Marriage, Social Change and Customary laws: Mizo and Naga Tribal Communities

Introduction

Human society has never been static, though it changes constantly, the principles, beliefs, and traditions evolve from time to time. In the fast pace modern world that we are living in, it is increasingly difficult to analyze the difference between traditional and modern values. Tradition and modernity are statements of values that try to describe how society and culture change as people progress through various stages of development. The term "traditional societies" also designates a certain historical stage of social and cultural development. Understanding the interactions between various Naga and Mizo society is the aim of the current article focusing particularly on their customary law, social organization and socio-political status of women. It examines whether there have been any changes to the Angami Naga and Lushai Mizo societies and their traditional customs. This study investigates their cultural and traditional practices. It also clarifies the reasons for change and stability in the Angami and Lushai society. It is evident that their social structure, reputation, and treatment of women have changed over the time.

Naga tribe

The Aos (Angami) are one of the major tribes of the sixteen major tribes of Nagaland. The Tenyimia Angamis, who live in Kohima District and some areas of Dimapur District, are the fourth-largest Naga tribe. The Angami word Tuonyümia, which is the source of the phrase Tenyimia, signifies a "fast walker." The Angamis are divided into four categories based on their geographic location: the Northern, Southern, Western, and Chakroma groups. The Northern Angami are the people who live in Kohima and the nearby villages; the Western Angami are the people who live in the west; the Southern Angami are the people who live in the south; and the Chakroma are the people who have settled in the plains and slopes along the national highway from Kohima to Medziphema and the area around Dimapur. The Angamis are of Tibeto-Burman origin and their spoken language Tenyidie is written in the Roman script[1] (Medonuo Pienyu, 2017).

Mizo tribe