Mizo Thawnthu Hluia Intukna Ziarang

Abstract

This research paper investigates the structural characteristics and stylistic elements of satire and satirical songs (Intuk hla) embedded within traditional Mizo folktales (Mizo Thawnthu Hlui). Originating from an oral tradition prior to the advent of formal literacy, Mizo folklore extensively incorporates poetic expressions of mockery, rivalry, social criticism, and emotional retaliation. By analyzing foundational narratives - such as the feast of Thlanrawkpa Khuangchawi, the sibling dispute in Fanghma-Ṭo Zawng, the socio-economic tragedy of Thailungi, and the mythological sorcery duels between Lalruanga and Hrangsaipuia - the study demonstrates how oral poetry served as a crucial cultural mechanism for handling interpersonal conflict and reinforcing societal boundaries. The paper draws on established Mizo literary scholarship to trace the historical evolution of satire, concluding that satirical expressions are not modern innovations but deeply ingrained, structural components of ancestral Mizo cultural identity.