Event and Achievement :: Part 3
Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing :: Part 12

Hemamcha Shobha *

RKCS Painting at Ibudhou Thangjing, Moirang, Manipur - Pix :: Recky Maibram

Event and Achievement

ETHAI KAIREMBA (982-1023)

Ethai Kairaremba was an efficient and abled administrator, as such, he made the kingdom and the people happy and prosperous at a higher level. Even his wife-queen Leima Khangnoubi helped him in the welfare and developmental affairs of the country, specially in the construction of roads which in the ancient Moirang language called mentak Lamthonba; and digging of cannals means Puitu Khongtouba and related works in and around Moirang.

The work was started for the first time giving special attention to the Ngangkha village. In the works, all the leimas - woman folks of Keke Moirang took part in carrying earth on their heads along with the male workers.

Besides, the queen arranged dinners of different tasty dishes for Keke Phamnaibas - courtiers which locally called Khumphangthou and Naiphamthous. It was really a practice to introduce and recognize themselves with the queen and her subjects specially womanfolk. Such role of a queen in the administrative affairs in the history of Moirang hardly occurred.

Again a number of houses in modern language zoos for collection and preservation of special birds and animals were too built at various suitable sites. For construction of such works the king needed revenue and as such, he sent his men to Ngaikhong king to collect taxes, loipots in case or in kind. It resulted in a tussle and killed the son of the king of Ngaikhong for less payment of loipots. During the period of his rule in Moirang the love story of Yamghanba Kumjarembi took place as a Salwon Langwon in Moirang Kangleirol.

SANGTON LEINAOTA (1023-1054)

The enmity with the Khumans grew stronger, resulting in frequent wars between the two kingdoms followed one after another during Sangton Leinaota's period of 31 years reign. He defeated the king of Karam Aimol to the southwest; and invaded to the west at Phouwoiching and continued to the southeast at Tamu and then to the east at Thoubal.

For the successful invasion, he got various tittlenames viz Kharam Aimol Lanthaba; Kabui Marong Ngamba; Tamu Yumchang Yamba. But at last, in a fierce water battle at Eshok-of Thoubal, he was killed while extending territory in the east. The defeat in the battle was due to the inconvenience of big and pair boats unsuited for the warfare while the Khumans used small and advantageous boats.

ATELLAKKI LOICHA NGAMBA or SONGLEN LANTHABA (1054-1083)

After the death of his father Sangton Leinaota he became king of Moirang. He thought and planned for the revenge upon Khuman. At the battle of Pankhopok, he defeated the Khumans in fulfilling his promise. In the battle the Khuman worrier Kwakpa was beheaded and brought the head-Lalu in revenge of his father's murder. Although in the later periods of his reign the enmity with the Khumans was negotiated and helped them in various affairs, even in the battle against the Burmese.

IWANG PURIKLAI CHINGKHU TELHEIBA (1083-1138)

When Chingkhu Telheiba sent to collect annual Loipot - colonial tax from Kharam Tuisem villages-the king who was the ruler of the whole southern hill region, did not welcome and turned down the matter in an escapy way. Unbearable to the careless and disregard of the royality to Moirang king, he ultimately invaded with a big force to the Kharam Tuisem village, thereby defeating the king.

Next Iwang Puriklai directed his invasion to the east and subdued Ame Thangsaba - the king of Chakpa and destroyed so many villages in the attack. Meanwhile, during his reign, there occurred drought and famine in the kingdom due to less and scanty of rainfall affecting agricultural works.

In order to compensate with the various complaints from the farmers specially from the womanfolks, the king wisely tackled and ordered Amaibas-(priest) to offer related ritual prayers and other needfuls to the different rain bearing hills like the Thangching Chingjao EE; Senloi Chingmaba and Langmai. Namungbaa EE - (thought as Thanga hills)etc.

The famous romantic true love story - the 7th in the Salwon and Langwon series of Moirang Kangleirol - 'Adon Khamba and Ewanglon Thoibi' - occurred and pertained during the period of Chingkhu Telheiba - the 32nd King of Moirang.

PURIKLAI LAIJING PUNSIBA (1138-1210)

He was the 33rd King of Moirang and during his long period of 70 years rule, two remarkable love stories of Salwon and Langwon of Moirang Kangleirol series, were witnessed one was the 8th and tragedy story of 'Kadeng Thangja Hanba and Tonu Laijinglembi'- and the other was the 9th in the series, Khongjomba-Pidongnu - of Moirang Sheisaklon series.

PUNSI KHUREN CHANBA (1310-1381)

The 36th cononated king of Moirang, Punsi Khurenchanba had to face and fight the invasion of the Tripuris-Takhel. In order to defend the kingdom of Moirang, he was helped and assisted in the battle by his youngest son-Khellei Pamba with new strategy of warefare, thereby defeating and killing the leader of the Tripuris; hence he (Khellei Pamba) was given the tittle of Layi Lanthaba, that is, who was never beyond the boundary line in the dual fight.

The king - Punsi Khuren Chanba was pleased enough with his son's bravery and thus promised him for the next Moirang king. But after the death of the king, the eldest son Sanahongba took over the throne; so Khellei Pamba got affronted and left Moirang collecting huge amount of various treasure from Keke Kangla- hence he was called and known as - Yaikhomba ie. Yai means treasure, Khomba means collection.

IWANG PURIKLAI SANAHONGBA (1381-1432)

The short period of rule by Iwang Puriklai Sanahongba in Moirang was taken as a turning point in the history not only of Moirang but also of Manipur. During his period, the Meitenggoo kings started interference into and domination over Moirang kingdom frequently. The first was by Meitenggoo Punsiba who invaded several times at Moirang and defeated the Moirangs at Takmu but in the next invasion the Moirangs got an upperhand.

However, interference through give and take policy with nieghbouring kingdom resulting domination in Moirang by the Ningthouja kings and that was completed with the defeat and death of Puriklai Sanahongba in 1432 in the hand of Meetenggoo Ningthou Khomba who conspired and combined with the Burmese in the attack and devastation of the kingdom of Moirang.

KHENCHANG CHAIBA (1456-1475)

The period from 1432 to 1456 a long gap of 24 years was known as 'great devastation of Moirang' Moirang Khuntak Lansiba as commonly and locally known for with no king to rule over Moirang. After the death of Iwang Puriklai Sanahongba at Haokha Menkhom, Chaos prevailed in the kingdom of Moirang and his eldest son Khenchang Chaiba stayed at Cachar. While the other sons were hiding at different unknown places for many years.

In the meantime, Meitenggoo Ningthoukhomba sent his youngest brother - Koiremba to rule Moirang but being denied by the Moirangs, he went back to Kanglei. But at length, the real blood of Moirang Salai Sana Khangcheng Ahal Khenchang Chaiba was searched out and called back to Moirang. Thus he became king of Moirang after a gap of 24 years, during which, it is said that the seed of Tera plant from pillow rooted to become a matured and fruitful plant; thus he took up gigantic works for the restoration of Moirang to be in power again; and for well administration and socio-political developments resulted in rehabilitating new lives and settlement. In this way, the period of Khenchang Chaiba became a new era-firstly for the beginning of the decline of Moirang kingdom; secondly for the great reconstruction and restoration of Moirang.

Now the periods from 1475 to 1713 were ruled respectively by different kings of Moirang viz Nanba Saraba Hao Chareng Lanthaba, Khokhei Lalyamba with the contemporary Ningthouja kings at Kanglei like Kiyamba, Lamkaingamba and Paikhomba. The relations during those period between Moirang and Meitei kings were improved and give and take policies specially by the Ningthoujas prevailed in social and administrative affairs.

KHELLEI NUNGNANG TELHEIBA (1743-1767)

When Telheiba was too young, his father Khori Santonnao died. So his maternal uncle, so to say, his father's best friend, Meitenggoo Thongnang Mayamba (Garibniwaz) looked after the mother and the son in the growth up of young Khellei Nungnang Telheiba and also in the administration and ruling of Moirang kingdom. For a complete eleven years, Moirang had no rulers, no administrators since the death of his father. So, as a young ruler, Telheiba started war of coronation that is territorial expansion by subdueing all the neighbouring regions of the South West; East and West and North respectively.

When Kanglei got defeated in the hand of the Burmese in 1764 Meitenggoo Chingthangkhomba fled to the Ahom kingdom of upper Ahom. In such junctture, Khellei Nungnang Telheiba ruled Kanglei Meitei in 1764 and lasted for three years along with the kingdom of Moirang i.e. combined ruler of both for Moirang and Porei Meetei.

Later, in 1767 he was killed on the bank of Ningthee river by the conspirators of Meitenggoo king, thereafter Chingthangkhomba regained the power and the throne of Meitei Kangla with the help of the Ahom king Rajeshwor in 1767. Thus the independent Moirang kingdom, had a complete decline and downfall being under the control and administration of Ningthouja kings.

MOIRANGTHEM RAMANANDA (1892-1927)

Since Moirang lost her independence with the death of Iwang Puriklai Khellei Nungnang Telheiba in 1767, the appointment of Moirang kings and other administrative affairs were in the hands and mercy of Ningthouja kings and the Britihers. In 1773 King Chingthang Khomba, the then ruler at Kanglei Kangla sent Wayenba as Moirang king and was followed in succession by Madan, Kirti, Singjamba etc.

Next, when Meitenggoo Sir Churachand became king of Manipur in 1891, he sent his grand father Moirangthem Ramananda to be the king of Moirang in 1892. The Coronation at Moirang was performed with full respect by firing five topguns and was given gun salute by fifty police personnel firing thrice. During his period in Moirang, some important events took place.

The first was the revolt of the Moirangs under the leadership of seven men's faction(group) - locally called "Taret Khut". They were indeed real pioneers social elites of Moirang who were against the then king and his officers for their acts unjust attitudes and steps towards the people; violence and torture in tax collection, biasness in religion and forced conversion to Hinduism; support of illegal private hoarding of paddy without selling to the public during famine; torture and harsh action even to the laymen while supplying fooder to king's elephants; punishment for not applying chandal on forehead by imposing fine for it-called chandal senkhai etc.

The persons of the Taret Khut were Shree Aribam Chandramohon Sharma (leader); Haobijam Angangyaima; Moirangthem Tharojao; Philem Duhar; Kiyam Tomba-Koitomba; Ningthoumayum Sanayaima; Waikhom Tomba-Tumba. By dint of their cleverness, bravery and right argument and way of approaches, their demands were accepted, abolished all taxes and set free from jail by the king's order.

It was in 1913 during king Ramananda's period that the then Political Agent of Manipur J. Shakespeare by name visited Eputhou Temple during His Summer Festival and wrote an article entitled-'The pleasing of the God Thangjing' and got snapped a number of photographs connected with the festival dances, rituals and others. Thus, M. Ramananda was the last king of Moirang coronated and ruled for 35 years in Moirang.

To be continued ....



About the Book:

Source Author: Hemamcha Shobha (b.1941), President of Moirang Thangjing Yageirel Marup [Register No: 1025/1972] and Chief Editor of 'Yageirol'.
Reproduced from Chapter - 2 of his book 'Moirang and Ebuthou Thangjing'
for public reading by: Shanjoy Mairembam, London (UK), shanjoym (at) gmail (dot) com