A Critical-7

1.1.Tradition Home of the Maras

Regarding the original home of the Maras is still shrouded in obscurity. Prof. D.G.E. Hail thinks that the earliest known home of the Tibeto-Burmese speaking peoples was somewhere between the Gobi desert and northeast of Tibet, also probably Kansu.[1] The Burma Census Report of 1891,[2] which is taken to be the most reliable source, says that the Tibeto-Burmese speaking peoples originally lived in Tibet and are of the same racial stock.

Although the Tibet region is the original abode of the Tibeto-Burmese speakers, the migration of the Maras to the Chin Hills of upper Myanmar is shrouded in mystery. A close affinity of the Maras with the hill tribes of the Tibeto-Burman family of languages, mode of living and culture, etc. thus suggests that they came from a common place and had common ancestors. It is possible that while the Maras were in the Chindwin Valley, they had close contact with other hill tribes and as a result they were mutual borrowings of languages and culture.[3] It is more likely that like other hill tribes, the Maras too moved down the Chindwin Valley from the North.[4] It may, therefore, be said that tough their original home is not yet identified; it is probable that while the Maras had been living in the Chindwin Valley, they were disturbed by the influx of the Tibeto-Burman speakers. From there they set off into hills and wider context, the entire fringe of south Kalemyo may be considered as the original home of the Maras.

However, the Mara tradition does not go beyond their settlement in the Chin Hills of upper Myanmar. The tradition held by local elders refers a place sôthlara situated south of Kalaymyo. It is probable that the early Maras had been living in this region for a longer period. This place has been identified by some writers as Suntla or Tashon.[5] This is known as Sothla. Down from the south Kalaymyo region, the Maras came in group to the present Chin Hills of Myanmar seeking food and warmth in their homesteads along the fertile hill areas. The infiltration lasted, it seems, several decades. The approximate date of their arrival at the Chin Hills may be put as the middle of the 13^th century A.D. because various hill tribes known as under the tern “Kuki” had been found in the Tripura kingdom during the reign of the Tipperah Raja Chachang who ruled in the beginning of the 16^th century A.D.[6] it was only in 1819 that the Burmese king gained the control over the present Chin Hills.

Furthermore, the Maras settled in various places in the south Haka Sub-division of the Chin Hills at different times, due to the nature of the several of the hill ranges in the Chin Hills. However, settlement at different scattered villages developed separate social-political organization.

Though the Maras belong to Mongoloid stock, their tradition Home did go beyond their settlement in the Chin Hills.

1.2.Maras belong to Mongoloid Stock

As we had mentioned in the previous page that the Maras belong to the Kuki-Chin group of Tibeto-Burma language speaking family and are of Mongoloid Stock. Therefore, it is not much necessary to be highly educated to tell regarding that the Maras belong to the Mongoloid stock. By looking and appearance of their physical features, mental disposition, social behaviour and customs sufficiently bear the stamp of the Mongoloid racial origin. This racial affinity of the Maras is certainly an important factor of identity as they belonged to Mongoloid Stock. This theory of the Maras belonging to the Mongoloid stock has perhaps, received the widest acceptance amongst the Maras.

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[1] D.G.E. Hail: A History of South East Asia, London, 1995, p.122.

[2] B.S. Carey & H.N. Tuck: The Chin Hills, Vol. I, Calcutta, Reprint, 1976, p.2.

[3] N.E. Parry: ibid, p. xvi.

[4] F.K. Lehman: The Structure of Chin Society, Reprint, 1980, p. 11.

[5] Ibid. p. 141; Also Vumson: Zo History, Aizawl, 1986, p. 48.

[6] G.A. Grierson: The Linguistic Survey of India, Vol. III, Part III, New Delhi Reprint, 1967, p. 1.