Hmar literature

Hmar literature refers to the body of literature written in the Hmar language, the primary language of the Hmar people. It includes folktales and folksongs originating from oral traditions, as well as modern forms of written literature that developed following the community's Christianization in the late 19th century in Mizoram.^[1] The Hmar language, in which this literature is written, adopted the Roman script during the colonial period. The script was introduced in 1894 by British missionaries, notably Frederick William Savidge and James Herbert Lorrain.^[2]

When the linguist G. A. Grierson published Linguistic Survey of India, Volume III, Part III, page 259 contained a translated version of the biblical parable The Prodigal Son in the Hmar language, titled Naupa Tlanhmang. This is regarded as the earliest known example of written Hmar literature.^[2]

The Hmar alphabet (called Hawrawp) consists of a modified version of the Roman alphabet. They are:

The Hmar Literature Society (HLS) was founded on 25 September 1945. Its founding members included Thanglung, Mahajon Hmaipawng, Compounder K. Luoia, and Compounder Nguna.^[4]

Thanglung is considered as the 'Father of Hmar Literature.'^[1] Thanglung developed several early educational books in Hmar language, including Hriselna Kawng (1949), Sierkawp Bu (1950), Geometry Bu (1950), Leihnuoi Ram Thu (1951) and Dictionary (1952).