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Zo-mi (literal translation of Zo-people/hnam)is the correct original historical name of the zo people who use to refer themselves since the days of Myanmar settlement as ZOU or YO or YAW, having a common ancestry and smilar dialects. The different Zo tribes hold the common belief that they originally emerged out of a cave or hole. This mythological cave is known by various names like Khuul, Khur, Khurpui, Khurtu-bijur, Sinlung, Chinlung, etc. by various tribes like Thadou (Shaw 1929:24-26), Lushai (Shakespear: 1912), Lakher (Parry 1976:4), Tedim/Paite-Chin (Kamkhenthang 1967:1-2) and Moyon-Monsang, Hmar etc.

The name (Kuki and Chin) is not used by the tribes themselves, it is a name merely given to them by the neighbouring foreigners. (source: G.A. Grierson, Dr., Linguistic Survey of India vol. III, part 3, p.2)
Probably the first recorded used of the name “Kuki” appeared in the History of Tripura as early as 1512 AD . During the reign of Tripura Raja Dhanya Manikya (around 1490 AD), it was pointed out that, wild race called Kukees live Thannangchi Forest of Tripura. (Source: GA Gierson, op. cit., p.1, Bhattacharya, A.C.: Progressive Tripura, New Delhi, 1992, p.44-58)

in Burma the Zomi are known as Chin, Prof. F. K. Lehman was of the view that the term might be from the Burmese word ‘Khyan” which means ‘basket’, saying,
“The term ‘Chin’ is imprecise. It is a Burmese word (khyan), not a Chin Word. It is homologous with the contemporary Burmese word meaning basket”.
‘Mizo’ became the official name of the people of Mizoram after 1946 only when the Lushai Hills was changed to ‘Mizo Hills’ and the first political party, the Mizo Common People’s Union was formed on 9th April 1946. The Party was later renamed the Mizo Union, and wanted to change the name Kuki/Chin/Zomi to Mizo.

Extract from the “Memorandum of the Mizo Union 1947 SUBMITTED TO HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (source: True copy):
“The Mizo people have been known under different names. The nomenclature of the word ‘KUKI’was and is known to the Mizos; it was a name merely given to them by the neighbouring foreigners.

“Again, it was wrong that the word Lushai should be used as covering all the Mizo tribes since it is misrending of the Lusei, only sub-tribe of the Mizo race. Hence though perhaps, not originally intended, it has created a division. Only the word ‘Mizo’ stand for the whole group of them all : Lusei, Hmar, Ralte, Paite, Zo, Darlawng, Kawm, Pawi, Thado, Chiru, Aimol, Khawl, Tarau, Anal, Puram, Tikhup, Vaiphei, Lakher, Langrawng, Chawrai; Bawng, Baite, Mualthuam, Kaihpen, Pangkhua, Tlangau, Hrangkhawl, Bawmzo, Miria, Dawn, Kumi, Khiangte, Khiang, Pangte, Khawlhring, Chawngthu, Vanchiau, Chawhte, Ngente, Renthlei, Hnamte, Tlau, Pautu, Pawite, Vangchhia, Zawngte, Fanai, etc, all closely related to one another culturally, socially, economically and physically thus forming a distinct ethnical units.”

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