The Maras had political consciousness in the early forties of the 20th centuries. When they learnt that India was about to attain freedom from the British dominion, the Maras Chiefs Conference was convened at Saikao in January 1945. In this conference they had unanimously adopted a solution demanding a separate administration and according submitted a represented to the Superintendent, South Lushai Hills, Aijal. One of their memorandum reads as follows," To the Superintendent, Lushei Hills, Aijal dates the Saikao. December 1945 from the Lakher Chiefs". "We, the Lakher chiefs would like to express to you what we want most for your sympathetic consideration and immediate order". "As we have been demanding so many times, government may please give us Lakher Hills District, and also one English officer may be appointed to conduct our administration. This is what we want most; we would like to be under either the Burma Government or Crown Colony. We want that the Lakhers".Should be placed under one separate District administration, but not under the Lushai Hills District ,''

This clearly shows that the Maras had demanded separate administration to the British India several times by their chiefs for the sake of their subjects.

The Maras occupy the territory to the eastern side of the Kolodyne River, which separates the district from the Lawngtlai district, occupied by Lai tribals. They were earlier referred to as the Shendoos by the Arakanese and the British. The Maras migrated from the Hakha Sub-division in the Chin Hills, presumably being push forwarded pressure from the east, about 300 to 400 years ago. The main clans or Sub-tribe are Tlosai, Hawthai, Zyhno, Chapi, Vytu, etc. They were known to be a powerful and fierce headhunting tribe during British times and would attack the British camps periodically. It was in 1888-89 that in the Chin-Lushai expedition that the British made forays in the area and it was finally in 1924 that the Lakhers came under British rule. The Lakhers were originally animists by religion until they came into contact with British missionaries, when they were exposed to Christianity. In British India, the entire Mizoram was part of Cachar Hill district of Assam and later Lushai Hills District, administered by Superintendent Lushai Hills. In independent India, after the Bordoloi Committee report in 1952, Mizoram became an autonomous district council in the Lushei hill area and the Pawi-Chakma-Lakher Regional Council was established. Subsequently, Mizoram became a Union Territory and the regional councils were split into three autonomous district councils. Thereafter, for about 20 years Mizoram was seriously affected by insurgency movement in the region, though the three regional council areas remained largely in favour of the Indian Union. In 1986, after the Pu Laldenga accord, Mizoram became a state and these areas became autonomous district councils under the state. However, traditionally, the people of these areas have harboured a feeling of mistrust against the Lushei tribal’s and they feel that they are marginalized and ignored.

The Mara villages are generally built on high slopes in an easily defended position. The villages are known by their place names and not by the name of the chiefs. The primary occupation of all villagers continues to be agriculture largely of the primitive type of jhum cultivation. The Mara has traditionally been accustomed to the primitive methods of jhum cultivation and still a majority of villagers practice this environmentally destructive practice of cultivation. In the area selected for jhum, whether it is bamboo or trees, the jungle is cut down and left to dry. When thoroughly dried, it is set on fire to kill all insects and render the weeds sterile and the ashes serve as valuable manure. Originally, the jhumming cycle was for about eight to ten years, but gradually now it has shrunk to four or five years. However, even after so many years of development, the agriculture is largely of the subsistence type with very little attempt to grow surplus, even though the agro climatic conditions are highly favourable for horticulture, floriculture and agriculture.