Literature from Mizoram: ‘Mizo Songs and Folk Tales’

Thoughts on an anthology by Laltluangliana Khiangte

A couple of months ago I decided to pick up a book from the state of Mizoram, which is a state in Northeast India with its capital city as Aizawl. I have been doing the Explore India Readathon since last year now and I have read some very wonderful books, of which I am very glad. This time around, I picked up literature from Mizoram. The book I chose was a collection of songs and folk tales. Since the Mizos are known as a singing people, songs, therefore, form an integral part of their culture.

What Is It About?

Here is a short synopsis from Goodreads:

Mizo Songs and Folk Tales edited by Laltluangliana Khiangte is a product of Sahitya Akademi’s project on Indian Literature in Tribal Languages and Oral Traditions, meant to meet the long-felt need for bringing out a systematic series of India’s tribal literature. The volume very beautifully deals with the dialects and languages spoken by tribals in India which are very large in number also. The literary compositions in most of the songs and tales have survived in oral form, though some tribal languages have taken to writings as a means of recording literary compositions. It is a known fact that most of these languages have rarely been translated into English or an Indian language as a representation of tribal imagination.

My Initial Thoughts

From folk songs, and early compositions to devotional songs, nature poems love songs and contemporary poems, this collection of Mizo literature was a wholesome way for me to get exposed to their rich and varied culture. Apart from these short works, there were also various folk tales, accounts of the menfolk, tales of love and compassion as well as tales of women protagonists.

Songs and Poems

While I certainly loved the various works on love, I have to say that the works on nature were some of my favourites. I have also attached below a very short folk song which, I believe has a mixture of both — nature, and love.

Could I but speak their tongues, fain would I ask The birds and the singing cicadas of the air, If ever a lover’s yearning was subsistence enough.

- A Folk Song

Following is an extract from a nature poem, which is a personal favourite and I think it really gives a romantic pastoral vibe. J’adore!

Over craggy hills and raging sea, Where fly the martins free, Blowing across the winds fields and dell, Where the cattle gaily dwell. You hastened away on your wings; Are you the bearer of sad tidings?

- An Extract from a Nature poem by Lalmama, translated by Mafâ-a Hauhnar

History and Society

I also appreciate the introduction that was added in the beginning. It gave me a sense of what to expect as well as gave a quick crash course in Mizo literature. Since the Mizos are known as a singing tribe, the introduction also dedicated a good section on their musical tradition.

We also get glimpses of social customs and mores, the naming patterns for Mizos, as well as the acceptable wishes and desires when it comes to death. We also get to know about Mizo literary history.

Overall, I am really glad that I read this book for the Explore India Readathon because it was certainly very informative and I also had considerable fun reading the different poems, songs and stories. I had a wonderful time reading and analysing this book. I hope you too give it a chance and be transported to the beautiful land of Mizoram.

Following is the list of all the reviews I have written for the books I read from the 8 Northeast Indian states:

Nayanika Saikia graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and was also a Dean’s List student. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree and is also a Booktuber and Bookstagrammer. She can often be found on her Instagram account Pretty Little Bibliophile.

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