The Mro People (Burmese: ၿမိဳလူမ်ိဳး)
are one of the 135 ethnic groups recognized by the government of Myanmar.
Mro is one of the ancient tribes .They are identified as a sub-group of Chin
people. Also known as Awa Khami, Khami, Khumi
Awa, Mro, Mro-Khimi,
“Kwe Myi” in Myanmar.The live widely in some parts of northern Rakine state,
Chin state, the townships of Matupi and Paletwa, and the regions of Samechaung
and Michaung. They are Tibeto-Burman and have their own language, culture and
customs which are still in existence. The word Mro was found as the earliest
evidence in Ba Saw Pyu Min Thame Echin.
The word “Mro” was found as the earliest evidence in “Ba Saw Phyu Min Thame Echin’ [i] composed by the Rakhine Scholar Aduminnyo in 1458. It was also found in the Myanamr stone inscription of Sagaing Htupayon in Line (20) set up by King Narapati in 1442. Later, the word :Mro” was used in such Rakhine chronicles as Rakhine Maha Yazawuntawgyi, Dhanyawadi Yazawunthit, the explanation of Marayu and Bedar and other evidences. In spite of the word “Mro” the different spellings of “Mrun and “Mru” are no longer in existence in Rakhine state nowadays. The Indians of Kyauktaw, Butheidaung and Maungtaw called them “Mrun Jar”[1][ii] ( Saging Htupayoh Pagoda inscription, Ovserve II 20.23.804/1442 AD. ) and “Mro” are still living as a tribe.
Therefore, the words “Mrun” and Mru” in the chronicles indicate that these different spellings referred to “Mro”. On the other hand, the pronounciation of “Mro” and Mru could be used by other tribes likes Rakhine people. They usually call themselves Khami, meaning Man.[2]
The
people who live along the head water of Michaung and Thamechaung, and
in hill side area are called Taung Mro and those at the mouth of these
ricers are called Awa Mro. The word mro is used for them by Rakhine
people.[3]
As there are three groups of Mro their customs and traditions, costume
styles and usages are slightly different but closely related.
It is the comprehensive word Mro for the whole tribe.
It is the comprehensive word Mro for the whole tribe.
- Mro ( Khami) : Sometimes called Awakhami living in the trownships of Kyauktaw, Mrauk-u, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw and Butheidaung.
- Mru ( Khami): Sometimes called Ahring )or) Aphyu Khami living in the townships of Paletwa and Matupi.
- Tawung Mro : called “Da” by Khami ( Mro) and Khami ( Mru), the word written in the texts of primary education before and after independence, living in the townships of Butheidaung and Maungtaw and Bengal province of Bangladesh.
Most of the later historians wrote about ancient Mro as a whole in spite of different three groups.
According
to the oral history of the origin Mro, there had been an “Old World
History.” Khawmu story. In this story, the “Khawmarun” and the woman
“Khawmanri” who lived together in a dark cave or darkness before
existence of the sun and the moon were named in the “ Mro” language as
“Khawmu” meaning the people of darkness. And the children of Khawmari
and Khawmarun were named “Khawmu Mro”, and also meaning production and
creation.
The descriptions about the word “Khami”
The
Taung Mins ( King of Maintains) named their territories “Ku” and they
ruled over the “Khami” the word “Mi” means living ones. Therefore, Mi
people were called “ Ku-mi” or “Khami” beings living in the territory.
The people who lived in Paletwa and Khanlon Taung which is situated at
the border of Matupi and who went down the region were named
“Awa-Khami”. But Rakhine people, on the other hand , called them “Mro”
or “Ma-ro”.[4]
Long
ago, “Khami” were ruled by Taung-Mins ( Khings of Mountains). The
living creatures in “Ku” or the territory of Taung-min were called “Mi”
and Ku mi, Khumi or Khami. In other words, this means living animal or
human.[5]
These
suggestions mentioned above are that “Ku-mi” people lived in Paletwa
Township and Chin State and have attempted to describe the
characteristics of their tribe. In fact, the pronunciation of the word
“Khami” appears to “Khumi” themselves as the nearest pronunciation. And
the tow alphabets are also similar and belong generally to the same
sound group. However, some accounts say that there are two Mro words
similar to every ten Khami words. To assess the word “Khami” is thus the
job of the scholars of etymology.
The
two different meanings of the words also need to be classified. The
word Khami has its several extended meaning according to references to
the context.
- When they want to differentiate between human and animal, the word means human
- When they want to differ from others the word means ‘they’
- When they want to separate other nationalities from them especially Rakhine people, the word means “ Our people” or our tribe”
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The word “Mro” the following points should be taken into account:
- Mro people living in the townships of Maungtaw, Butheidaung and Pannagyun called them as “Mro-Sa.” However, the meaning of Mro-Sa and its associated meanings cannot be traced.
- The prince Khaw-Sa-Pati, the son of King Varadhammatu in Majjima, led his flowers numbering about ten thousand, and field into Assam where they lived for a long time, with the consent of the King of Assam. While living there, they made seven fences to protect themselves and prevent the attack of other tribes natural disasters and animal predators.
References
[1] Interviews with U Anga Aung, Thapettapin village, kyauktaw township, 12 march 2005
[2]
Customs and Traditions of Myanmar nationalities ( Rakhine), Rangoon,
Myanmar Socialist Programme Party, 1976, January, pp31-31. ( Hereafter
cited as Traditional Customes ( rakhine)
[3]
Customs and Traditions of Myanmar Nationalies ( Chin), Rangoon,
Myanmar Socialist Programme Party, 1968, February, p 6, Hereafter cited
as Traditional Customs ( Chin)
[4] Traditional Custome ( Rakhine).pp 31-32
[5] Traditional Customs ( Chin) p. 62
