Mizoram, one of the seven sister states of north-east India, offers a rich mix of tribal traditions, folk tales preserved in song and dance culture, exotic flora and fauna, pleasant climate and hospitable people. Strategically and precariously perched between the somewhat less-than-friendly nations of Myanmar and Bangladesh, the tiny hill state of Mizoram aka Hill People’s Land (pop. 1 million) is one of the ‘seven sister’ states of north-east India. Watered by the Tlawang, Sonai, Tuivawl, Kolodine and Kamaphulr rivers, this misty hill state offers visitors alpine forests, high mountains, deep valleys and enchanting lakes interspersed by quaint tribal villages. This lonely north-eastern state’s rich tribal traditions and folk tales preserved in song and dance culture, pleasant climate and the hospitality of its people are fast transforming the hitherto neglected outpost into a year-round tourism destination. The Mizo people are the original inhabitants of this scenic region (area: 21,087 sq km). Etymologically Mizoram is a compound of two words: mi meaning ‘man’ and zo meaning ‘hills’. Hence Mizoram is known as the Hill People’s Land. Unsurprisingly, a high hill range (3,000-7,000 ft) cuts right across the state in a north-south direction, with sparse plains located to the east. Mizoram’s highest peak Phawngpui or ‘blue mountain’ is 7,145 ft high and is also known as the ‘vast meadow’. The Tropic of Cancer runs through Mizoram with its latitudinal location bestowing the region with a pleasant climate — cool summers and cold, rain free winters. A fully-fledged state of the Indian Union, Mizoram is governed by a single-chamber Legislative Assembly of 40 elected MLAs and sends two members to Parliament in New Delhi. With its administrative capital in Aizwal, Mizoram is divided into eight districts — Aizwal, Lunglei, Kolasib, Mamit, Champai, Serchhip, Siaha and Lawngtlai. Despite the low profile — or perhaps because of it — the state maintains in New Delhi and the Indian subcontinent in general, Mizoram enjoys high literacy (91.58 percent) — third highest (after Himachal Pradesh and Kerala) in India. This is mainly because of the efforts of missionaries in this largely Christian state who have promoted a network of schools and education institutions. According to ancient legend, Mizo ancestors emerged from under a large rock known as the Chhinglung. Two of them were talking loudly to the extent of misleading God to believe that there were enough people to fill Mizoram prompting him to close the rock face which has since grown into a mountain. However historians say that Chhinglung is actually the Chinese city of Singlung or Chinlingsang situated close to the China-Myanmar border. Little is known of Mizoram’s early history. According to historians, between 1750 and 1850 members of the Lushai tribe migrated from the Chin Hills, bordering Myanmar and China, subjugated the indigenous population and assimilated into their society. A network of tribes morphed into an autocratic political system of 300 hereditary chiefs extending across the north-east which became the territory of Assam. The British annexed Assam in 1826 under the Treaty of Yandabo and…
