Government of India- 451 views
Mizo Way of Life
Scenic view from Mizoram Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Nestled within scenic mountains and lush green forests, the state of Mizoram in the North East, hosts a treasure trove of cultural heritage. Since time immemorial, the people of Mizoram have nurtured customs and habits that represent a distinct worldview. Often called the land of the blue mountain, Mizoram cradles an incredible tradition centred around the philosophy of sem sem dam dam, ei bil thi thi, meaning, “those who hoard will perish and those who share will live”. Closely aligned with this world-view are three important principles- Tlawmngaihna, Nghah lou dawr’ and Hnatlang.
Tlawmngaihna, literally means to be helpful and not be a burden on people around you. It also means that one should be courteous, courageous, kind, and vocal for the betterment of the larger community. The philosophy on which this custom is based promotes the idea of putting others' interests before one’s own. It is said that when someone puts ‘We’ before ‘I’, then the person becomes a Tlawmngaihna person. For example, in the Mizo society, if a farmer falls sick, it is the responsibility of the fellow villagers to cultivate the land for him. Similarly, fellow villagers are expected to help repair and rebuild houses affected by natural calamities, and also contribute food and other necessary items to the affected people. Being hospitable to travellers is also considered to be a fundamental duty of every individual of the community.
The next concept- Nghah lou dawr’ presents another incredible feature of Mizo society. This concept is seen in practice in shops without attendants, found along the highway in Seling, about 65 km from the capital city of Aizawl. Every morning the shop owners, who are also farmers, arrange an array of vegetables, fruits, bottles of fruit juice, small dried fish and freshwater snails (a local delicacy) in their thatched bamboo shops. They also hang small signboards with the names and prices of the goods and keep small payment boxes for customers. The shop owners then leave to work on their jhum (shifting cultivation) farms. People crossing the area are expected to pick up essential goods and drop the required money into the box. These shops are operational throughout the year. The system of Nghah lou dawr’-shops reflects a unique philosophy and way of conducting business that is purely based on honesty and faith.
Hnatlang is another welfare practice followed by the Mizos. In this practice, all able-bodied individuals of the community are expected to participate in social occasions and contribute in terms of labour. The practice of Hnatlang along with Tlawmngaihna makes it compulsory for them to offer all possible help on occasions of marriage, public feasts, construction of houses for self-help organisations, jhum cultivation etc. Participation of one member from each household is expected, failing which a fine in cash or kind is imposed on the family.
The principles cultivated and practised by the Mizos display a unique and admirable way of life in Mizoram. The harmonious attitude fostered for community welfare is instrumental in establishing unity among the Mizos and conveying the principle of solidarity to the world.
Recognizing the ongoing need to position itself for the digital future, Indian Culture is an initiative by the Ministry of Culture. A platform that hosts data of cultural relevance from various repositories and institutions all over India.