Watch: A Haven For Refugees in India’s Christian-Majority Mizoram State
Refugee crises have been on the rise in many parts of the world for over a decade, often met with widespread hostility and indifference. Yet, in the midst of this global pattern, Mizoram, a small Christian-majority state in northeast India, has been quietly providing not only aid but a sense of dignity to those fleeing a violent conflict in neighboring Myanmar.
As part of my “The Dinner Table” series, I set out to understand what life as a refugee really means — and how this generosity shapes their experience — within this uniquely welcoming corner of the world.
Since the military coup in Myanmar in 2021 — which saw the military junta ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi — over 30,000 refugees, mostly from the Chin Christian minority, have fled to Mizoram, which shares a 510-kilometer (316 miles) border with Myanmar. The coup led local ethnic minority militias and the People’s Defense Force of the government-in-exile to join forces against the military regime. This violent conflict has caused widespread human rights abuses, homes being burned and mass displacement especially in Chin state and central Burma, forcing thousands of residents to flee for safety across the border.
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India’s open-border policy with Myanmar allowed free movement within 16 kilometers (10 miles) of the border, giving people on both sides the freedom to cross easily, for decades. The culture they share is nearly identical, despite being separated by national boundaries. This openness helped many refugees find shelter in Mizoram. However, the Indian government canceled this policy in February 2024, a decision that the state of Mizoram openly opposed.
The state’s population, along with local churches, NGOs, and community members, continue to extend a helping hand. The government of Mizoram doesn’t agree with the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government’s apparent selective approach towards refugees. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has made it clear that they will not deport refugees.
“Even though the Centre can’t accord refugee status to the Myanmar nationals, it is ready to collaborate with us in providing relief to them. People from Manipur, who fled their homes due to ethnic violence, will also be looked after with the help of the central government,” he said at a press conference.
Since India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, it retains the flexibility to handle refugee situations on a case-by-case basis. Despite this, India has a long history of hosting refugees from countries such as Tibet, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Afghanistan. India is home to about 252,867 refugees, as of 2023.
According to data submitted by the Mizoram government to the central authorities, the state is currently hosting 43,788 refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). This total includes 33,764 refugees from Myanmar, 2,014 from Bangladesh, and 8,010 from India’s Manipur state.
Among them is Ma Su, who, along with her family, has called Aizawl home for several years now. A Christian who once lived in central Burma, Ma Su is one of many who sought refuge in Mizoram. I spent an evening with her this past October.
I had many questions in mind. What compels people to leave their homes? What kind of lives do they lead in Mizoram? And what are their expectations of the local community?
In this episode of “The Dinner Table,” I cooked a meal with Ma Su, her family and a Chin refugee activist, then sat down to share it with them over heart-to-heart conversations. This video, featuring these conversations, delves into their experiences, struggles and hopes. And our faith in humanity.
This article has been published in collaboration with Newsreel Asia.
Harshita Rathore is a reporter based in India. She works for Newsreel Asia.