Zo Raetapaw 
This examines the national identity of the people of north western part of Burma. it uses historical evidence to prove that Zo is the correct name for the people and refutes the belief that they are Chin. The general consensus is that they have not had the right national name even though they are officially designated as Chin. But just because something is official does not make it the truth therefore, their identity, Chin, is an ‘official misnomer’. They neither call ourselves Chin nor do they have the word in their language. Their forefathers did not accept it. In fact, they objected to it. It has masked their true identity for over 120 years since the Chin Hills Regulation Acts became effective in 1896. Chin, as we will see below, was a bungled nomenclature designated on them. The British government officially declared later – the right word was Zo. (See Chin is a mistake P 4)
Zo is not known as Chin for nothing. There is an historical reason Zo people are known as Chin. As Prof. Lehman put it: “Actually, H N C Stevenson and other Englishmen seem to have been confused by the fact that their informants, attempting to explain the word,no doubt, did say to them that they called themselves ‘Zo’ and their land ‘Zo Ram’. (Chin National Journal P 94) It is highly likely that the interpreters for the British (who were Burmese and Rakhine) influenced the credulous British officers in misnaming the tribes – ignoring what the tribes called themselves.
They have not been nationally and politically happy being identified as Chin: a name that was arbitrarily imposed on them. Consequently, concern about having their true ethnic national name has often been raised but each time it turned out to be a subject of dispute without an agreeable solution in sight.
Years have gone by and now, with the wisdom of hindsight, it is identified that the principal obstacle standing in their way is ignorance as to what CHIN, LAIMI and ZOMI historically are all about. Save for only an erudite few, the public is kept in the dark about the background histories of these names and the few couldn’t care less leaving them without dropping a hint which one to rightly choose.
There is now a ray of hope that sheds light on their indisputably correct name, Zo – a name that many of them already proudly identify with. Unfortunately, there are others who were completely unaware of their true identity. Their history clearly and openly tells them what this identity is. This is a breakthrough in the panoply of indispensable evidence in the long search for their true ethnic identity that has been lying in store in their national archive ‘stashed’ by extraordinary people many years ago.
They need to be historically informed in order to cogitate on the pros and cons to make a logical decision on their true identity. It is therefore, crucial that the public be informed and assisted to see the issue against a background of sound historical knowledge in order to make the right decision.
It is essential to inform those who do not know who they are but who blindly flaunt the name given to them by outsiders without a scintilla of anything national to them. Those who cling to their original name but who just take it for granted must be informed as well. Only with this historical knowledge of their background can they see their common lineage and then come together with a stronger and lasting bond of belonging together as brothers and sisters.
This is intended to help them gain an insight into their history which is absolutely essential to fully appreciate that they, the so-called Chins, are inseparably one under the common ethnic name of Zo.
This is not an attempt to nullify and replace the wrongly-given name of Chin’ (p4) immediately but to coherently manifest the genuineness of their true identity kept in reserve for so long. They are just embarking on the education phase and I strongly suggest that they focus on the simple truth of the historical evidence and the applied nationality. They will use logic in making the decision base on recorded history or oral traditions form reliable sources keeping a sense of perspective without bias or prejudices.
Consideration will be given to the names Chin, Laimi and Zomi. I would sincerely like to invite you to go through this ‘Rethinking Our Identity’, keeping a cool head and working your way applying historical and logical principles with an open mind to reach an informed-decision on which is the original name they historically belong to. It is concise and to the point. You cannot fail to choose the right one if you are really after it.
Care has been taken in preparing this ‘Rethinking Our Identity’ to not project any personal conjectures without logic and emphasis is placed on numerous absolute records put by pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial scholars, clergymen and administrators. These provide the evidence as they have no records due to the absence of writing of their own. We cannot thank enough those who put the priceless records straight at our disposal.
The following quotes help to support the premise that Zo is our correct identity.
“The generic name of the whole nation (Kuki/Chin) is Zo (Dzo)” ………………… Col. TH Lewin, Lushai Expedition 1871-72
“…..the Chins do not have the word (Chin) and call themselve ‘Zo” …………… Capt. F M Rundall. 1891
“Outsiders called them Chin, in fact they ar Zomi” ……………….. U Ba Than: Author of Kyaung Thung Myanmar Yazawon (School Text book of Burmese History)
“In the context of Khuang Cawi or Lawng Tuk, ther is special prayer-ritual held by order men repeating,” we acquire the riches or good of ‘Vai'(Burma) country and of this ‘our Zo Ram (Zo country) “.”…. now in this ceremonial context call their country ‘Zo country, they are obliged to think of themselves as, after all, Zo ………… “FK Lehman, Chin National Magazine p 95.
“The tribes never called themselves by such names as Kuki or Chin or Lushai which are ‘not national’, They call themselves Zo (Zhou) ………… Sir James George Scott (1911/1932)
“Those of the Kuki tribes we designated as ‘Chis’ call themselves Yo (Zo), and Yo (Zo) is the general name by which the Chins call their race.” …………. B S Carey and H N Tuck (1932)
“In our younger days we were told that we were born at Zotlang. And Zo is our true original name, The Word LAI is not our national name, Laimi was first used by denizens of Haka, LAI means our village people, our own local people, as distinct from outsiders. ‘………………… Rev Sang Ling of Haka (1952)
“I agreed,I believe Zo is our national name and I myself am the pastor of Zokhua ………………… Rev Sang Fen of Zokhua (1952)
“Even though some of those who call themselves Lai do not accept, our national name is Zo since time immemorial.” …….. Sayagyi U Ba Thaung Tin, USA; Courtesy: Mrs, Mary Way (daughter)
“Asho is ‘Azo’. The prefix, ‘A’ has no meaning as the definte article, ‘the’, in English; Asho, therefore, is Zo” Saya Salaing U tun Hlaing, SEO 1986
This Article Received From, and Credit to: Dr.J. Suan Za Dong, Sydney, Australia
