by Salai Biak Lian Sang
Dear friends,
Peace be upon you all. I would like to bring the idea towards more understanding of the identity of the Chin people. The globalization is being criticized by some indigenous activists. But, the globalization is unstoppable now. The important one is, how to keep our national identity in such circumstances. But then, we ought to see what really make us Chin very clearly?
Are we Chins because we ware Chin cultural dresses? Every body can buy Chin coat and ware it, but unfortunately he/she can not be or will never be a Chin just because of putting a Chin cultural dresses on. So then, are we Chins because we speak Chin language? Ahem! That sounds a little bit closer but not enough. I can show you a couple of persons who speak Chin language but they are not Chins. There are even some more. Chins are Christians. Ok!... But All Christians are not Chins. Right? Let us see some of very simple logical methods for more clarification about drawing conclusion to bring more understanding about the identity of being a Chin.
We are Chins not just because we are in Myanmar.
Some people sometimes state that, those who left the country Myanmar are no more Chins or who have left the Chin identity. This idea however is a very important issue not only for the Chins but also for any indigenous people. I would like to prove that the statement is unfortunately invalid one.
Example (1.1): "Pa Biak is a philosophy student in the International Chin Christian University, therefore, he is a university student" This statement is logically true.
Here is another Example (1.2), "Pa Biak is a university student in CCU, therefore he is a philosophy student", Do you think this statement is pretty good and correct?
I hope the above simple logical method of reasoning make sense for us. Every body can easily discover that the second example is invalid. This logical method emphasizes upon general idea to draw a specific conclusion.
So, what is the implication of this statement for us? Here, I would like to put more stresses on proving the Chin identity rather than the idea of nationalism. It is also possible that the Chins who left Myanmar can gradually lose their identity if they don't really care about it. But, it does not mean that since they have left the country may be because of the circumstances, they are no more Chins. We still are Chins whenever we are! We still can keep our lovely culture and identity wherever in the world! Right?But at the same time, we do need to abandon some of our old and undeveloped cultural practices and concepts. I believe that "when we are in Rome, we live like Rome" but the Jews could live in Rome without losing their Jewish identity.
So what really make somebody a Chin?
I would like to bring another more logical reasoning for this. Men in general always use inductive reasoning. Some philosophers such as David Hume and Sextus brought argument about the existence of inductive concept. Nevertheless, it can be seen that men usually use it; even scientists and modern computer software programmers still rely on induction. Here is some inductive logic;
Examples of deductive and inductive logical reasoning;
Strong inductive logic is like this - "All observed crows (the crow in the garden, in the jungle, in the zoo, by the sea..etc..) are black. Therefore, all crows are black."
All ice is cold. (or: All ice I have ever touched was cold.),
This billiard ball moves when struck with a cue. (or: Of one hundred billiard balls struck with a cue, all of them moved.)
Another example would be:
3+5=8 and eight is an even number. Therefore, an odd number added to another odd number will result in an even number. There can be like this too, "Of one hundred observed Chins have the following identities, therefore, all Chins have the following identities."
The inductive logic, in a simple definition, is generalization. Its premises have a consequence collection of generalized items in order to draw the most possible conclusion. Or we can also use inductive logic as well.
Here is deductive logical reasoning: This reasoning was developed by Aristotle, Pythagoras and Thales.
"All apples are fruit. All fruits grow on trees. Therefore, apples grow on trees" or, All animals are mortal. Humans are animals. Therefore, all humans are mortal". So it can be like this, too." All Chins have the following identities, Mr. Salai in USA have those identities. Therefore he is a Chin" Right? It is a very simple one.
I would like to draw some top premises for identifying about an individual Chin as follow;
1. Either parents or one of the parents are Chins or at least grand parents are Chins: This will be the first premise.
2. Speak Chin language: It is true that, Chins have at least 16 different sub-dialects. A Chin must or need to speak at least one of them.
3. Know and apply Chin culture.
4. Dressing: Though the Chins may not always ware Chin cultural dresses but it is true and appropriate to ware cultural dresses especially in special occasions and meeting with different people. Cultural dress is the one that can clearly show our identity.
5. Is Christian (because 99% of Chins are Christians)in the future there can be more Atheists.... :)but currently this is true that Chins are Christians.
6. Self Identifying as a Chin or willing to be a Chin; Even if both parents are Chins, if he/she does not identify himself as a Chin, that person is no longer a Chin. A Chin contributes him/herself to Chin community. That is why a Chin needs to mingle with Chin community. A person can have multi citizenship but it does not mean that he has abandoned his original ethnic identity. This will also mean that a woman who married and is wiling to be identify herself can be a Chin.
7. Skin color or Physical appearance; It is so simple that the Chins neither look like Africans nor white westerners. Our physical appearance is included in Tibeto-Burman skin color.
8. Have family name or tribe name: In Myanmar, except from Chin, Shan, Kachin and Some Karen, other ethnic nationalities do not have family names or tribe name. Every Chin have family or tribe name such as..cinzah, zathang...etc....This is very important to maintain our tribe names because this will be a strong fact that can trace our original identity.
9. Close relations of relatives: The Chins emphasized on family relations. It is so important to call a relative properly, such as,...Kapu, Kani, Katang, Katu...(means uncle, aunty, nephew, ...etc).
10. Moreover, even though it has to do with ethical facts Honesty, royalty, kindness and loving etc...are also identities of the Chins. Evidence is that not mentioning the current Chin society, our forefathers may not be very wise but they were known as honest and royal ones. It is seldom seen in the Chin history that the Chins were cruel even though they did have battles which was one of the natures of undeveloped civilization rather than being cruel.
Peace be upon you all. I would like to bring the idea towards more understanding of the identity of the Chin people. The globalization is being criticized by some indigenous activists. But, the globalization is unstoppable now. The important one is, how to keep our national identity in such circumstances. But then, we ought to see what really make us Chin very clearly?
Are we Chins because we ware Chin cultural dresses? Every body can buy Chin coat and ware it, but unfortunately he/she can not be or will never be a Chin just because of putting a Chin cultural dresses on. So then, are we Chins because we speak Chin language? Ahem! That sounds a little bit closer but not enough. I can show you a couple of persons who speak Chin language but they are not Chins. There are even some more. Chins are Christians. Ok!... But All Christians are not Chins. Right? Let us see some of very simple logical methods for more clarification about drawing conclusion to bring more understanding about the identity of being a Chin.
We are Chins not just because we are in Myanmar.
Some people sometimes state that, those who left the country Myanmar are no more Chins or who have left the Chin identity. This idea however is a very important issue not only for the Chins but also for any indigenous people. I would like to prove that the statement is unfortunately invalid one.
Example (1.1): "Pa Biak is a philosophy student in the International Chin Christian University, therefore, he is a university student" This statement is logically true.
Here is another Example (1.2), "Pa Biak is a university student in CCU, therefore he is a philosophy student", Do you think this statement is pretty good and correct?
I hope the above simple logical method of reasoning make sense for us. Every body can easily discover that the second example is invalid. This logical method emphasizes upon general idea to draw a specific conclusion.
So, what is the implication of this statement for us? Here, I would like to put more stresses on proving the Chin identity rather than the idea of nationalism. It is also possible that the Chins who left Myanmar can gradually lose their identity if they don't really care about it. But, it does not mean that since they have left the country may be because of the circumstances, they are no more Chins. We still are Chins whenever we are! We still can keep our lovely culture and identity wherever in the world! Right?But at the same time, we do need to abandon some of our old and undeveloped cultural practices and concepts. I believe that "when we are in Rome, we live like Rome" but the Jews could live in Rome without losing their Jewish identity.
So what really make somebody a Chin?
I would like to bring another more logical reasoning for this. Men in general always use inductive reasoning. Some philosophers such as David Hume and Sextus brought argument about the existence of inductive concept. Nevertheless, it can be seen that men usually use it; even scientists and modern computer software programmers still rely on induction. Here is some inductive logic;
Examples of deductive and inductive logical reasoning;
Strong inductive logic is like this - "All observed crows (the crow in the garden, in the jungle, in the zoo, by the sea..etc..) are black. Therefore, all crows are black."
All ice is cold. (or: All ice I have ever touched was cold.),
This billiard ball moves when struck with a cue. (or: Of one hundred billiard balls struck with a cue, all of them moved.)
Another example would be:
3+5=8 and eight is an even number. Therefore, an odd number added to another odd number will result in an even number. There can be like this too, "Of one hundred observed Chins have the following identities, therefore, all Chins have the following identities."
The inductive logic, in a simple definition, is generalization. Its premises have a consequence collection of generalized items in order to draw the most possible conclusion. Or we can also use inductive logic as well.
Here is deductive logical reasoning: This reasoning was developed by Aristotle, Pythagoras and Thales.
"All apples are fruit. All fruits grow on trees. Therefore, apples grow on trees" or, All animals are mortal. Humans are animals. Therefore, all humans are mortal". So it can be like this, too." All Chins have the following identities, Mr. Salai in USA have those identities. Therefore he is a Chin" Right? It is a very simple one.
I would like to draw some top premises for identifying about an individual Chin as follow;
1. Either parents or one of the parents are Chins or at least grand parents are Chins: This will be the first premise.
2. Speak Chin language: It is true that, Chins have at least 16 different sub-dialects. A Chin must or need to speak at least one of them.
3. Know and apply Chin culture.
4. Dressing: Though the Chins may not always ware Chin cultural dresses but it is true and appropriate to ware cultural dresses especially in special occasions and meeting with different people. Cultural dress is the one that can clearly show our identity.
5. Is Christian (because 99% of Chins are Christians)in the future there can be more Atheists.... :)but currently this is true that Chins are Christians.
6. Self Identifying as a Chin or willing to be a Chin; Even if both parents are Chins, if he/she does not identify himself as a Chin, that person is no longer a Chin. A Chin contributes him/herself to Chin community. That is why a Chin needs to mingle with Chin community. A person can have multi citizenship but it does not mean that he has abandoned his original ethnic identity. This will also mean that a woman who married and is wiling to be identify herself can be a Chin.
7. Skin color or Physical appearance; It is so simple that the Chins neither look like Africans nor white westerners. Our physical appearance is included in Tibeto-Burman skin color.
8. Have family name or tribe name: In Myanmar, except from Chin, Shan, Kachin and Some Karen, other ethnic nationalities do not have family names or tribe name. Every Chin have family or tribe name such as..cinzah, zathang...etc....This is very important to maintain our tribe names because this will be a strong fact that can trace our original identity.
9. Close relations of relatives: The Chins emphasized on family relations. It is so important to call a relative properly, such as,...Kapu, Kani, Katang, Katu...(means uncle, aunty, nephew, ...etc).
10. Moreover, even though it has to do with ethical facts Honesty, royalty, kindness and loving etc...are also identities of the Chins. Evidence is that not mentioning the current Chin society, our forefathers may not be very wise but they were known as honest and royal ones. It is seldom seen in the Chin history that the Chins were cruel even though they did have battles which was one of the natures of undeveloped civilization rather than being cruel.
If a person has above facts and features, he/she is a Chin. If it goes negative, then the result is also negative. Only one of them is not sufficient for identification to be a Chin. There are many detail facts yet. But at least an individual bear all or most of the mentioned fact, it will be very hard to identify him/her as a Chin. In another way, if someone, who have the above facts it will be very hard to deny him as a Chin.
If we have some more times and questions or comments regarding this, I would be excited to continue more.
Good luck,
Salai Peter Biak Lian Sang
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
If we have some more times and questions or comments regarding this, I would be excited to continue more.
Good luck,
Salai Peter Biak Lian Sang
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Well said.