Tedim (, , (
Zo: ''Tedim Khawpi'', pronounced ; is a town in and the administrative seat of
Tedim Township,
Chin State, in the north-western part of
Burma
Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...
. It is the second largest town in Chin State. The town's four major boroughs (''vengte'') are: Sakollam, Myoma, Lawibual and Leilum. The population is primarily
Zomi
The Zomi are an ethnic group which can be found in India, Myanmar and in Chittagong hill tracks of Bangladesh. The word Zomi is used to describe an ethnic group, which is also known as the Chin, the Mizo, the Kuki, or a number of other names ...
.
History
The name "Tedim" was derived from a pool in the hills that used to twinkle in the sunlight. Therefore it was called ''te-dim'' (twinkling, shiny) in the local
Zomi language
Northern Kuki-Chin (or Northeastern Kuki-Chin) is a branch of Kuki-Chin languages. It is called ''Northeastern Kuki-Chin'' by Peterson (2017) to distinguish it from the Northwestern Kuki-Chin languages. VanBik (2009:31) also calls the branch ''No ...
.
As the Zomi lacked a formal
writing system in the past, the story of Tedim mostly depends on
oral tradition. Establishment of Tedim is ascribed to Gui Mang II, a powerful prince from the then ruling
Guite
Guite is the progenitor clan of Mizo people He is also said to be the Older Brother of Thadou progenitor of the Thadou people. Mostly the Guite clan speak mizo language . Some known as Zomi and few also as kuki in India and as Zogam in Myanmar ...
family in the region (c. 1600). However, due to the untimely death of Gui Lun (the fifth generation from Gui Mang II), Tedim was deserted for two generations. By the time of Pum Go, Tedim was reestablished as the political base of the Guite family. At the time of Mang Suum II, son of Pum Go, the allied force of the Pawihangs began their advance in the region and attacked Tedim. Tedim was again deserted by many, though some local residents survived under the leadership of Mang Gin from the Hatlang family. In 1840, in order to secure peace, the remaining citizens invited the leadership of Kam Hau of Mualbem, of the emerging Sukte family, since they had good military and political ties with the Zahau family of the Pawis.
[Sing K. Khai, ''Zo People and Their Culture'' (Lamka, Churachanpur, India: Kampu Hatzaw, 1995), 25-27 (Khai comments on 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 vassal).]
When British rule began in 1824, Tedim was chosen as the local residence for the
District Officer.
Geography
The ranges of Hills of Thangmual include Kennedy's Peak, Lunglenkawl, the
Rih Bual, the Hausapi, the Gullu Mual, the Zangmualli, the Tuikangpi, the Suangsuang, and the Lentangmual. There are dams, caves, peaks, and other attractions, including Lennupa Mual, the Twin Fairy Hill and other historic sites.
References
External links
Tedim Bible (Android)Tedim Bible (iOS)Vaphual News in TedimEnglish to Tedim/Zolai DictionaryZolai to English Dictionary and Zolai GrammarZomi Online Library
{{Chin State
Township capitals of Myanmar
Populated places in Chin State