Mizoram, the land of mountains, is known for its diverse cultural festivals. Initially, Mizoram was known as the Lushai Hills District of Assam. The meaning of the word Mizoram—’Mi’ means people, ‘zo’ means hills, and ‘ram’ means country; hence, Mizoram is the country of people living in hills. Aizawl is the capital of Mizoram. It is known for its tourism, culture, and traditions. The state symbols of Mizoram are Serow, Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, Indian Rose Chestnut or Ironwood Tree, and Red Vanda. The state symbols tell about their attitude, purity, personality, and culture. 

Some Facts About Mizoram

• Mizoram was initially known as the Lushai Hills District of Assam.
• In 1954, the Lushai Hills was renamed as Mizo Hills District.
• In 1972, Mizo Hills District was declared a union territory and was given its present-day name: Mizoram.
• The total area covered by the previously known Lushai hills is approximately 21,081 sq Km.
• Mizoram has the highest number of tribes.
• The tribes of Mizoram are protected as Scheduled Tribes under the Indian Constitution.
• The most common type of farming seen in Mizoram is the Slash and Burn Jhum or shifting cultivation type. 
• Lusei was the first language of Mizoram, which is commonly known as the Mizo Language.

State Symbols of Mizoram 

Emblem

The emblem of Mizoram is similar to that of the emblem of the country. The emblem is very important for a state or a country. It is part of all the legal works or properties of the government. The country’s emblem has four lions attached back to back on a base that symbolises equality between four things. The structure of lions has been taken from a statue in the Sarnath museum known as the Lion Capital of Ashoka. The base consists of four animals; elephant, bull, horse, and lion. The Ashoka Chakra is present between these animals. The lion is a symbol of the Buddha. The whole structure of this emblem preaches the spread of Dharma and Buddhism. 

Motto

The state motto is ‘Satyameva Jayate,’ which is also the country’s motto. The phrase means ‘Truth alone triumphs.’

Bird

The state bird of Mizoram is Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, which is also the state bird of Manipur. In Mizo Language, it is known as Vavu. The bird is endemic to India and is only found in Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. Due to habitat loss and a decrease in the number of Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, it has now been categorised as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN.

Tree

The state tree, the Ironwood tree, is known as Herhse in the Mizo Language. It is also known as Indian Rose Chestnut. The flower of this tree is the state symbol of Tripura. The different parts of the tree have various medicinal uses. The locals use the seeds of this tree for lighting during the night.

Flower

The state flower of Mizoram is Red Vanda, which is an orchid. It is also known as Senhri in the Mizo language. It is mostly found in the Himalayan region. It is regarded as an endangered species.

Animal

Himalayan Serow is the state animal of Mizoram. It is also known as Saza in the Mizo language. It is characterised as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN red list of Threatened Species.

Conclusion

Mizoram, the land of mountains, was initially known as the Lushai Hills District of Assam. The literal meaning of the word Mizoram is the ‘country of people living in hills.’ The capital of Mizoram is Aizawl. The state symbols of Mizoram include Serow (state animal), Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant (state bird), Indian Rose Chestnut or Ironwood Tree (state tree), and Red Vanda (state flower). The state has the same emblem and motto as that of the country.