PRESENTATION

ON
GEOGRAPHY OF MIZORAM

TOPIC:ZAWLBUK AS AN INSTITUTION
PRESENTED BY:LALRAWNGBAWLA
ROLL NO:12
3RD SEMESTER
 INTRODUCTION

•‘Zawlbuk’ is a Mizo word

which literally meansn’house
on a flat ground’.
•Zawlbuk used to be located
invariably at the most central
place in a Mizo village.
•It was a place collectively
Night’s and rest used by the
young men near the chief’s
residence
Organisation within Zawlbuk
•The Village Chief (Lal) is the supreme
authority advised and supported by the
selected elders(Upa).
•The chief hands the leader Val Upa in
the organization within Zawlbuk.
•The Val Upa was responsible for
organising the group to take up definite
responsibilities in looking after the
welfare and exercising all round
vigilance over the needs of the village.
•The Zawlbuk groups could be
conceived as having two distinct
strata,namely adults and the other boys.
 Village institution and Duties in Zawkbuk
•All the bachelors of the village,including the
married youngmen would sleep in the Zawlbuk.

•Fire is lighted every night at sunset,the fuel

supply is under the responsibility of the boys.

•It is an institution where boys of the village

would gather knowledge about the jhum
operation,war tactic,handicraft,hunting and
sports etc.
 SIGNIFICANCE OF ZAWLBUK
•Zawlbuk creates a discipline and obedience of the
adults and young boys.
•It was the centre for defence of the village from the
attack by the enemies which characterized their
living in those days.
•It was a training centre of the young boys ,the
lower group in the heriarchy of the dweller.
•Young boys learn the art of hunting ,singing and
wrestling from the bachelors.
•There was no formal eductation ,the basic skill for
survival was learnt from the Zawlbuk.
•Zawlbuk was also for the centre of recreation.In the
daytime,old folks spend the day together with
others,recounting their past experiences as also
providing anecdotes about the brave warriors and
great hunters of the past.
 CONCLUSION

Zawlbuk forms of education for life, various activities, code of conduct and
mode of living, ensured a healthy reciprocity between the different age
groups and the elders as also between the claims of the family as a social unit
and the wider Mizo society .
The Zawlbuk usually came fully to life in the evening when youngsters
gathered there to exchange ideas. They sang songs of heroism and spoke of
the achievements of their ancestors. The practice of sleeping out on a regular
basis with their friends and neighbors helped the Mizo youths to build up a
strong awareness of community welfare.