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Origin of Zo
The Zos are the original descendants (progeny) of a legendary person named Pu Zo, who is believed to be the elder brother of
Pu Zing Phaw (presently known as Kachins). Though widely believed to have descended from Mongolia, the routes to the
present settlements are not clear. It is believed that the Zote have descended from Mongolia to China and to Tibet and to the
present day Burma, Bangladesh and India. Of the three major races of the Tibeto-Burman group of people – Tet, Pyu and
Kanyan - the Zo Belong to the Tet group of people.

Language
Linguistic and racial evidence suggest the Indo-Chinese origin of the people. Linguists classified the Zo language as "Tibeto-
Burman". In India, Zos are officially recognized as one of the 29 "Scheduled Tribes" within the state of Manipur (See List of
Scheduled Tribes of India, Modification 1956)[1]. Zo language is one of the prescribed MIL (Major Indian Languages) in the
high schools [2] and higher secondary schools of Manipur state. In MiZoram state of India, Zo (Mizo) language is the official
state language.

In Burma, although the Zo Language had
been officially taught in the schools of Chin
state for almost a century, the Military
Government recently forcefully taken out of
the school’s curriculum as apart of their
cultural genocide attempt.

Besides the regular modern Zo literature
which is written in Roman Alphabet, the Zo
community has a script of its own known
as "Zolai", which is also called Pau Cin Hau
Lai, invented by Pau Cin Hau in the early
20th century.

Religion
The Zo people were ancestor worshippers
mixed with the worship of one omnipotent
supreme being called Pasian. More than
80% of modern day Zo people are Christians,
as the result of the British and American
Missionaries in the late 19th Century and the
early 20th century.

Demographics
Zomis are densely living in the Chin Hills
of Burma, South and S.E districts of
Manipur state and Mizoram state in India.
They also are scattered all over Burma, India,
Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, U.S.A and
around the world.

Identities
The word "Zo" comes from the progenitor of Zo people who are descended from Pu.Zo; their great progenitor. Professor F.
K. Lehman (Anthropology and Linguistics, University of Illinois (USA)), in his research findings, concludes that despite the
variation in the form of writing, it appears to have a single root of Zo, Yo, Ysou, Shou and the like.
Zomi who settled down at the central part of Chin State are known to themselves as Zo, LaiZo,because of the central location
of their inhabitance. Additionally, the Lai Zo were fond of the idea of exclusiveness from the Zophei, Zokhua and Zotung
people. Hence, the idea of dichotomisation was applied by using US-THEM method of segregation for centuries, in this
segmentation. The LaiZo, later dismantled the word "Zo" from LaiZo and use only Laimi, however they are very much part of
"Zo" or "Zomi". Nevertheless, the word "Laimi" only covers a small numbers of people at the center part of Chin State. On the
other hand, the name "Zomi" or "Zo" covers people who called themselves Mizo, Zomi, Kuki, [Bawm] Zo and Chin as a whole.

The southern part of Chin State, Burma occupied by Asho, Cho people, nonetheless, the words simply are the indication of
their beings as southern Zomi (Zo People).

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zo_(people)

About Chin State, Burma
Location:
-Locates in Southeast Asia
-Lies between the longitude 92.15ºE and 97ºE, and in between the latitude 18ºN and 27.30ºN.

-Bangladesh is to its Southwest, Manipur State of India is to its Northwest, China is to its North, Burma is to its East,
and Arakan State of Burma is to its South.

Geographical Features:
-An area of circa 36 000 square kilometres
-Mountainous landscape, which stretches from Himalaya
mountain ranges.
-Slightly smaller than Switzerland

-Riches in natural flora (orchids etc) and fauna (Elephant,
Tiger, Bear, Wild Boar, Various kinds of monkeys,
barking deer, wild goat and various kinds of birds) and
alpine flora is very common in the country.

-The highest mountains: Khawnutum (Mount Victoria),
Thang.
-The biggest rivers: Kaladan and Meitei.
-The biggest lake: Rih Lake.

Climate:
-Mild hot wet climate.
-April and May are the hottest months of the year where
average temperatures of the months range from 60º
F (15.5º C) to 80º (21º C).
-Average temperature in the cold seasons is below 40º F
(4.4º C). In the cold seasons, temperatures fall as low as
freezing point of water in the higher parts of mountains.
-Average annual rainfall is 80 – 120 inches. The Southern
part gets more due to the storms come from Bay of
Bengal.

Population:
-The population of the present Chin state (in Burma) is
circa half million.
-The Zomis(Chins) inhabiting in Chin State and its
territories are approximately one and half million.

National Symbols:
-Hornbill, Mythun or Gayal, and Rhododendron.

Religions:
-Christian: Over 70% of the population
-Buddhist, animist and others: About 30% (Buddhism is practice by some Chins in the southern part of the state).