Zous held Indo-Myanmar seminar on Language

Our Correspondent

MOREH, MAY 17, 2013--- A two-day seminar on Zou Language, Literature, Culture & Custom was held at Broder Trade Centre Hall in Moreh. The seminar was a joint collaboration of United Zo Organisation (USA), Zou Literature Society, Manipur (India) and UZO, Moreh Block.

Chairman of ADC Chandel district M. Lhukhosei Zou inaugurated the seminar on May 15 which was concluded on May 16. Forty five Zou delegates from India and 26 from Myanmar participated in the seminar.

The resource persons comprised of a retired senior surgeon Dr. M. Lachinkhai, Chairman ZLS, Rev. Fr. Mark Thangkhanai Vice-Chairman ZLS and Co-ordinator of Radio Veritas Asia (Zomi-Chin Service), Aloysius T. Nehkhojang, Secy ZLS, advocate Chinlunthang, Gen Secy, UZO and Suankhanmang, Adviser, UZO. From the Myanmar side, Tamu Parish priest Rev. Fr. Andrew Cin Go Lian, Kalaymyo KZBC pastor Rev. Go Cin Lang, Zou Synod (PCM) Yangoon pastor Rev. Ai Lien Mang and Kalaymyo ZBA Mission Director Rev. Thang Khan Khai has also presented seminar papers.

"The Zou people in Myanmar and abroad used it as 'ZO' while their brethrens in India used 'ZOU' since longtime ago. Now the importance of having common literature and uniformity of its usages is felt among the Zous in India and Myanmar", said a well-known Zou writer and a participant, Syanlyan Tungnung, while speaking to our correspondent over telephone today. He added that a declaration on consistent uniformity in Zou Language, Literature, Custom and Culture has been made on the concluding day.

In Manipur, Zou is one of the recognized tribes. According to the Zou people, the word 'Zou' or 'Zo' is believed to be the progenitor of today's Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi tribes which are predominantly found in Northeast India – Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and Tripura (Jampui hill ranges), Chittangong Hills Tract (Bangladesh) and Chin Hills (Myanmar).

The year 2001 was a remarkable year for the Zou community, Zou MIL for Class IX was recognised by BSEM for the first time. The Zou MIL for Class X to XII has been introduced in 2002, 2006 and 2007 respectively.

Source:

The Mizoram Post, Aizawl, Saturday 18th May, 2013, Pg. 3 [www.themizorampost.net]