Historian believe that the Mizos are a
part of the great wave of the great wave of the Mongolian race spilling over
into the eastern and southern India centuries ago. Their sojourn in Western
Burma, into which they eventually around seventh century, is estimated to last
about two centuries. They came under the influence of the British Missionaries
in the 9th century, and now most of the Mizos are Christians. One of the beneficial
result of Missionary activities was the spread of education.
The Missionaries introduced the Roman script for the Mizo language and formal
education. The cumulative result is high percentage 95 % ( as per National Sample
Survey 1997-98) which is considered to be highest in India. The Mizos area distinct
community and the social unit was the village. Around it revolved the life of
a Mizo. Mizo Village is ussually set on the top of a hill with the chief's house
at the centre and the bachelor’s dormitory called Zawlbuk, prominently
.
In a way the focal point in the village was the Zawlbuk where all young bachelors
of the village slept. Zawlbuk was the training ground, and indeed, the cradle
wherein the Mizo youth was shaped into a responsibility adult member of the
society.
The Mizos are divided into several tribes - the Lushais, Pawis, Paihtes, Raltes,
Pang, Hmars, Kukis etc. Previously believers of the good spirit called Pathian.
the Mizo community today is greatly influenced by Christianity. Mizos have accepted
English as their medium of instruction, but the Mizo language is still widely
spoken.
The fabric of social life in the Mizo
society has undergone tremendous changes over years. Before the British moved
into the hills, for all practical purposes the village and the clan formed units
of Mizo society. The Mizo code of ethics or Dharma moved around 'Tlawmngaihna',
an untranslatable term meaning on the part of everyone to be hospitable, kind,
unselfish and helpful to others. Tlawmngaihna to Mizo stands for the compelling
moral force which finds expression in self-sacrifice for the service of the
others.
The old belief, Pathian is still use in term God till today. The Mizos have
been enchanted to their new-found faith of Christianity with so much dedication
and submission that their entire social life and thought-process been transformed
and guided by the Christian Church Organisation and their sense of values has
also undergone drastic change.
The Mizos area close-knit society with no class distinction and no discrimination
on grounds of sex. Ninety percent of them are cultivators and the village exists
like a big family. Birth of a child, marriage in the village and death of a
person in the village or a community feast arranged by a member of the village
are important occasions in which the whole village is involved.
The original garment of the Mizos is
known as puan. They were used by men and women more or less in the same fashion.
One has to see them to believe the intricate traditional designs woven by the
Mizo women, born weavers who produce what can only be described as art on their
looms. The Mizo have held on to certain patterns and mottos that have come down
through the ages. These design have become deep rooted in their tribal consciousness
and has become a part of the Mizo heritage.
The unique value of Mizo Puan comes from the personal involvement of the weaver,
who with great labour weaves her dreams into each work and weft until every
design has a story to tell. These traditional hand woven apparels are of different
shades and designs without exquisite play of colour combination and intricate
weaving patterns has been evolved. Some of the common clothing or puan are :-
»
Puanchei : It is by far the most colourful costume and is used
by every Mizo lady.
»
Kawrchei : A distinctive blouse of the ladies
»
Ngotekherh : This traditional puan is won round the waist originally
it was a men's puan but now it is worn by men and
women
alike.
»
Hmar am : Originally this was a small hand woven cloth of handspun
cotton and indigo dye.
»
Cyhna Hno : It is a beautiful embroidered silk puan of the Maras.
It is used both by men and women
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