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Hmar people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hmar people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Hmar) Hmar is the name of one of the numerous Mizo/Kuki/Chin tribes of India, spread over a large area in the northeast. The Hmars belong to the Chin-KukiMizo group of tribes, and are recognised as Scheduled Tribe under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India. They are a small community of less than 100,000 in Assam, although there are more in Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura .[1] Literally, Hmar means North or Northern people, as they are living north to the Lusei people. But this is hotly debated among the community itself. Some scholars are of the opinion that the word originated from the style of tying the hair knot on the head.

Hmar
(Mar, Mhar)
Regions with significant populations India
(Manipur Mizoram Assam Meghalaya Tripura)

Languages Hmar Mizo Hindi English Religion Christianity Related ethnic groups Lushai Chin Kuki Mizo

Contents
1 Area 2 Religion 3 Origins 4 Sub-tribes or Clans 5 Food 6 Political movements 7 Literature 7.1 References 8 See also 9 Hmar-related websites 10 References

Area
Hmars live mostly in the hills of south Manipur, Mizoram, Cachar, North Cachar, Meghalaya, Tripura and Chittagong Hill Tracts. Although these areas are within different administrative divisions, they are geographically connected. In Manipur, the Hmars reside in the south, especially in the Churachandpur District and its adjoining areas. These areas, except Tuithaphai (the Khuga Valley/Churachandpur), are hilly. Tuiruong (Barak), Tuivai and Tuithapui (Khuga) are some of the important rivers flowing through this area. In Mizoram, the Hmars live mostly in the north, especially in the Aizawl District. In Assam, the Hmars live in the Cachar and North Cachar District. In Meghalaya, the Hmars live in the Jaintia Hills District and Shillong in Khasi Hills District. In Tripura, the Hmars mostly live in and around Darchawi, a village on the Mizoram Tripura border.

Religion
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Religion among Assamese Hmar[2]

Religion Percent

Origins

The Hmars trace their origin to Sinlung, the location of which is hotly debated. The term Hmar is believed to have originated from the term Hmarh meaning tying of ones hair in a knot on the nape of ones head. According to Hmar tradition, there were once two brothers, namely, Hrumsawm and Tukbemsawm. Hrumsawm, the elder one, used to tie his hair in a knot on his forehead because of a sore on the nape of his neck. After his death, all his descendents followed the same hair style and the Pawis, who live in South Mizoram, are believed to be the progeny of Hrumsawm. The younger brother, Tukbemsawm, however, tied his hair in a knot on the back of his head. The Hmars, who continued Tukbemsawms hairstyle, are believed to be the descendants of Tukbemsawm (Songate, 1967).
Hinduism Christianity Others 0.90% 98.58% 0.52%

Several theories have been put forward regarding the origin of the Hmars, but it appears historically evident that the Hmars originally came from Central China. A Hmar historian, H. Songate (1956), proposes that the original home of the Hmars might be the present Tailing or Silung in South East China bordering the Shan state of Myanmar. According to Songate (1956), The Hmars left Sinlung because of the waves of Chinese immigrants and political pressure drove them away to the south. The exact time of departure from Sinlung and the original route they followed is not known to this day. However, traces have been found in poems and legends that they came to the Himalayas, and the great mountains made it impossible for them to continue their southward journey. So, they turned eastward of India from there. The Hmars are part of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo groups of people found in North East India, Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The Hmars still treasure and garner their traditional arts, including folk dance, folk songs, handicrafts, etc., representing scenes of adventure, battle, love, victory, and other experiences throughout history. The majority of the Hmars are cultivators. The Hmars in South Manipur were introduced to Christianity in the year 1910 by Watkin Roberts, a Welsh missionary [3]

Sub-tribes or Clans
The Hmar tribe comprises numerous sub-tribes or clans (Pahnam in Hmar language. In the past these clans had their own villages and their own dialects. However, today majority of the Hmar population use Hmar language. Some of the major clans are: 1. BIETE. 1. Betlu, 2. Chungngol, 3. Darnei, 4. Fatlei, 5. Hmunhring, 6. Khurbi, 7. Nampui, 8. Ngamlai, 9. Puilo, 10. Sawnlen, 11.Tlungurh, 12.Tamlo 13.Thienglai 2. DARNGAWN. 1. Faiheng, 2. Ruolngul, 3. Famhawite, 4. Lamchawngte, 5. Fatlei, 6. Chawnghmunte, 7. Sanate, 8. Sinate. 3. FAIHRIEM 1. Aimuol, 2. Bapui, 3. Dulien, 4. Hmuntha, 5. Khawkhieng, 6. Khawhreng, 7. Khuolhring, 8. Khawlum, 9. Saivate, 10.Seiling, 11. Sekawng, 12. Sakum, 13. Tuollai, 14. Tuimuol, 15. Tusing, 16. Vangsie, 17. Chawngthu. 4. LAWITLANG 1. Hrangchal, 2. Sungte, 3. Varte, 4. Suomte, 5. Tlawmte, 6. Chawnsim, 7. Pautu, 8. Rawite. 5. KHAWBUNG 1. Fente, 2. Pangamte, 3. Pazamte, 4. Riensete, 5. Bunglung, 6. Muolphei, 7. Phunte, 8. Laising.

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6. LUNGTAU 1. Mihriemate, 2. Sawngate, 3. Infimate, 4. Nungate, 5. Intoate, 6. Lungchuong, 7. Pasulate, 8. Keivom, 9. Tamhrang, 10. Sielhnam, 11. Theisiekate, 12. Sunate, 13. Thlawngate. 7. LEIRI 1. Neingaite, 2. Puruolte, 3. Pudaite, 4. Pulamte, 5. Puhnuongte, 6. Thlandar. 8. THIEK 1. Zate, 2. Amaw, 3. Tuolor, 4. Buhril, 5. Hekte, 6. Kungate, 7. Thluchung, 8. Selate, 9. Hnamte, 10. Taite, 11. Hnamte, 12. Khawzawl, 13. Vankal, 14. Pakhumate, 15. Thlihran, 16. Hmante, 17. Tamte, 18. Chawnnel. 19. Athu, 9. ZOTE 1. Pusiete, 2. Chuonkhup, 3. Saihmang, 4. Hriler, 5. Chawnghau, 6. Chawngvawr, 7. Buonsuongte, 8. Chawngtuol, 9. Darkhawlai, 10.Tlangte, 11.Parate, 12. Hrangate, 13. Ngaiate, 14. Neitham. 10. HRANGKHAWL 1. Penatu, 2. Chawlkha, 3. Phuoitawng, 4. Dumker, 5. Chorei, 6 Sakachep. 11. CHANGSAN 1. Armei, 2. Chaileng, 3. Hrawte, 4. Kellu, 5. Zilhmang, 6. Ngulthuom, 7. Thangngen, 8. Hranhnieng, 9. Zilchung, 10.Ngawithuom. 12. NGURTE 1. Saingur, 2. Bangran, 3. Chiluon, 4. Bangran. 13. NGENTE 1. Chawnghawi, 2. Dosak, 3. Dothlang, 4. Lailo, 5. Laitui, 6. Laihring, 7. Tuolngun, 8. Zawngte, 9. Zawhte, 10. Bawlte. 14. PAKHUONG 1. Khuongpui, 2. Buongpui, 3. Hranngul, 4. Khelte. 15. KHIENGTE 1. Khupthang, 2. Khupsung, 3. Kumsung, 4. Khello, 5. Muolvun, 6. Singbel, 7. Chawngte.

Food
Rice is the staple food and wheat, maize, millet are the substantial cereals, which can be prepared for consumption in various ways. Large quantities of cooked rice, meat, and vegetables are consumed with various kinds of chutney, ginger, garlic, chilies, and spices. Two heavy meals of almost identical preparation a day is consumed and all else are comestibles of little significance. Since jhum cannot supply all the vegetables and meat, they constantly go to the forest seeking for vegetables, and hunting for deer, fowl, trap small game like squirrels, birds, etc. In preparation, nothing is discarded; chitterlings, such as the brain, hide and innards are all included. The Hmars eat lots of hot chilli (pepper) but with very little spice. Some of the famous dishes are chartang (mixture of meat, vegetable and hot pepper, hmepawk (stew), and changalhme (vegetable or meat cooked with hot pepper and soda from the ashes)(Pudaite, 1963). Also the Hmars enjoy sathu a kind of fermented fats of either pork or beef and prepared in various dishes, "sithu" " bekanthu" etc are some of the common ingredients eaten.

Political movements
The Hmar People's Convention (HPC) is the political party representing the separatist interest of the tribe. Since 1987 it rose in insurgency, until a ceasefire was signed in 1992. After that a radical section split off, calling itself Hmar People's Convention (Democracy). An armed wing Hnam Santu (English: Hmar Protection Cell) has been active since 2003.[citation needed ]

Literature
Dena, Lal; In search of identity: Hmars of North-East India; New Delhi 2008; ISBN 978-81-8370134-1
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Allen BC, Gait EA, Allen CGH and Howard HF. Gazetteer of Bengal and North East India. Mittal Publications.New Delhi 1979. Pudaite, Rochunga. 1963. The Education of the Hmar People. Sielmat, Churachandpur. Indo-Burma Pioneer Mission, 1963. Songate, H. 1956. Hmar History-Hmar Chanchin. Imphal: Mao Press. Songate, H. 1967. Hmar Chanchin (Hmar History).Churachandpur: L & R Press.

References
1. ^ Hazarika, Sanjoy (1994). Strangers in the Mist. New Delhi: Viking Penguin India. p. 238. ISBN 0-670-859095. 2. ^ [Not available online. Available only in CD. "Census of India - Socio-cultural aspects, Table ST-14"] Check | u r l =scheme (help). Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. 3. ^ Impact of Religious Journal on the Hmar Tribe in Manipur (http://www.scribd.com/doc/351579/Impact-ofReligious-Journal-on-the-Hmar-Tribe-in-Manipur)

See also
Bnei Menashe

Hmar-related websites
Hmar.In: Infoway of the indigenous Hmar people (http://www.hmar.in) Sinlung (http://www.sinlung.com/) INPUI.COM News & Information 'House' of the Hmar Tribe (http://www.inpui.com) Hmar Rnpui : Hmar Social Network (http://www.hmarrunpui.com) Hmar Guwahati - Hmar Welfare Society, Guwahati (http://www.hmar-guwahati.com) DELHI THURAWN: Organ of the Hmar Students' Association, Joint Headquarters, Delhi (http://dt.sinlung.com/) A Socio-Religious-Cultural Centre in Delhi, India, for the preservation and propagation of Hmar ethnicity (http://www.Hmarcentre.org) Hmar Resources Online: The Hmar Repository (http://www.scribd.com/people/view/101067-hmarresources-online-hro/) Mumbai Tuisunsuo Weekly News (http://www.mumbaituisunsuo.co.cc) Mumbai Hmar Portal of the Hmars in Mumbai (http://mumbaihmar.com/) Hmar Arasi Official website of the Hmar Students' Association, Bangalore Branch (http://hmararasi.org/) VIRTHLI (http://virthli.blogspot.com/) HmasawnnaThar (http://hmasawnnathar.blogspot.com/) http://www.hmarram.com/

References
1. ^ Hazarika, Sanjoy (1994). Strangers in the Mist. New Delhi: Viking Penguin India. p. 238. ISBN 0-670-859095. 2. ^ [Not available online. Available only in CD. "Census of India - Socio-cultural aspects, Table ST-14"] Check | u r l =scheme (help). Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. 3. ^ Impact of Religious Journal on the Hmar Tribe in Manipur (http://www.scribd.com/doc/351579/Impact-ofen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hmar 4/5

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Hmar people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Religious-Journal-on-the-Hmar-Tribe-in-Manipur)

Indian Catholic, Christian leaders gather warring ethnic groups for peace (http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=19834) Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hmar_people&oldid=558300245" Categories: Hmar Indigenous peoples of India Mizo clans This page was last modified on 4 June 2013 at 15:15. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

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