Mizoram State Information

Mizoram State Information

Capital : Aizawl.
Districts :8
Languages: Mizo, English.

Introduction to Mizoram.

Mizoram is a state situated on the extreme south of
northeastern India, it is a land of unending natural beauty
with a variety of flora and fauna. The word “Mizo” means
highlander. The state of Mizoram is a storehouse of exotic
flora and fauna. The hills here could be seen covered with
bamboo and banana trees along with a wonderful array of
pine trees.

The forests here also house some of the rare
varieties of orchids that are found only in this region of
the country.

Under the British administration, Mizoram
was known as Lushai Hills district. In 1954 by an Act of
Parliament, the name was changed to Mizo Hills district.

In
1972, when it was made into a union territory, it was
named Mizoram. Mizoram became the 23rd state of the
Indian union on February 20,1987

Geography of Mizoram.

Mizoram is located between 21-58o to 24o 29' north
latitude and 92o 29' to 93o 22' east longitude.

The tropic
of Cancer passes near the capital, Aizawl town. Mizoram
occupies the north east corner of India. It is bounded on
the north by the state of Assam and the state of Manipur,
on the east and south by Chin Hills and Arakan
(Myanmar), and on the west by the Chittagong hill tracts of
Bangladesh and the state of Tripura. Mizoram borders
three states of India - Assam , Manipur and Tripura. Its
geographical borders with Assam, Manipur and Tripura
extended over 123 km, 95 km and 66 km, respectively.

Mizoram is a land of hills. The hills run in ridges from
north to south. They have an average height of 900 meters,
the highest point being the Blue Mountain (2165 meters).

Brief History of Mizoram.

Not much early history recorded of Mizoram. It is believed
that the Mizos migrated to this region hundreds of years
ago. The tribal groups of Tibeto-Burmese race inhabited
Mizoram.

During the period 1750-1850 migrations led to
settlements in the hills. The tribal groups were governed
under a hereditary chieftainship.

The Lushais are the most
predominant tribe besides a few others like Panei, Lakher,
Chakma, Riang.

During the British period,

  Mizoram became
a part of the territory of the British India in 1891 though
the administration of the villages was left to the local
chieftains.
After independence of India, Mizoram continued to be part
of Assam.

The district was carved out of Assam under the
reorganization act of 1971 and raised to the status of a
union territory on January 21, 1972. In 1987, Mizoram
became the 23rd full-fledged state of the country.

Districts� of Mizoram.

Mizoram has 8 districts:
Aizwal,
Lunglei,
Chhimtuipui,
Lawngtlai,
Mamit,
Kolasib,
Serchhip and Champhai

Economy of Mizoram.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of the state. The
jhum (shifting) cultivation of the state produces a number
of varieties of agricultural products ranging from paddy to
pineapples.

The principal crop is paddy and others are
maize, cucumber, beans, arum, ginger, mustard, sesame,
cotton etc.

After clearing the burnt jhum, seeds for crops
other than paddy are sown. Towards the end of April near
the full moon time, paddy is sown. Mainly two types of
paddy seeds are sown in the same field - early paddy and
principal paddy.

Yield of early paddy is rather poor but it
ripens early and provides sustenance till the principal paddy
is harvested.

Mizoram is not a highly industrialized state.

The
traditional industries of weavers and blacksmiths played an
important role but most of their products are for home
consumption and very little come to the market. Mizoram
has plenty of raw materials for industry mostly from forest,
agriculture and horticulture.

Some ginger and fruit
processing plants have come up in the state.

A State
Government undertaking - Mizoram Food and Allied
Industries Corporation has been set up to develop,
industries based on agro-horticultural products. Apart from
the ginger, maize and fruit juice plants, there is potential
for setting up different industrial projects based on locally
produced fruits, tea, coffee, chillies, oilseeds, sugar cane,
meat, milk, etc. The local crafts including Mizo hats, side
bags, floor rugs, aprons, cane works and Mizo shawls have
become very popular all over India. The tourism industry is
also picking up well in Mizoram.

Mizoram Travel Information.

Mizoram has many destinations to visit----
Phawngpui,
Sibuta Lung,
Phulpui Grave,
Memorial of Chhingpui,
Pangzawal,
Mangkahia Lung,
Tomb of Vanhimailian,
Tualchang,
Eastern Villages,
Lungvandawt,
Khawnglung
Run,
Buddha's Image,
Thangliana Lung,
Suangpuilawn,
Thansiama Seno Neihna,
Aizawl, cave and lakes aizawl.

The
Museum and Mini Zoological Garden at Aizawl,
Bung (a
picnic spot), and Paikhai are worth a visit. Besides this,
the Tamdil natural lake (located 60 km away from
Aizawl), the Vantawng falls (137 km from Aizawl) and
Champai (204 km from Aizawl) are some other tourist sites
of the state.

Mizoram has a number of places which are of
historical interest and are associated with folklore, legends
and stories which are passed on from generation to
generation.

Rivers of Mizoram.

There are number of rivers in Mizoram.
The important
rivers in the northern part of the state are the Tlawng
(Dhaleshwari), the Tuirial (Sonai), and the Tuivwal, which
flow northwards and fall in the Barak river in Cachar
district in Assam.

These three rivers, particularly the
Dhaleshwari, are navigable for considerable stretches.
In
the southern part of the state the Chhimtuipui (Kolodyne) is
an important river having four tributaries- the Mat, the
Tuichang, the Tyao and the Tuipui.
Education of Mizoram
The British first introduced education in the form of
reading and writing in the area. The initiative in spreading
education was taken by the Christian missionaries. The first
school in Mizoram was started by the missionaries in
Aizawl in 1897. Spread of education in Mizoram was
adversely affected by the migratory habits of the Lushais.
The Government's attention to education increased
significantly after independence.

Earlier the efforts were
mainly to increase primary education. Quite a number of
primary schools were gradually upgraded to middle and
high school level. The number of educational institutions is
keeping pace with the thirst of the Mizos for formal
education.

The state also have different training cum
production centers and cover courses such as silk spinning
and weaving, cotton spinning and weaving, soap making, oil
extraction, carpentry, cane and bamboo works etc.

Food of Mizoram.

The food of the state differs from the rest of the country.

People here are mostly non-vegetarian and prefer to eat
meat.

Moreover, the usual meal is not so spicy but plain in
taste retaining the nutritious value of the food.

The locally
made wine is a favorite of all..

Arts & Culture of Mizoram.

Mizo art and craft items are worth treasuring.

Mizo women
are born weavers and the intricate designs created by them
are a treat to the eyes.

The choice of bright colors in
everything is a unique feature of Mizo art and crafts.

The
exclusive cane and bamboo furniture of Mizoram is marked
by innovative designs.
The native people of the state are called Mizos, meaning the
highlanders.

They are of Mongolian origin, believed to have
migrated from northwestern China.

With the passage of
time, a number of people with their own culture and
tradition and belonging to diverse ethnicity have made this
state their home.

The music and dance of Mizoram differs
from community to community. The most popular of the
dances is the Cheaw Dance, performed on bamboo checks
and requires a very smooth rhythm between the dancers and
the instrumentalists.

Festivals of Mizoram.

There are three main festivals in a year.
Festivals are
called Kut in Mizo language.
The three Kuts are
Chapchar
Kut,
Mim Kut and Pawl Kut.

All the three festivals are
connected with agricultural activities.

The festivals are
celebrated with feasts and dances.
Costumes of Mizoram
The attire of the people here is unique.

In the case of
women, the upper portion of their body is covered with fine
woven cloth in the form of a shirt or blouse and the lower
portion is covered by a finely woven and intricately designed
sarong.

The sarongs sometimes are very heavy due to the
design work on its borders. The men generally wear a
colorful shirt and a wraparound piece of cloth around their
waist similar to a dhoti.