Evolution of kinship and clan system among Manipuri Muslim
Corvee Labour (Lallup) to Functional Divisions of Labour (Loyamba Shinlen) Perspectives
- Part 3 -

By: Imam Khan Makhjummayum *

So far, there are 62 clans among Manipuri Muslims which are as follow :-

1. Aribam : This clan is traced to ancestor Kutwan Khan, Sadik Para (probably Saad bin Waqqas) and Ashim Shah of Naophang Ahal period (594-624 AD) who came from Gaya. This group came as a family; clan name Aribam was conferred by king Naophang Ahal. Clan classification was not necessary or insignificant before 1550 AD as the Muslim society was still less in number for the reason that endogamy like cross cousin marriage is permissible in Islam. All pre-1606 Muslims were called 'Ariba' or 'Aribam' which simply means 'old group' or 'old-clansmen'.

So, the existing Aribam clan is held to be the earliest clan of Manipuri Muslims that might not be necessarily true. So, some writers trace Aribam from Naophangba period (7th century) while some from Mungyamba period (around 1550 AD). It is notable that Hindu (Meitei) clan of 'Aribam' is traced to c.1610 or 1710 AD when Brahmins (now Bamon) arrived from mainland India.

So, it is a Bamon clan in Meitei society. So, Muslim Aribam clan evolved in different context and period carrying different meaning. 'Aribah' simply means "the Arab", or "pure Arabs" or "genuine Arabs" in the Dictionary. The Muslim clans—Aribam, Makak, Khullapkpam, Solaimayum, Baseimayum—came into existence from the silk-route period of Arabs and Persians (and by the time of Masudi, Khurdadbhih and Suleiman—the Arab travellers and explorers in c. 845-1020 AD).

2. Ayekpam : This clan claims to an artist or writer since early seventh century. Ayekpa means "one who draws a picture or paint".

3. Baseimayum : This clan traces its origin to Basa (Pasha) kingdom in Sylhet of 777 AD which R.B. Pemberton noted as capital of Cachar kingdom, west of Manipur. Basa is considered to be old Pasa (Sylhet).

4. Bogimayum : This group is traced to an emissary team of three persons having arrived in Manipur during Aurangzev period in 1661 to seek confirmation of the alleged information that Shah Shuja (brother of Aurangzev and ex-Subhadar of Bengal) took shelter in the hills of Manipur (at Kairang cave). A later interpolation believes they might have been close to Imam Bukhari heritage of Delhi Juma Masjid who came from Bukhara (Uzbekistan). They have Mughalo-Pathan element.

5. Buyamayum : This clan is traced to Bhuiya of Assam who were Chieftains in eastern Kamrup during Mughal period. They were Afghan dissidents during Mughal period in Bengal and Sylhet.

6. Chesam : This group traced to those group of Arabs-Persians of silk route period (7th- 8th century) who made papers after learning from the Chinese. Another view is that when Khagemba defeated the Chinese invaders with the help of Muslim troops from Sylhet-Taraf in 17th century.

7. Dolaipabam : This group came with Shah Shuja in 1661 who carried the palanquin.

8. Firingimayum : This group traced their clan to traders who connected with Portuguese sailors of Chittagong or trade middlemen in 17th century.

9. Hawai Ingkhol : This group attended and looked after the estate of the king of Manipur in c. 1610.

10. Heikhamayum : This group arose as a peasant clan who settled at a pasture (with a landmark identified with a Heikha tree).

11. Heipokmayum : They lived near a field of Heipok tree in Khagemba period.

12. Hidak Ingkhol : This clan planted some amount of tobacco in 17th century.

13. Ipham : The clan is traced to Munron Khan of 1606 who came with Muhammad Shani. Another view is that Ipham clan traces their ancestor to one Putan (Pathan) Khan in 1688 who from Gujarat along with some Brahmans.

14. Kamalmayum : Their clan ancestor was one Kamal of 1606 AD who came from Brahmaputra region or Barak region.

15. Keinoumayum : This group lived at a place called Keinou that was named during king Khagemba period.

16. Keikhongta : This clan is one of the oldest one that traced their ancestry to an immigrant group having arrived in king Naothingkhong period of 8th century.

17. Keithel Inkhol : This group lived in a farm that grew cereals and sold the produce at the market.

18. Khullakpam : This group traced to one Shaikh Chunet (Junaid) who was captured by Kabui tribes of Thollang Hao and was given a daughter of Thollang Hao chieftain. Shaikh Chunet acted as a chieftain (Khullakpa) of the hillsmen in c. 1610 AD. He had pierced ears bearing big rings in tribal. After the decease of the first tribal wife, he married a tribal nai (attendant, servant). They later came down to valley and lived at Turen Ahanbi. They gave birth to a man named Chongthom Darji whose descendants came to be called Khullakpam. A later interpolation traced their origin to a man Mirza Khakkan Turani who came to Sylhet in 14th-15th century which is a plausible explanation.19.Khutheibam: This group traced their clan name from a skilled labour group that was recognized by the Ahallup (revenue department) in c. 1670 AD. One Waliullah who was a Darbar member in British period belongs to Khutheibam clan.

20. Konthamayum : This clan group is traced to a tailor family in Khagemba period.

21. Korimayum : This group was an ironsmith (metallurgy) clan; Kori refers to a metal copper (kori) and their descendants were called Korimayum.

22. Labuktongbam : This group settled at a high plain (field) called Atongba Labuk thus deriving their clan name.

23. Leishangkhong : They lived in Leishang village as a clan in 17th century.

24. Loupanmayum : This group planted rice, produced a big output in a season that came to the notice of the Manipur who conferred its clan name in appreciation by king Khagemba.

25. Luplakpam : This clan group traced its genesis from a man who was a chairman of the Ahallup or Naharup revenue guild in 1608 AD.

26. Maibam : This group is traced to a noted Shaman (folk-medicine or traditional physician) called Maiba.

27. Makakyum Ariba : This group is traced to a Makhzum clan from Makka led by Amir Hamza (623 AD), a clan of Khalid bin Walid later in 638 AD. They came via Chittagong (called Sadjam by the Arabs) in c. 636. The event gave rise to an era called Makki (later Muggy) era. This clan group founded the poa-Maka of Hajo (eastern Kamrup) by laying some auspicious soil brought from Makka that was later renovated in 1498 by Alauddin Hussain Shah Makki al-Arabi (Bengal Sultan) as their (Makkan) ancestral landmark of holiness. It is also noted that a saint (faqir) from Arab brought holy soil from Makka. The famed traveler Ibn Battuta visited Shaikh Shah Jalal Tabrizi in 1345 in Kamrup hill which is identified with this Hajo poa-Makka. The Mughal Governor (subahdar) of Kamrup named Lutfullah Shirazi also added another mosque at poa-Makka khanka in 1672 AD.

28. Makak Amuba : The clan traced their ancestor Lukhiyarful from Nurullah Herati, the Kamrup subhadar of 1677 AD.

29. Makak Angouba : The clan is traced to an ancestor Sunarful who was a descendant of Lutfulla Shirazi, a Kamrup subhadar during Mughal period of Kamrup (1612-88). They also went to Sylhet and founded a place called Makak there. All the mentioned three Makak clans are considered belonging to Poa-Maka heritage who came from Makka and as descendant or close to the heritage of Allaudin Hussain Shah Makki al-Arabi, 1489 (the most famous Bengal Sultan) who conquered both Koch Vihar and Kamrup.

30. Malsam : This clan traces its name from a place or man called Malsa who came to Manipur from Brahmaputra valley in early 17th century.

31. Mansam : This group traces the clan ancestry to a man of 17th century who came from Surma valley.

to be continued....