GUWAHATI:Her mixed parentage prevented Mary from fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor. In Mizoram, where Christians form the majority, the children of mixed parentage are not viewed as Mizos by the locals.
Mary, whose father is Bengali and mother a Mizo, could not appear for the medical entrance test, because of the mixed parentage. Mizoram does not have any medical or engineering college. A certain number of seats are reserved for the locals in institutes outside the state. But the children of mixed parentage literally have no scope of getting admission there.
“A bright student, yet Mary could not sit for the test. She went to Bangalore where she did a course in management and is now working for a private firm there,” a relative of Mary told The Sunday Standard.
In the state, a strong sentiment is brewing against inter-caste marriage to protect and preserve the indigenous Mizo cultures, traditions and identity. Adding to the woes, recently the influential Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), which is the state’s apex students’ body, made Mizo students across the state take a pledge that they would marry only Mizos. The MZP says it received positive response from students, Mizo groups and organisations besides political parties.
As part of the movement launched on September 2, students in the schools and colleges of the state took a pledge in writing that they would not marry a non-Mizo. The MZP says the students will take a similar oath every year on September 2, and that there will also be awareness campaigns on the issue.
“Our aim is to create awareness among young Mizos against inter-caste marriage since it is a threat to Mizo cultures, business, society and security,” says MZP president Lalhmachhuana.
According to India’s 2011 Census, Mizoram has a population of little over 10 lakh. The MZP says the number of inter-caste marriages is not huge, but as the Mizos have a very small population, the need of the hour is to stop the inter-caste marriages.
The land in most tribal areas in the Northeast is protected. The MZP says protecting land is another reason behind the movement. It alleges that the non-tribals are grabbing land through their local wives.
“As per Article 371 G of the Constitution, non-tribals cannot purchase land in Mizoram. But inter-caste marriages let huge amount of the land go to non-tribals through the names of their local wives. As per the rules of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, outsiders are required to obtain Inner Line Permit (ILP) for a period of at least two years to do business in Mizoram. As ILPs of such term are rarely issued, the non-tribals are using the names of their local spouses to do business here,” Lalhmachhuana points out.
Recently, Manipur witnessed violent protests after the state Assembly had passed a bill proposing land rights to non-tribals in tribal areas. The Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), which is the apex women’s body in Mizoram, is among the groups backing this movement. “They (MZP) are trying to protect the pure form of Mizo cultures and traditions as far as possible. What they want to promote is that Mizos should not marry outsiders to have their indigenous cultures and traditions maintained. That’s the reason,” says MHIP vice president Dr Thanpuii.
“We support the campaign but an individual is an individual. We cannot control the person. So, let the children lead their lives the way they want,” she says.
But she admits that inter-caste marriage invariably creates a lot of hassles, not just for the couple but for their children as well. “If a Mizo girl marries an outsider, the family will be faced with a lot of problems. Their children will be denied first category treatment. They will also face difficulties in getting seats in the educational institutes etc. So, when there is an inter-caste marriage, the pure sense of the Mizo way of living and Mizo cultures and traditions get disturbed,” Thanpuii adds.
The Congress is among the parties throwing its weight behind the MZP. The Congress says inter-caste marriages have to be stopped to protect the interests of the Mizos. “We have a very small society and a very small population. Our economy is also weak. The local traders don’t have enough capital to compete with outsiders. So, we have to protect ourselves,” says Congress leader and former MZP president James Thanghmingmawia.
Asked if the movement, launched by MZP, could stop the inter-caste marriages, Thanghmingmawia says: “If someone marries an outsider, no action will be taken against him or her. It is only a campaign urging young Mizos to make a commitment.”
The MZP holds sway across Mizoram and therefore, its appeal to young Mizos is likely to have some impact.