ABSTRACT
Over a month before the first COVID-19 case hit Mizoram on 24 March 2020, the state had taken precautionary measures. As the rest of the country faced increasing disruptions in daily life, so did the close-knit Mizo. Together with the state government, the church, non-governmental organizations and volunteers from all walks of life worked to fight the consequences of the virus. Local and village task forces were formed, and they made all-out efforts to prevent ‘community spreading of COVID-19’. Fear of infection, disruptions in daily routine, religious, economic, and social life, posed challenges for all people. Amidst all the challenges faced by the Mizo people, the highly valued and upheld virtue and code of conduct Tlawmngaihna (the nearest English translation being altruism) came into full swing. All community members were involved in their own way to provide relief with hands-on involvement from the grass roots onwards. The Pandemic has invigorated the essence of social action. This chapter focuses on the many challenges and triumphs of the Mizos during the COVID-19 pandemic and the social narratives that came along the way.
