The first USA Zofate Unity Conference, held at the Mizo Christian Church in Indianapolis, highlighted Zoram Thar, a group that blends religious, political, and ethnic concerns around a shared Zo identity. The two‑day event, organized jointly by the group’s headquarters in Mizoram and its U.S. branch, gathered Mizo, Zomi, Chin, and other Zo communities along with church and community leaders to discuss unity.
Led by Mafeli Hlawndo and Rebecca Mawii, the conference featured prayers and worship in several Zo languages. Rev. Dr. Zaichhawna Hlawndo, president of Zoram Thar, spoke on the common ancestry of Zo peoples and urged that labels such as Mizo, Lai, Mara, Hmar, Kuki, and others be viewed within a broader Zo identity. He called for politics to shift from tribal divisions toward a national Zo identity.
Zoram Thar, meaning “New Mizoram,” was founded by Hlawndo in 2016 after his return from the UK. The group entered the 2018 Mizoram Assembly election as independents under a common symbol, fielding between 18 and 24 candidates, including Hlawndo and his daughter Lalruatfeli Hlawndo. Although it won no seats, the movement positioned itself at the intersection of governance, Christianity, and the role of religion in public life.
Beyond politics, Zoram Thar proposes the construction of the world’s largest church, the Zofate Pathian Biakinpui, in Thenzawl, Serchhip district. Planned on a 23,809.52‑square‑metre site, the church would seat 30,000 inside and accommodate 70,000 in its courtyard, serving Christians of all denominations. Hlawndo described the project as a shared religious space for Mizo and Zo tribes, reinforcing the group’s focus on religious, ethnic, and political unity across India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
