India, Dec. 26 -- When John Mama was admitted to a government primary school in Mizoram, the first challenge was not the curriculum, but the language medium used in Indian schools. "On his first day at school, he just cried," his class teacher said.

John and his family of five fled their hometown near Hakha Township of Myanmar's Chin Hills in 2022. Unlike many who sought shelter in Mizoram, John and his family are Bamar and do not speak the ethnic dialect spoken by Chin tribes, which makes it even more difficult for him to adapt to his new environment.

John Mama, a name given by his class teacher, joined L Buana Memorial Primary School in the Chhinga Veng locality of Aizawl in 2023. He did not understand a word of what was being taught ...