Chin State
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Chin is a state of Myanmar. Its capital is Hakha.
There are 11 townships in the Chin State: Hakha, Falam, Kanpalet, Matupi, Mindat, Paletwa, Rezua, Rihkhuadar, Thantlang, Tiddim and Tonzong.
Chin People
The indigenious people, also known as the Chin gave rise to the Chin state. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist intervention, 70% of the population are Christians, mainly Chin. However, a sizeable minority of the Chin adhere to their traditional tribal beliefs and Theravada Buddhism.
The Chin are one of the largest ethnic minority groups in Burma. The Chin people are Tibeto-Burman groups and they probably came to Burma, 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 A.D 1300-1400 A.D. The original meaning of "Chin" is clearly unclear, even though many scholars proposed many differenct theories.
There are many tribes among the Chin people such as Lai, Zomi,Asho and Cho. Lai ethnic, decendants of Tibeto-Burman group, is one of the biggest among the Chin| Nationality. Lai people also call themselves Laimi,which literally means "Central people." They never call themselves 'Chin" which is a Burmese term for Lai people and other people in Chin State. Lai generally and basically means "central," and "mi" meas people. So, Laimi generally means "the Central people." The Lai people thought that they are in the Middle of this universe,according to their tradition. The Lai tribe can be seen largely in Haka, Falam, Thantlang, Matupi and Kale valleys. Most Lai people perhaps 95%-98% are Christians. There are ten of thousands of Lai people in Mizoram State, India, mainly in Lai District, formerly part of Chhimtuipui District. Bawn tribe in Southern Mizoram State and Bangladesh are descendants of Lai tribe. This Lai people scattered into three countries-Burma, Bangladesh, and India.
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Weblinks
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The Chinforum (http://www.chinforum.org) [Engl]
Chin Human Rights Organization (http://www.chro.org) [Engl]