Buddhism in Mizoram
{{Short description|Buddhism in the Indian state}}
File:Kamalanagar Buddhist Temple.png Buddhist Temple]]
Buddhism is the second largest religion in the Indian State of Mizoram. It is followed by 8.51% of its population. There are 93411 Buddhists in Mizoram.{{cite web|publisher=Census Department, Government of India|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11385|title=C-01: Population by religious community, Mizoram - 2011|access-date=7 October 2022|df=dmy-all}} Most of the Buddhists in Mizoram are Chakmas {{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-mizoram-political-parties-likely-to-field-chakmas-despite-diktat-by-influential-ngos/story-Epn5ZEcQjsFjkYi7CRUEuK_amp.html|title=In Mizoram, political parties likely to field Chakmas despite diktat by influential NGOs|access-date=7 October 2022}} Most of them live in the autonomous region called Chakma Autonomous District Council and follow the Theravada branch of Buddhism.{{Cite news|url=http://scroll.in/article/719322/why-the-bjp-is-gaining-popularity-in-some-parts-of-minority-dominated-mizoram|title=Why the BJP is gaining popularity in some parts of minority-dominated Mizoram|access-date=7 October 2022}}
History
The Chakma people, who mainly follow Buddhism, have been in the state for centuries. In 1960s many Chakmas from the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh migrated to the Mizoram and other neighbouring Indian states after their lands were submerged by the filling of Kaptai dam. Some also migrated to Mizoram to escape from religious persecution in Bangladesh.
In 1972, when Mizoram became a State, the Centre government granted the Chakmas tribes autonomy by creating Chakma Autonomous District Council.{{cite news |title=In Mizoram, the BJP depends on the Chakmas to make its debut in the state assembly |url=https://scroll.in/article/903494/in-mizoram-the-bjp-depends-on-the-chakmas-to-make-its-debut-in-the-state-assembly |publisher=Scroll |date=7 October 2022}}
Demographics
In 2001 Census, Buddhism constituted 7.93% of the State's population.{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm|title=Total population by religious communities|publisher=Censusindia.gov.in|access-date=20 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119031333/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm|archive-date=19 January 2008|df=dmy-all}} It increased slightly to 8.51% in the 2011 Census.
About 91.7% or 88,885 Chakmas follows Buddhism.{{Cite web|url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html|title=Christianity among the Scheduled Tribes of the Northeast Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland|access-date=7 October 2022}}
=District wise Buddhist Population=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| District{{Cite web|url=https://www.census2011.in/data/religion/state/15-mizoram.html|title= Mizoram Religion Census 2011|access-date=7 October 2022}}
! Percent |
|---|
| Aizawl
| 0.39% |
| Lawngtlai
| 43.72% |
| Saiha
| 0.18% |
| Serchhip
| 0.09% |
| Mamit
| 14.27% |
| Champhai
| 0.12% |
| Lunglei
| 17.06% |
| Kolasib
| 0.13% |