Mizoram
Mizoram is a state in northeastern India, with Aizawl as its capital and largest city. It shares 722-kilometres of international borders with Bangladesh to the west, and Myanmar to the east and south, with domestic borders with the Indian states of Assam, Manipur, and Tripura. It covers an area of 21,081 square kilometres. Via satellite data forests cover 84.53% of Mizoram's area, making it the fourth most heavily forested state in India. With an estimated population of 1.26 million in 2023, it is the second least populated state in India. With an urbanisation rate of 51.5% it is the most urbanised state in northeast India, ranking fifth in urbanisation nationwide. One of the two official languages and most widely spoken tongue is Mizo, which serves as a lingua franca among various ethnic communities who speak a variety of other Tibeto-Burman or Indo-Aryan languages. Mizoram is home to the highest percentage of scheduled tribes in India, with the Mizo people forming the majority.
Early civilisations in Mizoram are believed to have thrived since around 600 BC, with significant archaeological evidence uncovered in the Vangchhia region. Following this, Tibeto-Burman-speaking peoples gradually migrated from the Chin Hills in present-day Myanmar. These groups formed organised chiefdoms and adopted jhum agricultural practices. By the 18th century, various clans in the region united to form the Mizo identity, becoming the dominant inhabitants of the area, introducing the Mizo language, culture, and the Sakhua religion. In the mid-19th century, the British conducted a series of military expeditions to assert control over the region, Mizoram was annexed by the British in 1895 and incorporated into the Assam Province. Under British rule, the introduction of administrative reforms and the spread of Christianity significantly impacted Mizo society.
After India gained independence in 1947, Mizoram remained part of Assam as the Lushai Hills District. After the Assamese Government's negligence of the Mizos during the famine, insurgency was led by the Mizo National Front in the 1960s which culminated in the signing of the Mizoram Peace Accord in 1986. On 20 February 1987, Mizoram was granted full statehood, becoming the 23rd state of India.
Mizoram is predominantly Christian, with about 87% of the population practising Christianity, mainly Protestant denominations such as Presbyterian and Baptist. It is one of the three states of India with a Christian majority. Other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam are also practised in the state. Mizoram's population is predominantly made up of Mizo or Zo tribes, comprising about 83.4% of the state's population, with other significant communities including the Chakma and Tripuri. Due to the prolonged civil conflict in Myanmar, Mizoram has also seen an influx of Burmese communities, especially from the Chin ethnic group, which has sought refuge in the region.
Mizoram is a highly literate agrarian economy. Slash-and-burn farming, also known as jhum, is the most common form of farming in the state. In recent years, the jhum farming practices have been steadily replaced with a significant horticulture and bamboo products industry. Mizoram's estimated gross state domestic product for 2025 was estimated at. About 20% of Mizoram's population lives below the poverty line, with 35% rural poverty as of 2014. The state has about 871 kilometres of national highways, with NH–54 and NH–150 connecting it to Assam and Manipur respectively. It is also a growing transit point for trade with Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Etymology and names
The name Mizoram is derived from two Mizo words: Mizo and ram. Mizo refers to the native inhabitants of the region, with Mi meaning "human" or "civilian" and Zo holding varied interpretations. Some suggest Zo signifies "highland" or "remote," drawing parallels to Willem van Schendel's concept of Zomia Others associate it with the feeling of "cool" or "crisp," evoking the climate of the high-altitude region. The term Mizo has evolved into a broad ethnic classification, encompassing various subgroups and clans inhabiting the area, historically known as the Lushai Hills. Many speakers of Central Kuki-Chin languages have also adopted the Mizo identity while others have not.The second component, ram, means "land" or "forest". Together, Mizoram translates to "land of the Mizos" or simply "Mizo land."
The Lushais were known as the Ka Lin Kaw or the Kalinko by the pre-modern Burmans, though detailed etymological studies specific to this name are limited.
According to Lalthangliana, the term Mizo is believed to have originated from an early settlement in present-day Mizoram. When Chief Lallula established the Chiefdom of Zopui in the 1750s, he gained a formidable reputation through successful raids against the Chins and the consolidation of his power. It is suggested that the term Mizo emerged as a way for the inhabitants of Zopui to distinguish themselves as descendants of this settlement under Chief Lallula.
The widespread adoption of Mizo gained momentum by the 1961 census, with over 96% of the population identifying under the term. This surge in popularity is attributed to political developments, particularly the efforts of the Mizo Union. Founded to unify various tribes of the Lushai Hills, the Mizo Union played a pivotal role in redefining regional identity. In 1954, the organisation successfully advocated for renaming the Lushai Hills District as the Mizo District, further solidifying the term Mizo as a collective identity.
Before gaining statehood in 1987, the region was historically had been known as the Lushai Hills District from British colonial rule and for the first 40 years of Indian independence. The term Lushai is an anglicised form of Lusei, one of the prominent clans among the Mizo people. Then, the new state government of Mizoram replaced the old name with Mizoram to reflect the broader identity of the Mizo community.
History
Prehistory (600 BC)
The prehistory and early history of Mizoram are marked by the presence of ancient human settlements, with evidence suggesting that people inhabited the region as early as 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. The archaeological evidence from the Vangchhia site has provided insights into the region's ancient past, with human remains, ornaments, pottery, and burial practices dating back to 600 BC and extending up to AD 1750. Excavations at Vangchhia revealed a sophisticated culture with distinct socio-political structures of the Indo–Lushai cultural genus. This necropolis is considered one of the largest in the world.Similar megalithic stones have been discovered in nearby villages like Fârkawn, Lianpui, Khankawn, Khawbung, and Vaphai, suggesting a widespread culture. In addition, remnants of small, man-made cave dwellings, topped with towering menhirs, were found at the hilltop village of Dungtláng. These large stones, taller than an average grown man, raise intriguing questions about their purpose, the people who erected them, and how these massive boulders were transported up steep mountain slopes from the Tlawng valley below, possibly the region's only apparent stone quarry.
A unique discovery at Vangchhia is the Pipute Lamlian, also known as the "Ancestors' Pathway," a footpath that traverses the site and branches out in three directions—north, south, and east. The path is lined with rocks engraved with images of sial heads, flowers, and human figures, reminiscent of carvings found at Kawtchhuah Ropui. This suggests that the region's ancient societies developed their own unique cultural practices, separate from other civilisations, with trade connections extending across the region, including Bangladesh, Mainland India, and Myanmar.
Among the most significant findings is a 200-metre long water pavilion, a stone structure resembling those found in Mughal cities. This water pavilion, likely used as a recreational arena, is surrounded by an elevated platform, suggesting its role in entertainment and social gatherings. The discovery of such a feature points to the possibility of a much larger, lost civilisation, and further excavation is essential to draw definitive conclusions about the site's full historical significance.
Arrival of the Mizos (1500s)
The Mizos, part of the Tibeto-Burman linguistic group, are believed to have embarked on a southward journey between the 16th and 18th centuries, originating from areas in present-day China and Myanmar.The Chhînlung origin legend, cherished in Mizo folklore, speaks of an ancestral homeland, often associated with a location near the Yalong River in China. Linguistic and anthropological evidence suggests that the Mizos passed migrated from the Chindwin and Irrawaddy River regions before the 8th century AD through the Shan States of Myanmar, the Kabaw Valley, settled in the Chin Hills, then the Lusei tribe first crossed the Ṭiau river to settle in the Lushai Hills by the 1500s. Following the Luseis, the Hmâr, Thado, Pawi, Suktê, Mara, and other subgroups occupied different regions of Mizoram by the 1700s.
The people living in the Lushai Hills were generally referred to as the Cucis or Kukis by their neighbouring ethnic groups, which was also a term adopted by the British writers. The claim that 'The Kukis are the earliest known residents of the Mizo hills area,' must be read in this light.
Chieftainship (1500s–1954)
Historically, Mizo chiefdoms were primarily subsistence-based, practising slash-and-burn, locally called jhum cultivation, but they also engaged in trade due to their proximity to ancient trade routes linking Yunnan to the Bay of Bengal. Chiefs often demanded tributes from neighbouring kingdoms in the plains and established a barter system within their chiefdoms. Larger transactions relied on the sial as a unit of wealth and compensation, while elephant tusks served as an alternative currency. Mizo chiefs also employed karbari or "men of business", who acted as intermediaries between the chiefs and foreign traders. Skilled in jungle navigation and multiple languages, such as Bengali, the karbari facilitated trade, particularly in South Lushai Hills.The forests of Mizoram provided valuable resources such as elephant hides and bones, which were highly sought after by merchants from Sylhet during the Mughal Empire. Elephant hides were used for shields in local infantry and cavalry, while the bones were crafted into luxury items and sword parts. Chiefs maintained a rudimentary system for measuring and sorting goods like rice, using specially shaped buckets. The first Mizo chief was Zahmuaka in the 16th century.
The zawlbûk system was established during the chieftainship era as a cornerstone of Mizo society, blending governance, defence, and cultural education. Originating as a bachelor dormitory for young men, it was situated at the village entrance to serve as both a sentinel hub and a training ground. Chiefs and elders implemented the Zawlbûk to prepare the youth for communal responsibilities, teaching them skills in warfare, agriculture, and social customs. This system fostered unity, discipline, and loyalty, ensuring that the village thrived under the collective effort and vigilance of its people.