Tedim

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling.
You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (November 2007)
Tedim
Tiddim
Tedim (Burma)
Tedim
Tedim
Location in Burma
Coordinates: 23°22′0.0006″N 93°40′0.0012″E / 23.366666833, 93.666667
Country Burma
Admin. division Chin State
District Falam District
Township Tedim Township
<overseer>
Government
 - 'Mipideih Ukna'
Population (84,953 as of 2006)
 - Religions Christian

Tedim is a town of present Chin State, in the northwestern part of Myanmar. It is also known as Tiddim, mostly in British records, following the pronunciation of Burman guides. However, local people still retain its original pronunication by spelling TE DIM. During the British rule, it was a residence of district officer [cf., Districts of England]. It is quite a big town in terms of its very discouraging geographical location in the mountaineous region. Being a table land up on the top of the hills might be one of the reasons that attracted settlers from surrounding area since its first establishment. A video presentation on Tedim is available free for view at Youtube (Public Domain).[1]

Contents

[edit] History and Legend

As a result of lack of formal writing system in the past, the story of Tedim mostly depends on oral tradition(s). According to oral tradition, the first establishment of Tedim was always ascribed to Gui Mang, a powerful prince from the then ruling Guite family in the region (c. 1600).[2] According to the traditions, the name "Tedim" was derived from a pool on the top of the hills that used to be twinkling under sun's light, therefore, called "te (bright, shine)" and "dim (twinkling, sparkling)" in local Paite dialect.[3] However, since there are two princes with the same name in the local chronology, this Gui Mang should be the later, therefore is Gui Mang II.[4]

However, due to the untimely death of Gui Lun (Guilun, the fifth generation from Gui Mang II), Tedim was desserted for two generations. By the time of Pum Go, Tedim was reestablished as the most political center of the then ruling Guite family.[5] Here is still an existing commemorative song said to be composed by Pum Go concerning the growing prosperity in Tedim that says:

Dimtui vang khua, khua munnuam aw, sial leh sawm taang a tunna,
Sial leh sawm taang a tunna, siing tan’ lam bang eng nah e;
Taang silsial e, taang silsial e, Dimtui vangkhua taang silsial e,
Dimtui vang khua taang silsial e, kawi tawh laukha ka hualna (Pumgo: c. early 18th cent.).

(Translation):

Very comfortable place is my native Dimtui (a poetic attribution to TE DIM), where all my dreams fulfilled,
Where all my dreams fulfilled, that everyone envies of my native;
It's shining, yes, shining, my native Dimtui is shining modestly,
My native Dimtui is shining modestly, where I made lasting vow to my beloved [dear wife].

By the time of Mang Suum II, son of Pum Go, the allied force of the Pawihangs (Pois, Pawi) began their advance in the region that did not leave Tedim also. Since this sudden attack is not possible to resist over a night, Tedim was again desserted by Mang Suum and his family, though some local residents still survived under the leadership of Mang Gin from Hatlang family.[6] Therefore, in 1840 [Cf., Tuan], in order to secure peace, the remaining citizens planned to invite Kam Hau of Mualbem, the then emerging Sukte family in the region, since they had a good military and political tie with the Zahau family of the Pawis.[7]

Under the capable leadership of Kam Hau, Tedim became a safety place, assuming the position of commercial and political center of the region within a few decades.[8] Accordingly, when the British came, Tedim was named to be the most appropriate local residence for district officer.[9]

[edit] Other

It is also the dialect spoken by the northern settlers of the district with the same name. Pockets of Tedim dialect speakers are also found in the adjoining Manipur and Mizoram states of India. It is estimated that around 3,50,000 people speak this dialect. It is one of the major dialects of the Chin/Zomi/Kuki/Mizo group of people. Arguably it is next only to Lusei (Mizo) in terms of speakers. The Lusei is now spoken by close to 6,00,000.

Tedim is very closely similar to the Paite dialect of Manipur. Tedim speakers are known usually as Chin though they prefer Zomi instead. Zomi has been used in most of their organisations now like ZOMUS (Zomi Music Uplift Society), ZOLUS (Zomi Literature Society), ZOCIA (Zomi Computer and Internet Association), ZCLS (Zomi Christian Literature Society), Zomi Information and Resource Center (ZIRC) etc.

They celebrate February 20 as Zomi Nam Ni (Zomi National Day although officially in Burma it is known as Chin National Day).

==Tedim== or ==Tiddim==Ciimnuai in other versions

The most Central part and centralization zones in Tedim people and languages is as follows (in alphabetical order):

Anlangh, this is the most genius tongue from which other dialects are ascended from. This is also the ideal and model Village (Nobelity/ virute)in standard living.

Cikha, Gamlai, Gawngmual, Haicin, Laitui, Lamzang, Ngennung, Ngente, Thangnuai, Tonzang, Tuithang, Tuituum, Vangteh,

and, The Name Tedim is arrived from the inhabitants since they were first arrived there. As ZamSianSang,Gualnam B.B.A (zasang)who is the researcher and surveyor for years about the History of Tedim (the Tedimmi), Zomi, Laimi, Halkha, Zotung, Thantlang, Zophei, Simte, Paite, Thado (Kuki), Naga, Tibetan Sino, Mizo, Asssammi and the genealogy of the Himalayans; As far as Zasang stated that, the Earth (foil and soil) of the Zogam, Zolang (Chinlang) is unique and easy and comfortable for living. The ranges of Hills of Thangmual (KenneyPeak's), Lentangmual, etcs and the historical reserved mythology related bays, dams, caves, peaks, sites and many more; some of them are: Lennupa mual, the twin or pair fiary hill, the Lunglenkawl, the Rih bual, the Hausapi, the Zangmualli, the Tuikangpi, the Suangsuang and many more lovely and historic reserved places are very lovely and wonderful; the people also.

[edit] Notable people from Khuasak, of Tedim Township, Chin State

  • Pu Thuam Kam, the founder of Siyin Ywa
  • Pu Thuam Hang, the first Christian convert among people from Chin State, Burma
  • Major General Tuang Za Khai
  • Lt. Colonel E. K. Kim Ngin
  • Lt. Colonel Pu Pau Cin
  • Major Luacin
  • Lt. Colonel Kam Cin
  • Major Dr. Mang Za Thang
  • Engineer Major Kam Cin Lian
  • Pu Khai Kam
  • Rev Mang Khaw Pau The second, ZBC General Seceretary
  • Pu Thian Khup Former- Deputy Director, Fishery Department of Burma- Mandalay Divission.
  • Pu Lun Pum Minister of Land Nationalization- the first among Zomi.
  • Lt. Colonel Suan Lian
  • Major Shuang Howe
  • Pu Pau Za Kam State Education Officer
  • Pu Thawng Khaw Lian Assistant General Manager, Ministry of Trade

[edit] Endnotes

  1. ^ Please, click Tedim Khuapi for view.
  2. ^ C. Thang Za Tuan, Prof., "Zomi Tanchin Tomkim," in Zolus Journal 4 (1999): 3-6. Dr. Tuan is a retired Deputy Director General of Basic Education Dept., the Ministry of Education, Myanmar. He dated 1570 to be the first founding of Tedim by Gui Mang.
  3. ^ TEDIM BEHS NO 1 GOLDEN JUBILEE MAGAZINE (Tedim, Chin State, Myanmar: Magazine Committee, 1998). This is a commemorative magazine of the Golden Jubilee of the school.
  4. ^ Cf., genealogical chart under "Guite" in Khup Za Thang, Capt. K. A., Zo Suan Khang Simna Laibu: the Genealogy of the Zo (Chin) Race of Burma (Parague, 1972).
  5. ^ Gin K. Thang, com., Guite Khang Tangthu, (Kalemyo, Myanmar: 1986). This local publication was once reverted by the compiler in 1994, for the mis-inclusion of an illegitimate name called Gui Luah (Guiluah). However, apart from this single weakness, this local publication is still the best collection of existing oral accounts on the Guite dynastic rule.
  6. ^ C. 1820, by C. Tuan.
  7. ^ Sing K. Khai, Zo People and Their Culture (Lamka, Churachanpur, India: Kampu Hatzaw, 1995), 25-27 [Khai well comments the emergence of the Sukte family as a matter of fear of the Pawis of present Falam, that Khan Thuam and his son, Kam Hau, ruled as their vassel].
  8. ^ Sukte Beh leh Tedim Gam Taangthu (Tedim, Myanmar: Laibu Bawl Committee, 1993). This is also a local publication of a collection of the oral accounts of the Sukte dynastic rule.
  9. ^ [need help for reference]

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Chin State
Capital: Hakha
Falam District
Mindat District
Cities and towns
Languages