Hiangzou
Encyclopedia
Hiangzou is a ward within Churachandpur
town of Manipur
, India
. Situated on the bank of the Khuga (Tuitha) river, this residential settlement developed from paddy field
s. Its first settler, Upa P. Tuahchinhau, moved to Hiangzou on 31 January 1999. More settlers joined within a couple of years.
Hiangzou became “a full fledged hill house tax paying village” on 10 July 2007 Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act 1956.
and metalled road. The growth of Hiangzou and its surrounding settlements partly reflect the urban sprawl
of Lamka
, (Churachandpur
), which is the fastest growing town of modern Manipur
.
and Khuga Tampak (Zoveng Meitei Leikai). Previously, the area was referred to as Lower Lamka
. New Zoveng and Zomunnuom are eastward extensions of Hiangzou.
and Behiang
area. The name "Hiangzou" is derived from another village, "Hiangtam
" located in the Singngat
-Behiang
area. Some students also live here to pursue their education in the schools and colleges of Churachandpur
town.
community. In everyday life, Hiangzou is like a mixed
neighbourhood
since it is located adjacent to settlement site of a different community, Meitei Leikai. Most residents of Hiangzou are bilingual: they fluently speak both Zou and Meitei languages. (Manipuri, also called Meitei, is the official language of the Indian state of Manipur).
Church and Manipur Gam Presbyterian -- are located in this ward. Majority of church members at the Lutheran Bethel Church are from Hiangzou. Some members are from other areas and wards of the Lamka
town, and Bethel Church practically functions like a Free Church
. The Christian Goodwill Youth Fellowship (CGYF) organizes recreational activities for the youths of Hiangzou and surrounding areas.
Churachandpur
Churachandpur is the largest district in the Indian state of Manipur.- Origin of Churachandpur on the bank of Khuga :Located southwest of Manipur, Churachandpur District covers an area of 4570 km² and is the largest district within the state of Manipur. The terrain of the district is mainly...
town of Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Situated on the bank of the Khuga (Tuitha) river, this residential settlement developed from paddy field
Paddy field
A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice farming in east, south and southeast Asia. Paddies can be built into steep hillsides as terraces and adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such...
s. Its first settler, Upa P. Tuahchinhau, moved to Hiangzou on 31 January 1999. More settlers joined within a couple of years.
Hiangzou became “a full fledged hill house tax paying village” on 10 July 2007 Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act 1956.
Urban Sprawl
Hiangzou has electricityElectricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
and metalled road. The growth of Hiangzou and its surrounding settlements partly reflect the urban sprawl
Urban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
of Lamka
Lamka
Lamka is the second largest town of the Manipur State of India, next to Imphal. It is in Churachandpur district. Lamka has its name from the word "Lam" which means path or way and "ka" means junction. The name Lamka in short means a place situated at the road junction. "Due to its commercial...
, (Churachandpur
Churachandpur
Churachandpur is the largest district in the Indian state of Manipur.- Origin of Churachandpur on the bank of Khuga :Located southwest of Manipur, Churachandpur District covers an area of 4570 km² and is the largest district within the state of Manipur. The terrain of the district is mainly...
), which is the fastest growing town of modern Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
.
Location
Branching off from Tedim road, Hiangzou is an extension of ZovengZoveng
Zoveng is one of the oldest town ward within Lamka or Churachandpur district of Indian state of Manipur. This residential area is mostly located along S. Chinzagin Road that branches off from Tedim road. The ward has a high concentration of ethnic Zou and Meitei communities.The Zogal Memorial Hall...
and Khuga Tampak (Zoveng Meitei Leikai). Previously, the area was referred to as Lower Lamka
Lamka
Lamka is the second largest town of the Manipur State of India, next to Imphal. It is in Churachandpur district. Lamka has its name from the word "Lam" which means path or way and "ka" means junction. The name Lamka in short means a place situated at the road junction. "Due to its commercial...
. New Zoveng and Zomunnuom are eastward extensions of Hiangzou.
Background
Most Hiangzou residents are migrants from rural areas who fled their villages as a result of the Zomi-Kuki ethnic conflict (1997–98). In fact, a large number of them hailed from SingngatSingngat
Singngat is one of the sub-divisional headquarters of Churachandpur district in the Indian state of Manipur and is a key administrative centre in the southwestern border of the state...
and Behiang
Behiang
Behiang is a border village on the boundary of India and Burma. With roughly 1000 size population, this village snakes for about 2 km. along the Tedim road. Majority of the local population belongs to the Zou community...
area. The name "Hiangzou" is derived from another village, "Hiangtam
Hiangtam
- Historical Significance :Hiangtam is a small, but historic village on the Indo-Myanmar border. It is one of the oldest settlement of the Zou community in Manipur, India. It is located within Churachandpur district of Manipur. Hiangtam is best known for its association with the Kuki Rising during...
" located in the Singngat
Singngat
Singngat is one of the sub-divisional headquarters of Churachandpur district in the Indian state of Manipur and is a key administrative centre in the southwestern border of the state...
-Behiang
Behiang
Behiang is a border village on the boundary of India and Burma. With roughly 1000 size population, this village snakes for about 2 km. along the Tedim road. Majority of the local population belongs to the Zou community...
area. Some students also live here to pursue their education in the schools and colleges of Churachandpur
Churachandpur
Churachandpur is the largest district in the Indian state of Manipur.- Origin of Churachandpur on the bank of Khuga :Located southwest of Manipur, Churachandpur District covers an area of 4570 km² and is the largest district within the state of Manipur. The terrain of the district is mainly...
town.
Neighborhood
Residents of Hiangzou almost exclusively belong to the ZouZou people
The Zou people is an indigenous community living along the frontier of India and Burma. In India, they live with and are similar in language and habits to the Paite and the Simte peoples, all of which are called Zomi. In Burma, Zou are counted among the Chin people...
community. In everyday life, Hiangzou is like a mixed
Mixed
Mixed is the past tense of mix. It may also refer to:*Mixed breed, an animal whose parents are from different breeds or species*Mixed anomaly, in theoretical physics, an example of an anomaly*Mixed data sampling, an econometric model developed by Ghysels...
neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
since it is located adjacent to settlement site of a different community, Meitei Leikai. Most residents of Hiangzou are bilingual: they fluently speak both Zou and Meitei languages. (Manipuri, also called Meitei, is the official language of the Indian state of Manipur).
Community Life
Two churches -- Lutheran BethelBethel
Bethel was a border city described in the Hebrew Bible as being located between Benjamin and Ephraim...
Church and Manipur Gam Presbyterian -- are located in this ward. Majority of church members at the Lutheran Bethel Church are from Hiangzou. Some members are from other areas and wards of the Lamka
Lamka
Lamka is the second largest town of the Manipur State of India, next to Imphal. It is in Churachandpur district. Lamka has its name from the word "Lam" which means path or way and "ka" means junction. The name Lamka in short means a place situated at the road junction. "Due to its commercial...
town, and Bethel Church practically functions like a Free Church
Free Church
The proper noun Free Church may refer to:Europe-wide:* Evangelical Lutheran Free Churchin Germany:* Evangelical Lutheran Free Church * Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Churchin Iceland:*Reykjavík Free Churchin Norway:...
. The Christian Goodwill Youth Fellowship (CGYF) organizes recreational activities for the youths of Hiangzou and surrounding areas.