ngurte, SN. 1995. Kanaan Phaizawl. HL Lawma & Sons Publication.

Ruolnekhum Pakhuongte

Pakhuongte, Ruolneikhum. 1983. The Power of the Gospel Among the Hmar Tribe. Shillong, Meghalaya: EFCI. Ri Khasi Press, Shillong.

Jonathan Pudaite

Pudaite, Jonathan. 2011. The Legacy of Watkin R. Roberts.
Pudaite, Mawii. 1982. Beyond The Next Mountain: The Story of Rochunga Pudaite. Tyndale House Publishers.

Rochunga Pudaite

Pudaite, Rochunga. 1963. The Education of the Hmar People. Sielmat, Churachandpur. Indo-Burma Pioneer Mission, 1963.
Pudaite, Rochunga. 1985, The Dime That Lasted Forever. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers.
Pudaite, Rochunga. 2008. English-Hmar Dictionary. Partnership Publishing House.
Pudaite, Rochunga. 2011. Ka Hring Nun Vol-1. Thomson Press, Harayana.

Rosiem Pudaite

Pudaite, Rosiem. 2002. Indian National Struggle for Freedom and its Impact on the Mizo Movement .

John H. Pulamte

Pulamte, John H. 2011. Hmar Bûngpui. Imphal, Manipur: Dr. John H. Pulamte. BCPW, Imphal.

Darsanglien Ruolngul

Ruolngul, Darsanglien. 2009. The Advance of the Gospel . Churachandpur, Manipur: Rev. Darsanglien Ruolngul. SMART * tech Offset Printers, Churachandpur.
Ruolngul. Darsanglien. 2013. Kohran. Churachandpur, Manipur: ICI. Diamond Offset, Churachandpur.

Ngurthangkhum Sanate

Sanate, Ngurthangkhum. 1984. Ngurte Pahnam Chanchin. Churachandpur, Manipur

Thangsawihmang Sawngate

Sawngate, Thangsawihmang. 2012. Hmangaina Parbâwr. Churachandpur, Manipur.

Lalthankhum Sinate

Sinate, Lalthankhum. 2001. Kohran Hring.

Hranglien Songate

Songate, H. 1956. Hmar History-Hmar Chanchin. Imphal: Mao Press.
Songate, H. 1967. Hmar Chanchin.Churachandpur: L & R Press.

JC Thangsiem

Thangsiem, JC. Zilsi Varzan. Rengkai, Churachandpur.

Hrilrokhum Thiek

Ṭhiek, Hrilrokhum. 2013. History of the Hmars in North East India, Guwahati, Assam: Rev. Hrilrokhum Ṭhiek, Bhabani Offset Private Ltd., Guwahati.
Ṭhiek, Hrilrokhum. 1996. Maichâma Mei Chu Sukchawk Zing Ding A Nih.

H Thuomte

Thuomte, H. 2001. Joute Pahnam Inthladan . Churachandpur, Manipur
Various. 2008. Lal Remruot – Saidan Chanchin. Delhi. Hmanglien & Sons. Rai's Ad-venture, Delhi.

H Zaneisang

Zaneisang, H. 2003. Sinlung. Churachandpur, Manipur: H. Zaneisang. Diamond Offset, Churachandpur.

Timothy Z Zote

Zote, Timothy Z. 2007. Manmasi Year Book , Churachandpur, Manipur: Manmasi Year Book Editorial Board. BCPW, Imphal.

Robert L Sungte

Sungte, Robert L. 2007. Impact of Religious Journals on the Hmar tribe in Manipur, Karnataka. Mangalore University, Mangalore.

Immanuel Zarzosang

Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2016. Revisiting Sikpui Ruoi of the Hmar Tribe. Anthropology Today. Vol. 1, No. 2. ISSN 2454-2709. Pp. 60–72.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2017. In Search of the "Holy" Confluence: A Journey to the Barak River. In: Queenbala Marak "Doing Autoethnography". Serials Publications: New Delhi.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang & Lalthakim Hmar. 2016. Highland Musing. 2016. IndigeNE: Imphal.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang & Lalthakim Hmar. 2016. Sinlung Sermei. IndigeNE: Imphal.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2014. Hmar at the Crossroads. IndigeNE: Imphal.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2014. Culture and Development: Hmar of Tipaimukh in Transition. IndigeNE: Imphal.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2019. Ruolevaisuo a Hohlimna Thusim Thlirletna. 2019. In: Nunhlui-II, Assam University, Silchar, Hmar Literature Society, Assam.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2014. Traditional concepts on honour, wealth, happiness and self-reliance vis-á-vis planned development: Case of the Hmars. In: Aheibam Koireng Singh, Amol Sanasam and Sushma Phurailatpam "Knowing Manipur from Endogenous Perspective". Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University and Indian Council of Social Science Research: Imphal. Vol. 2.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2011. Indigenous Knowledge System, Identity, Freedom and Tipaimukh Dam: An Anthropological Perspective. In: Lal Dena "Dialogue on Tipaimukh Dam". Akansha Publishing House: New Delhi.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang & R. Th. Varte. 2017. Hmar Traditional Practices in Conflict Resolution: An Anthropological Perspective. In: Melvil Pereira, Bitopi Dutta and Binita Kakati "Legal Pluralism and Indian Democracy: Tribal Conflict Resolution Systems in Northeast India". Routledge: New York.
Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2005. Pre-historical Heritage of Ruong Le Vaisuo. "Hmar Arasi". Souvenir on the occasion of Cultural Festival-cum-Sikpui Ruoi, 2 – 5 December & 50th General Assembly-cum-Literary Meet, 15 – 16 December. Hmar Students' Association General Headquarters: Churachandpur.

Piani Hmar

Rolung, Sinlung Academy of Letters, 2025

C. Vanlalawmpuia

Vanlalawmpuia, C. "Ṭawngkasuok: Traditional Sayings of the Hmar People," Mizoram University Journal of Humanities and Social Science, X, 1, 2024.