God has given us the day, we can use it as we like. We can waste it, or grow in its light and be of service to others. But what we do on the day is important, as we have exchanged a day of our life for it. When tomorrow come,today will be gone. I hope I will not regret for the price I paid for the day.
Life is beautiful, together let us make each of our life, and other people's life more beautiful...
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Myanmar: Chin People(钦族)
Chin people
The Chin are one of the ethnic groups in Myanmar. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Myanmar(the Chin State) and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam.
The Chin are one of the large ethnic minority groups in Myanmar. The Chin people are of Tibeto-Burman groups and they probably came to Myanmar, especially the Chindwin valley in the late 9-10 century A.D. Most Chin people moved westward and they probably settled in the present Chin State around 1300-1400 A.D.
Religion Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries' intervention, 80%-90% of the population are Christians. However, a sizable minority of the Chin adhere to their traditional tribal beliefs, as well as to Theravada Buddhism. A small group of individuals from Mizoram claimed that they are one of the lost tribes of Israel, that of Bnei Menashe tribe, some have since resettled in that country.
Tribal people There are many tribes among the Chin people such as Daai (the biggest population of southern Chin state), Thai, Tedim (who prefer to call themselves Zomi, as the word "Chin" is not in their own language; note the resemblance to Mizo(米佐族） of the neighbouring Mizoram state(米佐拉姆邦)in India), Asho, and Cho. Four major tribes of the Chin are Daai, Tedim, Falam, and Hakha. It would be relevant to mention also that they are related to the Kukis of Nagaland(那加兰邦), Manipur(曼尼普爾邦) and Assam(阿萨姆邦). For want of a more acceptable common name, they are usually called the Chin-Kuki-Mizo people, bringing together the three most common names for them, whether given by outsiders or themselves. There are also ten of thousands of Chin people in Mizoram State, India, mainly in Lai District, formerly part of Chhimtuipui District and a sizable population also live in Churachandpur district of Manipur comprising of smaller tribes like the Hmars, Paite, Simte, Zou,Gangte and others. Bawn tribe in Southern Mizoram State and Bangladesh are descendants of the Lai tribe. This Chin/Mizo/Zomi/Kuki people are scattered into three countries: Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India. The Chin speak several Kuki-Chin languages; Ethnologue lists 49 languages in this group, of which 20 contain the word "Chin" in their name.
The term 'Chin' came from their ancestors the great Chin from China; There's a firm proof to say the name 'CHIN' is originated form the 'chin-the' or 'chin-theig', or 'chinthegi' a Burmese word for a lion, or lion-kind, or lionly; or the Cheetah club, or the Cheetahgroup.
Chin State
Chin State is a state located in western Burma (Myanmar). The 36,019-square-kilometre (13,907 sq mi) Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The (Chin) ethnic group make up the majority of the state's 500,000 people.
Falam was the state capital since the British Colonization. But after Ne Win took over the power, he moved Chin Affairs Office from Falam to Kalay although the Commissioner of Chin State was still executing in Falam.
Language
The official language is 'Laizo' dialect, since early 20th century. Though there are numerous dialects among the ethnic Chin, they all have links and similarities, which make them easy to understand each other. After studying several years on all the dialects among the Chins, the research concluded that the Laizo dialect has the commonest and it's also the most understood language over all chin tribes including Mizo ţawng and is recognized as the Chin official language with the British scholars and learns through out the state until the junta disallowed to continue in the late 20th century. Laizo (Falam) dialect is being practiced as official Chin language in Myanmar as in radio broadcasting.
History
For much of history, sparsely populated Chin Hills were the westernmost region of Irrawaddy valley-based Burmese kingdoms. The extent of Burmese control of Chin Hills, which never had a political organization beyond chiefs, can only be inferred from the recorded history of the region's more established neighbors, the kingdoms of Manipur and Assam. Manipur first came under Burmese suzerainty during the reign of King Bayinnaung in 1558. Conversely, at least northern parts of Chin Hills were likely part of an ascendant Manipuri kingdom whose forces were raiding northwestern Burma with regularity during 1730s and 1740s. Burma re-exerted control over the region in the 1750s as King Alaungpaya of Konbaung dynasty conquered Manipur in 1758 and made it a tributary to the Burmese kingdom once more. In the early 19th century, Burmese kings pursued an expansionist policy beyond Chin Hills and Manipur. King Bodawpaya annexed Manipur in 1813 and captured Assam in 1817. His successor King Bagyidaw was left to suppress rebellions in Manipur in 1819 and in Assam in 1821-22. The Chin Hills were one western region the Burmese retained after the rest of their western possessions--Assam, Manipur, and Arakan--were ceded to the British after the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1824-1826.
The British acquired the Chin Hills after the Third Anglo-Burmese War of 1885. The ensuing Chin resistance to the British was suppressed only by 1890. The British administered the Chin Hills as part of Arakan Division
After the war, Chin leaders participated in the Panglong Conference which discussed the future of an independent Union of Burma. Because of the region's heavy economic dependence on Burma Proper, Chin leaders, unlike other minority leaders, asked only for a "special administrative division", not a full fledged state. Despite the support by Chin people, today the Junta military rule had forced many Chin people become refugee.
Upon independence from the United Kingdom in 1948, Chin Hills Special Division was created out of Arakan Division, with the capital at Falam. On 4 January 1974, it was granted the state status and became Chin State. Today, the state has little infrastructure and remains extremely poor and undeveloped.
The Chin people are facing famine caused by locusts and rodents. Up to 82% of the rice farmland, and 78% of sesame crops has been destroyed. The food remained are the root yam. Yet the rodents are competing for food with human in Chin state. I appeal to World Food Organization to improve their assistance program, as their “Food plus Cash for Work” programme, cannot help the old and young people who cannot work, but still need food for survival. Direct assistance should be introduced for urgent and needy cases. It is ironically that a UN World organization like World for Food took 3 years to realize that Chin State is suffering from food crisis, when NGOs already highlight to them. It is a shame, how they assess the situation?.
Person with broad interests. Value all natural being in this earth, environmental conscious, heritage lover. Love life, each man in this earth should be able to enjoy their life fully, make his life more beautiful, which will enrich other people's life.
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