Hmar and Zomi Tribes

20.03.2025

Hmar and Zomi Tribes

Why in the news?                        

A day after the imposition of restrictions following clashes between the Hmar and Zomi people in Manipur, leaders of the two communities recently agreed to work together to restore peace in Churachandpur district of the State.

About Zomi Tribe:

• The Zomi are an ethnic group which can be found in India, Myanmar and in Chittagong hill tracks of Bangladesh.
• The word Zomi is used to describe an ethnic group, which is also known as the Chin, the Mizo, the Kuki, or a number of other names based on geographic distribution.
• In northeastern India, they are present in Chin State, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Assam.
• They belong to the Tibeto-Burman group of Mongoloid race.
• The dispersal across international borders resulted from a British colonial policy that drew borders on political, rather than ethnic, grounds.
• Language: They speak more than fifty dialects that linguists call the Kukish language group, which is also known as Kuki-Chin (Kuki/Chin), Mizo/Kuki/Chin, or Kuki Naga.
• Religion and Beliefs: Traditionally, Zomis followed animism and worshiped nature spirits. Today, Christianity (mainly Baptist and Presbyterian) is the dominant religion.
• They have typical Tibeto-Burman features and are generally of short-stature with straight black hair and dark brown eyes.

About Hmar Tribe:

• The Hmar tribes (also called Mhar or Mar) are the dwellers of the northeastern part of India.
• The word "Hmar" literally means "north".
• They live in the northeastern states of Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, Megalaya and Tripura.
• They belonged to the Chin-Kuki Mizo group of tribes. They are of Mongoloid stock.
• Hmar folk songs reveal that these people migrated from Sinlung, which is assumed to be in China.
• They are recognised as Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution of India.
• Language: The Hmar language belongs to the Kuki-Chin group of Tibeto-Burman stock of the great Tibeto-Chinese family of languages.

Occupation of the tribe:

• The majority of the Hmars were cultivators.
• The Slash-and-burn system of agricultural practices is still at large by the Hmar Tribe.

Religion and Beliefs:

• Traditionally, they followed animistic and indigenous beliefs, but over time, many have converted to Christianity.

                                                             Source: The Hindu

In which of the following countries can the Zomi people be found?

A.India

B.Myanmar

C.Bangladesh

D.All of the above

Answer D