The experiences and knowledge from our past are recorded in manuscripts which have been handed down to us over several thousand years. The Government of India, through the Department of Culture, took note of the importance of this vast tangible heritage and, in order to preserve and conserve as well as to make access to this wealth easy, established the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM). In order to disseminate the knowledge content of manuscripts, the Mission has taken up several programmes such as lectures, seminars and workshops. The Mission has published the proceedings of the above-said programmes under the following series: “Saihraksika” (on conservation), “Tattvabodha” (comprising lectures based on manuscripts delivered by eminent scholars), “Samiksika” (research-oriented papers presented in the seminars), “Krtibodha” (transcribed and edited texts prepared at advanced level manuscriptology workshops conducted by NMM) and “Prakaiika” (publication of rare, unpublished manuscripts). This publication, containing the proceedings of the seminar, is getting published under the Samiksika Series. The seminar was organized by the NMM in Mizoram under the supervision of Professor Laltluangliana Khiangte. In-depth studies of Mizo alphabet and Mizo language as reflected in Mizo manuscripts are discussed in this volume. CONTENTS Foreword – Pratapanand Jha Keynote Address: National Mission for Manuscripts and Writing in Mizo Alphabets – Laltluangliana Khiangte 1. The Uniqueness of Mizo Language – Rozama Chawngthu and Lalmawipuii Chawngthu 2. A Brief Discussion of Select Mizo Manuscripts – Vanlal T. Bapui and K.V. Subbarao 3. Importance of Manuscript in Language – C.E. Jeeni 4. The Story of Lost Manuscript in South Asia – Lalhruaitluanga Ralte 5. The Mizo Alphabet and Its Properties – Rema Chhakchhuak 6. Survival of the Mizos and Their Language – Laltluangliana Khiangte 7. Manuscript: A Derivation of Information – Darchuailova Renthlei 8. The Introduction of Mizo Alphabet and Its Properties: An Overview – C. Vanlal Ruaia 9. Appendix: National Seminar on Mizo Manuscripts – A Report Contributors Index