A Critical-9

1.1.The Identification of Mara

The common names such as “Zao”, “Tlosai”, “Shendu”, “Lakher” and “Mara” are synonymously used by various authorities to designate the Maras, and are found in various references and few historical publications of Indo-Burman peoples.[1] The word “Zao” is mainly used by the Chins as a generic term to designate the Maras, inhabiting south Haka sub-division of the Chin Hills. G.A. Grierson thinks “Zao” as the Chin name for the Mara.[2] Though the Maras do not call themselves as “Zao” it is held that the Chins used to call the Maras as “Zao”.

Various writers used the word “Tlosai” as a generic term to designate the Maras who live in the hill tracts of south Mizoram, south Haka sub-division and north Arakan Hill tracts. It is also related to the term “Kaungse” which is the Burmese way of pronouncing “Khongjai”, the Manipur name given to all Kukis. According to A.G.McCall, the name “Tlosai” or “Tlongsai” is one of the principal groups of the Maras.[3] Whereas the term “Tlosai” is not of local origin but derived from the Burmese term “Kaungse” or “Khongjai”.

The word “Shendu” is used by some writers as a generic term to designate the Maras, inhabiting the erstwhile “unadministered area” south of Lushai Hills and north Arakan Hill tracts. From various references the word “Shendu” appeared as “Sandu”, “Shandu”, “Shendoo”, “Shindu”, Shindoo”, “Tseindu”, etc.[4] the Maras were popularly known to the Khumis, the Rakheins and the Matus as Shendu or Sentu because of their constant raids against them.[5] The English called the Maras of the erstwhile unadministered area as Shendu since the early part of the 19^th century A.D. But the Shendus are however known to the Burmese and Yaws of Upper Myanmar as “Baungshe”.[6] The term “Shandu” is also used by Greenstreet,[7] to designate the more prominent groups of the Maras such as Heimas, Lialais, Ngiaphias, Sabys and Zyhnos. Rev. Dr. Hminga puts the term “Shendu” in the chronological sequence as Shandu-Shendu-Lakher-Mara.[8]

The term “Lakher” is also used to designate the Maras. The origin of the term “Lakher” is veiled in obscurity, but it appears in various forms such as “Lakheyr”, “Lengkhe”, “Lokheyr” and “Lungkhe” in various references. It proved that the term is not of local origin but coined by some writers to designate the Maras. Some writers hold that the term “Lakher” is a tribal name of the Maras known to the Luseis. The Luseis were also known to the Maras as “Tlaikao”.[9] According to R.A. Lorrain, lakher is Lushai name for the Mara tribe, the spelling and pronunciation is absolutely foreign to the language. Mara is the correct name for the people in their own language.[10]

However, the term “Mara” is the most prominent term to designate among them since the time immemorial. The term is however, an archaic word and is found in oral literature like folk-songs, folk-stories, traditions, etc. therefore, it is believed that the origin of the word ‘Mara”, however, lies elsewhere.

The Maras were formally known under various names by various writers. Wherever, the word “Mara” is the correct name, and the term is widely used to designate the Maras who inhabit the present Mara Autonomous District of south Mizoram, India and the hill areas of the Arakan Hill Tracts of Myanmar.

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[1] Dr. K. Zohra: The Origin of the Mara and their Migration with reference to their Chin Hills Settlement; Ed. K. Robin :(Chin History, Culture & Identity), p.121.

[2] G.A. Grierson: The Linguistic Survey of India, Vol. III, Part III, Delhi, Reprint, 1967, p.475.

[3] A.G. MacCall: Lushai Chrysallis, London, 1949, p.201.

[4] John Whitehand: Far Frontier people and Event in the North East India, London, 1989, p.6.

[5] Dr. K. Zohra: ibid, p. 122.

[6] G.E.R. Grant Brown: Gazetteer of Northern Arakan District, Rangoon, 1960, p.17.

[7] Report on Chin-Luhai 1892, No. 52.

[8] Rev. Dr. C. L. Hminga: The Life and Witness of the Churches in Mizoram, Bombay, 1987, p.xix.

[9] B. Lalthangliana: History of Mizo in Burma, Aizawl, 1975, p.70.

[10] Rev. R.A. Lorrain: Grammar and Dictionary of Lakher or Mara Language, Gauhati, 1951, p.1.