The Land:
The Hmars are spread over a fairly large area in North East India. They live mostly in the hills of south Manipur, Mizoram, Cachar,
The Hmar inhabited area is generally mountainous cloaked in dripping rainforest. Myriads of different orchids bloom in the tropical forests, which are a home to many wild animals and plants. Much of the land is clad in rain forests, where bamboo, orchid and a huge variety of trees grow. Besides, there are a number of rivulets, streams and rivers in the Hmar inhabited areas.
The equator and the tropic of cancer pass through the Hmar areas. The Hmar thus lived in a sub-tropical belt. The land is fertile and usually wet. Major parts of the land are arable for vegetation. Rice, the Hmar’s chief food crop, is grown throughout the Hmar areas on small farms. These terraced paddies occupy lands that were previously rain forests. However, advanced irrigation and drainage techniques and the introduction of high yielding varieties have not yet reached the Hmar farmers. The farmers depend on the monsoon rainfall. The Hmar inhabited areas received an annual rainfall between two to four hundred centimeters. Heavy rainfall and warm tropical temperatures have produced dense evergreen rainfall. The constant heavy rainfall leaches nutrients from the soil, leaving them low in fertility. Rice is a major crop and a staple food of the Hmar’s diet. Ginger is extensively cultivated. The Hmars in Cachar and Tripura have given up jhumming and have started to grow pineapples and oranges. They grow pineapples in huge quantities and are the supplier of the best quality pineapples in
The People:
The Hmars trace their origin to Sinlung, the location of which is still a fluid fact. The Hmars are generally short statured, sturdy, dark haired, brown skinned, known for their bravery and head hunting culture. The Hmars still treasured and garnered their immense traditional arts – folk dances, folk songs, etc. These folk dances and songs represent scenes of adventures, battles or wars, love, victory, celebrations, of their experiences throughout history. Majority of the Hmars are cultivators. With the coming of the Gospel and introduction of western education, majority of the Hmar population are educated. At the same time the Hmar people has shed their old norms and customs and have embraced Christianity since 1910. Today, the Hmars are one of the highly educated tribes, employed by the Government of India in different fields and department of government services.
| HMAR CLANS AND SUB-CLANS | |||
| 1. AIMUOL 2. BIETE | Darngawn (Cont.) Pakhuong Buongpui Hranngul Khelte Khuongpui Ruolngul Shakum Hauhmawng Hauhnieng Kilong Shonte Tlau 10. FAIHRIEM Bapui Dulien Khawhrang/Khawhreng Khawkhieng Khawlum Khawral Saihmar Saivate Seiling Sekong Thlanghnung Tuimuol Tuollai Tusing 11. HMARLUSEI | 18.KOM 19. LAMKANG 20. LANGRAWNG
| 28. RAWITE Aite Arro Buite Hnungte Pieltu Sawrte Seldo/Sehdue 29. SAKECHEP (SAKECHEK) Bawmlien Keiphun Keiphung Khawlum Neibawm Sungtinpha Telengsing Thingphun Thirau/Thirsu Vaichei/Vaichai Zeite 30.THIEK Amaw Chalhril Hmunhring Athu Buhril Chawnnel Hekte Chawnghekte Ralsun Hmante Hnamte Kellaite Khawzawl Lalun Laldau Saibung KungateKhangbur Pakhuomate Khumsen Khumthur Sellate Tamte Thilhran Thilsawng Thluchung Tuolte Tuolawr Tamlo Taite Vankal Khawbuol Pangote Pangulte Zate 31.VANGSIE Dosil Ivang Theidu/Theiduha Tlukte Vanghawi Zapte 32. ZOTE Buonsuong Chawnghau Chawngvawrtu/ Chawngvar Chuonkhup Chawngtuol Darkhawlai/Darkhawlal Dawthang Hrangate/ Hrangzote Hrangdo Hrangman Hrangsite/Hrangsete Hrangsote Hriler Maubuok Neitham Chawnhnieng Singphun Ngaite Parate Pasuolate Pusiete/ Pusieate Saiate(Saihmang) Tlangte/Tlangate Thangnawk Vaithang |
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