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Modern period

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Mizo literature}}
{{Indian literature}}
'''Mizo literature''' is the [[literature]] written in [[Mizo language|Mizo ṭawng]], the principal language of the [[Mizo peoples]], which has both [[Written language|written]] and [[oral tradition]]s. It has undergone a considerable change in the 20th century. The language developed mainly from the [[Lushai language]], with significant influence from [[Lai languages|Pawi language]], [[Paite language]] and [[Hmar language]], especially at the literary level.<ref>[http://www.vanglaini.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12917:mizo-tihin-tawng-a-nei-lo-tih-kha&catid=105:articles&Itemid=466/ Lalthangliana, B., ''<nowiki>'</nowiki>Mizo tihin ṭawng a nei lo<nowiki>'</nowiki> tih kha'']</ref> All [[Mizo languages]] such as [[Lai languages|Pawi language]], [[Paite language]] etc. remained unwritten until the beginning of the twentieth century. However, there was unwritten secular literature in the form of folktales, war chants etc. passed down from one generation to another. And there was rich religious literature in the form of sacerdotal chants. These are the chants used by the two types of priests, namely ''[[Bawlpu]]'' and ''Sadâwt''. This article is about the written literature.

==Pre-Christianisation period==
This period of Mizo (written) literature usually refers to the period between 1860 and 1894.<ref>[http://www.misual.com/2011/09/17/mizo-thuhlaril-hmasawn-dan-part-i/ Chawngthu, Tluanga, ''Mizo thuhlaril hmasawn dan part -I'']</ref> Although the Mizo alphabet proper was created around May 1894, written Mizo literature can be said to start from the publication of ''Progressive Colloquial Exercises in the Lushai Dialect'' by Thangliana (which is the Mizo name of Thomas Herbert Lewin) in 1874. In this book he wrote down two Mizo folktales ''Chemtatrawta'' and ''Lalruanga leh Kungawrhi'' with their English translations, and included some Mizo words with their English meaning.<ref name="Thuhlaril">Khiangte, Laltluangliana, ''Thuhlaril'', 2nd Edition, 1997.</ref> Along with Sir George Campbell, G.H. Damant, R.G. Woodthorpe etc., other employees of the [[British East India Company]], Thangliana also studied Mizo culture and language, producing important works.{{fact|date=December 2018}}{{specify|date=December 2018}}

==Early period==
This is the period between 1894 and 1920, when most of the literary work was produced by the missionaries. Mizo alphabet was created in 1894, and schools were established soon after the creation of Mizo alphabet. On 22 October 1896 the first Mizo language book was published under the title ''Mizo Zir Tir Bu'' (lit. Mizo primer). This was a book on Christian religion and [[morality]] based on [[Christianity]].

The two Christian missionaries [[James Herbert Lorrain|J.H. Lorrain]] (Pu Buanga) and [[F.W. Savidge]] (Sap Upa) started translating the book of gospel according to Luke on 21 August 1895. They went on to translate the gospel according to John, and the two books were printed and published in 1898. Other books were also translated soon after. Some of the most well-known books published during this period were:
# Isua chanchin (1905)
# Isua hnenah lo kal rawh (1905-6)
# Thu inchhang (1908)
# The Lushai Grammar and Dictionary (1898, by J.H. Lorrain)
# Dictionary of Lushai (J.H. Lorrain)
A number of devotional songs were translated by other missionaries who replaced J.H. Lorrain and F.W. Savidge, such as Edwin Rowlands etc.<ref name="Thuhlaril" />

==Middle period==
The middle period of Mizo literature (1920–1970) saw the rise of prominent writers such as Liangkhaia, who published hundreds of articles in the monthly Kristian Tlangau and authored ''Mizo chanchin'' (in two volumes) which contained, besides a coherent treatment of Mizo history, a number of ancient chants and festive songs which he collected from various sources. Besides this, he and his close friends collected various other ancient Mizo poems, publishing it under a single volume ''Zoram kan lo luh hma Pawi rama kan la awm lai leh Zoram luh tirh vela chhuak ṭante''. It contains various ''Chai hla'', ''Hlado'', ''Zai'' and a number of ''Hla''. This collection is one of the most reliable sources of knowledge for ancient Mizo poetry<ref>Lalthangliana, B., ''Mizo literature''. Second edition, copyright 2004, MC Lalrinthanga.</ref>

Authors during this period are usually referred to as ''Hranghluite'' in Mizo culture.

===Poetry===

====Awithangpa====
One of the best known Mizo language [[poet]]s, Awithangpa (1885–1965) (whose real name is ''Hmarlûtvunga'') was active during this period. The beautiful, innovative expressions he used in his poems are now generally thought by most to be part of Mizo poetic language since time immemorial, although he was the first to use them and were in fact mostly his own coinage. Examples include expressions such as ''ram loh'', ''chohar di'' etc. The great reputation of his ''zai'' (poems) among Mizo people can be judged from the fact that, although his poems were not initially recorded in writing, when Mizo littérateurs later tried to collect and record his poems, people still remembered most of his poems and could still recite them in full.<ref>[http://www.misual.com/2011/09/26/mizo-thuhlaril-hmasawn-dan-part-2/ Chawngthu, Tluanga, ''Mizo thuhlaril hmasawn dan - Part 2'']</ref>

====Other poets====
Various other poets were active during this period of Mizo literature. Some of them were religious poets, writing mainly songs used in various Christian services in the Mizo tradition, which include ''Pathianni inkhâwm'' (Sunday service), ''lènkhâwm'' (a get-together for singing), ''khawhạr'' (condolence service) etc. Although they do not form part of Mizo secular literature, the richness and beauty of [[Mizo language]] is manifest in the [[Elegy|elegies]], worship songs etc. they composed, and their poems have therefore been consistently included in school and university curriculum. Poets of this tradition include Patea (1894–1950) (who composed 55 songs) and Saihnuna (1894–1949)(who composed about 98 songs) and the blind poet Laithangpuia (1885–1935) (who composed about 27 songs) among others.

On the other hand, there were other poets who wrote both religious and secular poems, such as R.L. Kamlala (1902–1980), Damhauhva (1909–1972) etc.

The poet Pu [[Rokunga]] is one of the most prolific Mizo poets, composing patriotic songs, festive songs, [[Christmas song]]s, [[idyll]]s, poems about nature etc. He was chosen ''Poet of the Century'' by the Mizo Millennium Celebration Committee in 2000.

Other best known poets include

# Capt. L.Z. Sailo
# Lalṭanpuia
# Lalzova Chhangte (usually referred to as ''Fam Lalzova'')
# [[P. S. Chawngthu]]
# [[Vankhama]]
# V. Thangzama
# [[Zirsangzela Hnamte]]
# [[Pastor Saikhuma]]
etc.

===Play===
Mizo language dramatists active during this period include
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Dramatist!!One work
|-
|Ch. Pasena||Fapa tlanbo (1927)
|-
| Lalkailuia||Tualvungi leh Zawlpala (1935)
|-
|Chawngzika||Pheikhawk siamtu (1952)
|-
|[[Lalthangfala Sailo]]||Sual man chu thihna
|-
|H Lalsiama ||Ukil hlawhtling
|-
| K. Saibela ||Mizo inneihna
|-
|}

===Prose===
Well-known writers during this period include [[Nuchhungi Renthlei]] (1914–2002), and [[Lalthangfala Sailo]], who got [[Padma Shri]] award in Literature in 1986 and 2009 respectively. L. Biakliana (1918–1941), who wrote the first Mizo novel ''Hawilopari'', Kaphleia (1910–1940), C. Ṭhuamluaia (1922–1959), K.C. Lalvunga, [[J. F. Laldailova]], Siamkima Khawlhring etc.<ref>[http://www.misual.com/2011/09/27/mizo-thuhlaril-hmasawn-dan-part-4/ Chawngthu, Tluanga, ''Mizo thuhlaril hmasawn dan - Part 4'']</ref>

==Modern period==
This period of Mizo literature starts in 1970 and continues to the present. The Mizo Academy of Letters started awarding its ''Book of the Year'' in 1989. The academy also awards lifetime achievement in Mizo literature. Some of the most prominent writers during this period are James Dokhuma (1932–2008), Khawlkungi (1927-2015), B. Lalthangliana (1945- ), Siamkima Khawlhring (1938–1992), R.L. Thanmawia (1954- ), C. Laizawna (1959- ), [[Laltluangliana Khiangte]] (1961- ), Lalzuahliana (1962- ), Vanneihtluanga (1959- ), [[Mafaa Hauhnar]](1975-2018) [[Lalzuia Colney]] ([[Padma Shri]] awardee) etc.

The list of books awarded so far and their authors are tabulated below:<ref>[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BOOK_of_the_year_chuanna.pdf Vanglaini, 24 April 2012]</ref><ref>[http://www.vanglaini.org/tualchhung/18015, Vanglaini, 22 April 2014.]</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Year!!Book!!Author!!Comments on the book
|-
|1989||Ka Lungkham||B. Lalthangliana||Literature
|-
|1990||Hmangaihzuali||C. Laizawna||Novel
|-
|1991||Zoram Khawvel-I||L. Keivom||Contemporary Mizo history
|-
|1992||Ṭhangthar Taitesena||Romawia||Novel
|-
|1993||Mizo Literature||B. Lalthangliana||Literature
|-
|1994||Kum za Kristian Zofate hmabâk||Bangalore Mizo Christian Fellowship||Collection
|-
|1995||Ram leh i tan chauh||H. Lallungmuana||Novel
|-
|1996||Bible leh Science||P.C. Biaksiama||[[Creationism]]
|-
|1997||Pasalṭha Khuangchera||[[Laltluangliana Khiangte]]||Drama
|-
|1998||Anita||C. Laizawna||Novel
|-
|1999||Tlawm ve lo Lalnu Ropuiliani||[[Lalsangzuali Sailo]]||Mizo history
|-
|2000||Chawngmawii leh Hrangchhuana||R. Rozika||Novel
|-
|2001||Ka khualzin kawng||Robuanga||
|-
|2002||Runlum Nuthai||[[L. Z. Sailo]]||Eulogy
|-
|2003||Kan Bible hi||[[Zairema]]||Theology
|-
|2004||Zorinpari||H. Lalngurliani||Novel
|-
|2005||Damlai thlipui||Lalhriata||Novel
|-
|2006||Pasalṭhate ni hnuhnung||C. Lalnunchanga||Historical adventure novel
|-
|2007||Zofate zinkawngah||R. Zamawia||Factual description and idealisation of [[March 1966 Mizo National Front uprising|Mizo uprising]]
|-
|2008||Chun chawi loh||Lalhriata||Novel
|-
|2009||Rintei zùnléng||Lalrammawia Ngente||Novel
|-
|2010||Beiseina Mittui||Samson Thanruma||Novel
|-
|2011||Zodinpuii (posthumously awarded)||Lalchhantluanga||Novel
|-
|2012||Sihlipui||Romuanpuii Zadeng||Novel
|-
|2013||Thinglubul||Lalpekkima||Novel
|-
|2014||Ka Zalenna||B. Lalhriattira||Essay Collection
|-
|2015||Kawlkil piah Lamtluang||C. Lalnunchanga||Fantasy Novel
|-
|2016||Aizawlah Aizawler||Lalhruaitluanga Chawngte||Contemporary Social Essays
|-
|2017||Savun Kawrfual||Lalhmingchhuanga Zote||Novel
|-
|2018||Hringnun Hrualhrui||Mafaa Hauhnar||Articles
|-
|2019||Falung||Lalengzauva||Novel
|}

==See also==
*[[Mizo Hlakungpui Mual]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}
::''Others''
*Khiangte, Laltluangliana, ''Mizo lehkhabu zempui'' (A compendium of Mizo bibliography), published by Mizo department of Mizoram University, 2005.
*Khiangte, Laltluangliana, ''Lehkhabu Ramtiam'', L.T.L. Publications, Aizawl, 1993.
*Mizo Academy of Letters, ''Zo kalsiam'', Aizawl, 1997.
*Vanlawma, R., ''Awithangpa'', Aizawl, 1989.
*Lalthangliana, B. (Editor), ''Mizo hla leh a phuahtute'', Hrangbana College, Aizawl. First edition 1999.
{{Refend}}
==Further reading==
* Khiangte, Laltluangliana, ''Mizo drama: origin, development, and themes''. Cosmo Publications, 1993.
* Zoramdinthara, Dr., ''Mizo Fiction: Emergence and Development''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140415093344/http://www.rubypressco.in/ Ruby Press & Co]. 2013. {{ISBN|978-93-82395-16-4}}

{{Mizoram}}

[[Category:Culture of Mizoram]]
[[Category:Indian literature by language]]
[[Category:Mizo language]]

Mizo literature - Revision history

NewtonKelson9: cleanup page for accuracy and cleaned formatting

imported>Jsangkima: /* Modern period */