MaximilianGreenb at 14:42, 3 April 2026

2026-04-03T14:42:47Z

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{{Short description|Buddhism in the Indian state}}

[[File:Kamalanagar Buddhist Temple.png|thumb| [[Kamalanagar, Mizoram|Kamalanagar]] Buddhist Temple]]

Buddhism is the second largest religion in the Indian State of [[Mizoram]]. It is followed by 8.51% of its population. There are 93411 Buddhists in Mizoram.<ref name="religion2">{{cite web|publisher=Census Department, Government of India|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11385|title=C-01: Population by religious community, Mizoram - 2011|access-date=7 October 2022|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Most of the Buddhists in Mizoram are [[Chakma people|Chakma]]s <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-mizoram-political-parties-likely-to-field-chakmas-despite-diktat-by-influential-ngos/story-Epn5ZEcQjsFjkYi7CRUEuK_amp.html|title=In Mizoram, political parties likely to field Chakmas despite diktat by influential NGOs|access-date=7 October 2022}}</ref> Most of them live in the autonomous region called [[Chakma Autonomous District Council]] and follow the [[Theravada]] branch of Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/article/719322/why-the-bjp-is-gaining-popularity-in-some-parts-of-minority-dominated-mizoram|title=Why the BJP is gaining popularity in some parts of minority-dominated Mizoram|access-date=7 October 2022}}</ref>

==History==
An archaeological study in 2023 discovered 8th century CE Hindu and Buddhist-influenced sculptures at Kolalian village in the [[Mamit district]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 December 2023 |title=ASI to survey 8th Century Hindu-Buddhist sculptures found near Assam-Mizoram border |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/asi-to-survey-8th-century-hindu-buddhist-sculptures-found-near-assam-mizoram-border-101702009333192.html |access-date=25 December 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref>

The Chakma people, who mainly follow Buddhism, have been in the state for centuries. In 1960s many Chakmas from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh migrated to the Mizoram and other neighbouring Indian states after their lands were submerged by the filling of Kaptai dam. Some also migrated to Mizoram to escape from religious persecution in Bangladesh.
In 1972, when Mizoram became a State, the Centre government granted the Chakmas tribes autonomy by creating [[Chakma Autonomous District Council]].<ref>{{cite news |title=In Mizoram, the BJP depends on the Chakmas to make its debut in the state assembly |url=https://scroll.in/article/903494/in-mizoram-the-bjp-depends-on-the-chakmas-to-make-its-debut-in-the-state-assembly |publisher=Scroll |date=7 October 2022}}</ref>

==Demographics==
In 2001 Census, Buddhism constituted 7.93% of the State's population.<ref name="religion1">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm|title=Total population by religious communities|publisher=Censusindia.gov.in|access-date=20 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119031333/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm|archive-date=19 January 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It increased slightly to 8.51% in the 2011 Census.<ref name="religion2"/>

About 91.7% or 88,885 Chakmas follows Buddhism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html|title=Christianity among the Scheduled Tribes of the Northeast Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland|access-date=7 October 2022}}</ref>

===District wise Buddhist Population===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! '''District'''<ref name="Census2011">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census2011.in/data/religion/state/15-mizoram.html|title= Mizoram Religion Census 2011|access-date=7 October 2022}}</ref>
! '''Percent'''
|-
| '''[[Aizawl district|Aizawl]]'''
| '''0.39%'''
|-
| '''[[Lawngtlai district|Lawngtlai]]'''
| '''43.72%'''
|-
| '''[[Siaha district|Saiha]]'''
| '''0.18%'''
|-
| '''[[Serchhip district|Serchhip]]'''
| '''0.09%'''
|-
| '''[[Mamit district|Mamit]]'''
| '''14.27%'''
|-
| '''[[Champhai district|Champhai]]'''
| '''0.12%'''
|-
| '''[[Lunglei district|Lunglei]]'''
| '''17.06%'''
|-
| '''[[Kolasib district|Kolasib]]'''
| '''0.13%'''
|-
|}

===Subdivision wise Buddhist Population===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Buddhist population by block in Lawngtlai, Lunglei and Mamit districts (Census 2011)<ref name="Census2011"/>
|-
! District !! Block !! Buddhist population !! Percentage of total population
|-
| rowspan="3" | '''Lawngtlai'''
| Chawngte || 41,715 || 92.07%
|-
| Lawngtlai || 3,438 || 8.88%
|-
| S. Bungtlang || 6,387 || 37.29%
|-
| rowspan="2" | '''Lunglei'''
| Lungsen || 18,019 || 46.18%
|-
| West Bunghmun || 9,219 || 49.00%
|-
| rowspan="2" | '''Mamit'''
| Zawlnuam || 5,785 || 12.26%
|-
| [[West Phaileng]] || 6,532 || 30.65%
|}

==See also==
* [[Christianity in Mizoram]]
* [[Hinduism in Mizoram]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Buddhist communities of India]]
[[Category:Buddhism in Mizoram]]
[[Category:Religion in Mizoram|Buddhism]]

Buddhism in Mizoram - Revision history

MaximilianGreenb at 14:42, 3 April 2026