Tale from Chingjaroi
Homen Thangjam *
In ages past, a tale was told,
Of Chingjaroi, a village bold.
Resu, the founder, chosen by the Creator,
Revealed by Kazing Ngalei Kasa Akhava, so the legends state.
In Resu's dream, a boulder immense,
He was tasked to carry, a divine pretense.
Northward he journeyed, burdened and strained,
Until he found a resting place ordained.
Atop a mountain, mighty and high,
Resu settled, gazing at the sky.
Chingjaroi it was called, in local tongue,
A land of peace, prosperity among.
Under Resu's guidance, the village thrived,
But darkness loomed, and hopes were deprived.
A marauding horde, the Kuki's cruel reign,
In 1845, brought terror and pain.
Like a tidal wave, they swept through the land,
Leaving destruction with a ruthless hand.
The weak and defenseless, victims they fell,
Men sought refuge, hiding in cave and dell.
The women suffered, captives in despair,
One among them, burdened with a child's care.
Pleading for mercy, her infant to save,
She offered herself, her life she gave.
But devoid of compassion, the captor's heart,
Crushed the baby's skull, tearing her apart.
Silenced and stunned, robbed of tears and voice,
She bore her anguish, a captive by choice.
Bound by servitude, a dutiful slave,
She followed the raiders, village to grave.
A twisted bond formed, tainted by the dark,
A captor and captive, their souls stark.
But in the depths of her despair and strife,
She hatched a plan, seeking vengeance in life.
With skillful hands, a feast she prepared,
To satisfy hunger, his senses ensnared.
In the dead of night, a carnal embrace,
Driven by emptiness, devoid of grace.
As dawn arrived, she cleansed away the stain,
Severing her captor, ending his vile reign.
With newfound freedom, coursing through her veins,
She fled her captor, escaping the chains.
Returning to her homeland, she sought solace,
Only to find it haunted, an empty place.
Rejected by her own, she stood alone,
A tragic soul in a village of stone.
But her tale endured, etched in folklore,
A memoir of struggles, forevermore.
The Tangkhul people, their memory kept,
Of Kuki aggression, while they silently wept.
In Zingsui village, another grim reminder,
The Kukis' destruction, leaving none kinder.
These stories echo, generation to generation,
Fuelling ethnic tensions, a divided nation.
Land and resources, sources of dispute,
The indigenous people caught in the pursuit.
Amidst this complexity, we must not forget,
The Chingjaroi woman, her loyalty beget.
Despite captivity, she stood firm and true,
A symbol of strength, for her people to view.
Her unwavering commitment, a poignant tale,
Reflecting the struggles, the indigenous prevail.
In Manipur's heart, her spirit remains,
A reminder of resilience, through sorrows and pains.
Note: Inspired by Yenning's article 'Tale from Chingjaroi'
* Poem written by Homen Thangjam for e-pao.net
The writer can be contacted at homenth(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This poem was webcasted on 15 July 2023 .
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