>Keith D at 13:07, 8 July 2021

2021-07-08T13:07:57Z

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{{Short description|Ethnic group in India, Burma, and Bangladesh}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Hmar<br/>{{smaller|(Mar, Mhar, Khawthlang, Khawsak, Old Kuki, )}}
| native_name = Hmar Ṭawng
| native_name_lang =
| image =
| image_caption = Hmar girls in traditional attire 'puonlaisen'
| population = 4,00,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Hmar |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/hmr |website=Ethnologue |access-date=6 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
| genealogy =
| regions = {{flatlist|
* [[India]]
○[[Manipur]] ○[[Meghalaya]] ○[[Mizoram]] ○[[Nagaland]]
○[[Tripura]] ○[[Assam]] ○[[Attard]]

* [[Myanmar]]
○[[Chin State]] ○[[Sagaing Division]] ○[[Magwe Division]]

* [[Bangladesh]]
○[[Chittagong Hill Tracts]]
}}
| languages = {{hlist|[[Hmar languages|Hmar]]|}}
| religions = {{hlist|[[Christianity]]|[[Judaism]] ([[Bnei Menashe]])|[[Hinduism]]|[[Buddhism]]|Other indigenous religion}}
| related = {{hlist|[[Chin people|Chin]]| [[Kuki people|Kuki]]| [[Khyang people|Khyang]]| [[Mizo people|Mizo]]}}
}}
'''Hmar''' are an ethnic [[Mizo people|Mizo]] group in northeast [[India]], western [[Burma]] and eastern [[Bangladesh]].

==Population==
According to [[2011 Indian Census]], there were 98,988 Hmar speakers.<ref name="Census2011">{{cite web |title=Languages Not Specified In The Eighth Schedule (Non-scheduled Languages) |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref>

===Manipur===
In 2011 census, there were 49,081 Hmars in Manipur.<ref>{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1400.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>

===Mizoram===
The exact population of the Hmars in Mizoram is not known. In the first census of 1901, there were 10411 Hmars languages user. However, after 60 years it came down to 3,118 in 1961 and 4,524 in 1971. In 2001 census, 18,155 Hmars speaker were found in Mizoram but most of the Hmars of Mizoram speak Mizo languages.<ref>{{cite web |title=MIZORAM DATA HIGHLIGHTS : THE SCHEDULED TRIBES Census of India 2001 |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_mizoram.pdf |access-date=6 April 2020 |agency=censusindia.gov.in}}</ref>
{{India census population
| title= Year-wise Hmar languages in Mizoram.
| 1901= 10411
| 1961= 3118
| 1971= 4524
| 1981= 13102
| 1991= 12535
| 2001= 18155
| 2011= 29587
| estimate=
| estyear=
| estref=
| footnote=Source:Census of India}}

== Religion ==
{{bar box
|title=Religion among Assam Hmar<ref name="census2001">{{cite journal
| last = mad
| first = mad
| title = Census of India - Socio-cultural aspects, Table ST-14
| journal=Census of India, 2001 - Socio-cultural Aspects
| publisher = Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs
| quote = Not available online. Available only on CD.
}}
</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=right
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Christianity]]|blue|99}}
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|orange|0.48}}
{{bar percent|Others|grey|0.52}}
}}

An overwhelming majority of the Hmar people practice [[Christianity]].

== Place of origin ==
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 “Hmerh” meaning “tying of one’s hair in a knot on the nape of one’s 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 descendants 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 Tukbemsawm's hairstyle, are believed to be the descendants of Tukbemsawm (Songate, 1967).

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|South East China]] bordering the [[Shan State|Shan state]] of [[Myanmar]]. According to Songate (1956), “The Hmars left Sinlung because of the waves of [[Chinese people|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 people|Chin-Kuki-Mizo]] groups of people found in [[Northeast India|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 were [[tillage|cultivator]]s. The Hmars in South [[Manipur]] were introduced to Christianity in the year 1910 by Watkin Roberts, a [[Welsh people|Welsh]] missionary.<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/doc/351579/Impact-of-Religious-Journal-on-the-Hmar-Tribe-in-Manipur Impact of Religious Journal on the Hmar Tribe in Manipur]</ref>

== Political movements ==
[[File:In hmar.png|thumb|Flag of the [[Hmar Students Association]].]]
In July 1986, after the signing of the [[Mizo Accord]], some Hmar leaders in [[Mizoram]] formed Mizoram Hmar Association, later renamed the [[Hmar People's Convention]] (HPC). The HPC spearheaded a political movement for self-governance of the Hmars in Mizoram demanding [[Autonomous District Council]] (ADC) comprising Hmar-dominated areas in north and northwest of Mizoram for the protection of their identity, culture, tradition, language and natural resources. To quell and suppress the political movement, the Mizoram government deployed the [[Mizoram Armed Police]] (MAP) against the HPC activists which forced the HPC to take up an armed struggle by forming an armed wing, the [[Hmar Volunteer Cell]] (HVC). The armed confrontation continued until 1992, when HPC representatives and the Government of Mizoram mutually agreed to hold ministerial-level talks. After multiple rounds of talks, a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed in [[Aizawl]] on 27 July 1994 between the Government of Mizoram and the HPC. Armed cadres of the HPC surrendered along with their weapons in October 1994 and later the [[Sinlung Hills Development Council]] (SHDC) was established. Some of the HPC leaders and cadres however rejected Memorandum of Settlement and broke away from the main HPC, and formed the [[Hmar People's Convention - Democratic]] (HPC-D), which continued an armed movement for autonomy in the form of Autonomous District Council under the [[Constitution of India#Schedules|Sixth Schedule]] to the [[Constitution of India]] within Mizoram.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ritimo.org/article889.html|title=Hmar Struggles for Autonomy in Mizoram, India|work=Ritimo|access-date=17 May 2018|language=fr-FR}}</ref> Over one hundred militants of HPC-D surrendered with their weapons in April 2018 following a peace pact signed with the [[Government of Mizoram|Mizoram state government]] and led to the formation of the [[Sinlung Hills Council]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nagalandpost.com/ChannelNews/Regional/RegionalNews.aspx?news=TkVXUzEwMDEzMTIwMg==|title=103 HPC-D militants to surrender today : Nagaland Post|website=www.nagalandpost.com|access-date=13 April 2018}}</ref>

== Literature ==
* Dena, Lal; ''In search of identity: Hmars of North-East India;'' New Delhi 2008; {{ISBN|978-81-8370-134-1}}
* 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.
* Pakhuongte, Ruolneikhum. 1983. ''The Power of the Gospel Among the Hmar Tribe''. Shillong, Meghalaya: EFCI. Ri Khasi Press, Shillong.
* Bapui, VLT & Buruah, PN Dutta. 1996. ''Hmar Grammar''. Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages. CIIL Press, Mysore.
* Bapui, Vanlal Tluonga. 2012. ''Hmar Ṭawng Inchukna (A Lexical Study of the Hmar Language & Usages)''. Guwahati, Assam: The Assam Institute of Research for Tribals and Scheduled Castes. Hi-Tech Printing & Binding Industries, Guwahati
* Cassar, T. 2013. ''Only 36,000''.
* Cassar, T. 2017. ''Oh God - Now it's 75K (and it's only getting worse)!''.
* Dena, Lal. 1995. ''Hmar Folk Tales''. New Delhi: Scholar Publishing House. Bengal Printing Press, New Delhi {{ISBN|81-7172-281-4}}
* Fimate, L. ''Thina Râpthlak''.
* Hmar, RH Hminglien. 1997. ''Hmangaitu Hmel''.
* Hminga, FT. 1991. ''Hmar Pipu Thilhming Lo Phuokhai''. Churachandpur, Manipur: Dr. FT Hminga.
* Hminga, FT. 1993. ''Hmar Ṭawng Indiklem''. Churachandpur, Manipur: Dr. FT Hminga.
* Hminga, FT. 1994. ''Hming Umzie Neihai''. Churachandpur, Manipur: Dr. FT Hminga.
* Hrangate, HC. 1996. ''Pathien Kut''.
* Lalhmuoklien, 2009. ''Gospel Through Darkness''. Churachandpur, Manipur: Rev. Dr. Lalmuoklien. SMART tech Offset Printers, Churachandpur
* Ngurte, SN. 1991. ''Damlai Thlaler''.
* Ngurte, SN. 1994. ''Rengchawnghawi''.
* Ngurte, SN. 1995. ''Kanaan Phaizawl''. HL Lawma & Sons Publication.
* Pudaite, Jonathan. 2011. ''The Legacy of Watkin R. Roberts''.
* Pudaite, Mawii. 1982. ''Beyond The Next Mountain: The Story of Rochunga Pudaite.'' Tyndale House Publishers.
* Pudaite, Rochunga. 1985, ''The Dime That Lasted Forever''. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers.
* Pudaite, Rochunga. 2008. ''English-Hmar Dictionary''. Partnership Publishing House.
* Pudaite, Rochunga. 2011. ''Ka Hring Nun Vol-1''. Thomson Press, Harayana.
* Pudaite, Rosiem. 2002. ''Indian National Struggle for Freedom and its Impact on the Mizo Movement (1935-1953 AD)''.
* Pulamte, John H. 2011. ''Hmar Bûngpui''. Imphal, Manipur: Dr. John H. Pulamte. BCPW, Imphal.
* Ruolngul, Darsanglien. 2009. ''The Advance of the Gospel (Part One)''. Churachandpur, Manipur: Rev. Darsanglien Ruolngul. SMART * tech Offset Printers, Churachandpur.
* Ruolngul. Darsanglien. 2013. ''Kohran''. Churachandpur, Manipur: ICI. Diamond Offset, Churachandpur.
* Sanate, Ngurthangkhum. 1984. ''Ngurte Pahnam Chanchin''. Churachandpur, Manipur/
* Sawngate, Thangsawihmang. 2012. ''Hmangaina Parbâwr''. Churachandpur, Manipur.
* Sinate, Lalthankhum. 2001. ''Kohran Hring''.
* Thangsiem, JC. ''Zilsi Varzan''. Rengkai, Churachandpur.
* Ṭhiek, Hrilrokhum. 2013. ''History of the Hmars in North East India'', Guwahati, Assam: Rev. Hrilrokhum Ṭhiek, Bhabani Offset Private Ltd., Guwahati.
* Ṭhiek, Hrilrokhum. 1996. ''Maichâma Mei Chu Sukchawk Zing Ding A Nih''.
* Thuomte, H. 2001. ''Joute Pahnam Inthladan (Joute Genealogy)''. Churachandpur, Manipur
* Various. 2008. ''Lal Remruot - Saidan Chanchin''. Delhi. Hmanglien & Sons. Rai's Ad-venture, Delhi.
* Zaneisang, H. 2003. ''Sinlung''. Churachandpur, Manipur: H. Zaneisang. Diamond Offset, Churachandpur.
* Zote, Timothy Z. 2007. ''Manmasi Year Book (Vol-II)'', Churachandpur, Manipur: Manmasi Year Book Editorial Board. BCPW, Imphal.
*Sungte, Robert L. 2007. ''Impact of Religious Journals on the Hmar tribe in Manipur,'' Karnataka. Mangalore University, Mangalore.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2016. Revisiting Sikpui Ruoi of the Hmar Tribe. Anthropology Today. Vol. 1, No. 2. ISSN 2454-2709. Pp. 60–72.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2017. In Search of the “Holy” Confluence: A Journey to the Barak River. In: Queenbala Marak (Ed) “Doing Autoethnography”. Serials Publications: New Delhi. {{ISBN|978-81-8387-672-8}}. Pp. 268–285.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang & Lalthakim Hmar (ed). 2016. Highland Musing. 2016. IndigeNE: Imphal. {{ISBN|978-93-85790-02-7}}.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang & Lalthakim Hmar (ed). 2016. Sinlung Sermei. IndigeNE: Imphal. {{ISBN|978-93-85790-03-4}}.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2014. Hmar at the Crossroads. IndigeNE: Imphal. {{ISBN|978-81-905939-8-4}}.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2014. Culture and Development: Hmar of Tipaimukh in Transition. IndigeNE: Imphal. {{ISBN|978-81-905939-9-1}}.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2019. Ruolevaisuo a Hohlimna Thusim Thlirletna. 2019. In: Nunhlui-II (Hmar MIL Textbook for TDC Third Semester), Assam University, Silchar, Hmar Literature Society, Assam.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2014. Traditional concepts on honour, wealth, happiness and self-reliance vis-á-vis planned development: Case of the Hmars. In: Aheibam Koireng Singh, Amol Sanasam and Sushma Phurailatpam (Ed) “Knowing Manipur from Endogenous Perspective”. Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University and Indian Council of Social Science Research: Imphal. Vol. 2. {{ISBN|978-93-83201-11-2}}. Pp. 451−460.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2011. Indigenous Knowledge System, Identity, Freedom and Tipaimukh Dam: An Anthropological Perspective. In: Lal Dena (Ed) “Dialogue on Tipaimukh Dam”. Akansha Publishing House: New Delhi. {{ISBN|978-81-8370-288-1}}. Pp. 142−151.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang & R. Th. Varte. 2017. Hmar Traditional Practices in Conflict Resolution: An Anthropological Perspective. In: Melvil Pereira, Bitopi Dutta and Binita Kakati (Ed) “Legal Pluralism and Indian Democracy: Tribal Conflict Resolution Systems in Northeast India”. Routledge: New York. Print {{ISBN|978-11-3823-0781}}; eText {{ISBN|978-13-5140-366-5}}.
* Varte, Immanuel Zarzosang. 2005. Pre-historical Heritage of Ruong Le Vaisuo. “Hmar Arasi”. Souvenir on the occasion of Cultural Festival-cum-Sikpui Ruoi, 2 – 5 December & 50th General Assembly-cum-Literary Meet, 15 – 16 December. Hmar Students Association General Headquarters: Churachandpur. Pp. 96–99.

== Notable people ==
*[[Rochunga Pudaite]], included the Hmar as well as Paite, Zou, Vaiphei, Gangte, and other clans as one of the Schedule Tribe of India, 1956 and the founder of [[Bibles for the world]]
*[[HT Sangliana]]
*[[Mami Varte]]
*[[Lalnghinglova Hmar]]
*[[Lalremsiami]], [[India women's national field hockey team]] player
*[[Lalram Luaha]]

== See also ==
*[[Bnei Menashe]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.virthli.in/ VIRTHLI- Ushering Change (News & Info House of the Hmars)]
*[http://www.inpui.com INPUI.COM – News & Information 'House' of the Hmar Tribe]
*[http://www.hmarram.com: Hmarram.com: Hmar Online Museum]
*[https://www.hmarhla.com HMARHLA.COM – Hmar Lyrics]
*[http://hmasawnnathar.blogspot.com/ Hmasawnna Thar- A Hmar Daily]
*[http://www.jacoblpulamte.com Jacob L Pulamte]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111102195204/http://www.hmararasi.org/ Hmar Arasi – Official website of the Hmar Students' Association, Bangalore Branch]
*[http://www.sinlung.com/ Sinlung]
*[https://www.scribd.com/people/view/101067-hmar-resources-online-hro/ Hmar Resources Online: The Hmar Repository]
*[http://www.mumbaihmarwelfare.blogspot.in Mumbai Tuisunsuo Weekly News]
*[http://www.virthli.in/2012/03/hmar-clans.html Hmar Clans]
*[http://www.virthli.in/2011/10/hmar-dances.html Hmar Dances]
*[http://www.virthli.in/2014/05/hmar-books-and-authors.html Hmar Books & Authors]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102931/http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=19834 Indian Catholic, Christian leaders gather warring ethnic groups for peace]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180413125418/https://www.theapolitical.in/homenews/case-hmar-autonomous-district-council-mizoram The case for a Hmar Autonomous District Council in Mizoram]
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=Sb1ryB8CVvIC&pg=PA838&lpg=PA838&dq=Hmar+census+mizoram&source=bl&ots=oeIIqm3rry&sig=lfIj3xTurtcpAI_GNfN2BuBS1Bw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiqmPrR863ZAhUC6Y8KHbO-BS04ChDoATADegQICxAB#v=onepage&q=Hmar%20census%20mizoram&f=false Hmar: Struggle for autonomy]

{{Kuki-Chin-Mizo tribes}}
{{Scheduled tribes of India}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hmar|+]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Manipur]]
[[Category:Headhunting]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Meghalaya]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Mizoram]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Assam]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Tripura]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in South Asia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Myanmar]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Bangladesh]]

Hmar people - Revision history

>Keith D at 13:07, 8 July 2021