Zo Raetapaw 
Strange as it may seem, Zomi and Mizo in reversed word orders, are the same; the former is primary (root word) and the latter is lyrical (poetic). Pu Sa Tin Kap and Pu Chal Lian Khuai (both Mizo men) related how the word Mizo was derived from Zomi, “We were originally Zomi” they said,” but when our progenitor shot a big bear he celebrated his coveted kill of the big game shouting in a state of eqphoria “It is I, son of Mizo, who shot a bear”. “From that time on we refer ourselves as Mizo” Source: Pa Khup Khan Thang BE. Norman OK USA.
It was traditionally a common practice in olden days for a Zomi man to boastfully announce his success in hunting by reversing word order of some ‘bi-syllabic’ words, like Zomi to Mizo in this case, to exalt his pedigree.
Prof. Lehman wrote: “To call yourselves Zo, is a more egalitarian choice saying in effect, that you are all alike, the same, namely, the people defined by the contrast between Hills and Plains” Chin Naitonal Journal p96..4 “Mizo is ….. a sort of proper name specific to the political context of Mizoram’s history, whilst Zomi is a common noun, basically, signifying the people who refer to themselves as Zo” ibid, We have already seen that they all refer themselves as Zo whether they call themselves Zomi/Zo miphun/Asho/Laizo/Cho or Khumi, cognate with Zo which clearly is their common name.
This Article Received From, and Credit to: Dr.J. Suan Za Dong, Sydney, Australia
