Bonds of Brotherhood and Ancestral Unity: Emotional Integration with Respect to Refugees in Mizoram
Author : Lalruatsangi
Abstract :
The British colonial government's introduction of fixed political boundaries in the Mizoram region was a part of their administrative and governance strategy, and it often did not align with the natural cultural and historical affiliations of the Mizo ethnic groups. This historical context has had a lasting impact on the political and cultural landscape of the region.
After gaining independence, the new post-colonial Indian state inherited many of the administrative and political structures established by the British colonial rulers. This included the maintenance of the political boundaries that were imposed during the colonial period. The continuity of these colonial political boundaries had adverse impacts on the Mizo or Zo ethnic community. The colonial boundaries often cut across the traditional territories and homelands of the Mizo or Zo people. As a result, these communities found themselves divided by international boundaries, with some of their members residing in India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. Within the Indian state, the Mizo or Zo community also faced challenges due to inter-state boundaries. These boundaries could separate Mizo or Zo populations living in different Indian states, creating administrative and political divisions that did not necessarily align with the cultural and historical connections of the community.
Recent years have seen challenges to the rigid political boundaries that separate these communities. The inflow of Chin and Kuki refugees and displaced people from Myanmar and Manipur into Mizoram has contributed to the emergence of new patterns of cross-border ethnic solidarity and expressions of "brotherhood beyond borders."
This paper seeks to analyse the intricate socio-cultural interactions and convergences that have created trans-border spaces where cultural, familial, and social connections are actively nurtured and maintained. These spaces reflect the resilience of shared identity and community bonds that persist despite political divisions.
Keywords :
Boundaries, refugees, brotherhood
