Koren/Koiren (Koireng) in the Chronicles of Manipur

Pr Kungsong Wanbe *

Koireng :: An Ethnic Doll display at Mutua Museum Cultural Heritage Complex, Andro

The chronicles of Manipur mention the Koren/ Koiren (Koireng) in the following instances. Let's see them briefly one by one:

Firstly, on page 141 of the first volume of Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba written by Oinam Vogeshwar Koren (Koireng) Ningthouba is mentioned. On page 13 of the same book it is said that the above mentioned Koren Ningthouba is of the same status as other kings.

Secondly, in an article written by Usham Dhananjoy Singh in Poknapham of April 21, 1998, he says that Maharaja Meidingu Garibaniwaj employed the Koren (Koireng) soldiers to drive out the Burmese from the soil of Kangleipak/ Manipur.

Thirdly, in the book Tilan Soknaba it is said that to drive out the Burmese from the soil of Kangleipak/Manipur, the Kangleipak/Manipuri soldiers used the weapons which Koren (Koireng) and Moirang used when they were fighting.

Fourthly, on pages 90,91 of Moirang Ningthourol Lambuba, it is said that Korens/Koirengs frequently fought with Moirang king and the Koirengs defeated the Moirang king several times. But finally, the Moirang king attacked the Koirengs at Joyren Khungum Ching of Thangching/ Thangjing range and the Koirengs under the leadership of Pu Nungnangchuong were defeated.

Fifthly, besides the chronicles of Manipur referring to Koireng tribe, at present time Koireng has become a popular name of many persons belonging to Meitei community. About fifty years ago, there was a one-day discussion at DM College Conference Hall under the theme "Manipur Chronicle." Late Priyobarta Sanayaima and late Elangbam Nilakanta Singh were chief guest and guest of honour, respectively.

During the discussion hour some of the members present asked why Maharaj Bir Tikendrajit was called Koireng Jubraj. A member stood up and answered by saying that Maharaj Bir Tikendrajit once caught a tiger by hand that's why his name was called Koireng Jubraj. Then I stood up and said how he could simply be called Koireng for catching a tiger. I said, "The story is like this: One Koireng leader Pu Nungnangchoung killed a tiger with an axe stick, and for this action the people of Moirang were very amazed, so Maharaj Bir Tikendrajit was called Koireng Jubraj. Both Priyobarta Sanayaima and Elangbam Nilakanta supported me saying, "What Mr. Kungsong Wanbe says is right."

Sixthly, As mentioned in the folk songs and folk lore of Koireng tribe, before the Koirengs settled at Thangching/Thangjing hill range, they first settled in the hill range of the present Churachandpur. There were more than twenty villages in Churachandpur, but for today I will write the names of only two/three Koireng villages.

They are
(i) Nabil village. In Koireng dialect Nabil means leaves growing place; Na mean leaf, Bil means field. It was called so because in ancient time there were not enough plates/dish for eating food when Koirengs festivals were held, so they went and plucked the leaves of Nathel (Leihora in Meitei).

ii) Kailaam. In Koireng Kailaam means hanging dance, Kai means hang, laam means dance. According to Koireng history, at Kailaam the Koirengs lived with the spirit apes known as Khopu in Koireng and Loudraobi in Meitei. This spirit apes were we very friendly with the Koirengs. There was mutual help and cooperation between the apes and the Koirengs. While pounding paddy, they exchanged tobacco leaves even though they did not see each other face to face. Most of the time those spirit apes were hanging from the tree branches and danced, therefore the village was called Kailaam.

iii)Thanlon. Thanlon in Koireng means graveyard. Than means grave and lon means yard. The reason is that while the Koirengs were settling at Churachandpur area many new immigrants entered the area from Chin Hills of Burma. There were heavy head hunting wars between the Koirengs and the new immigrant tribal communities. All the people of different communities when they died were buried in the same hill range and therefore the place was called Thanlon.

iv) Kangwai. The original name of Kangwai in Koireng is Kangjam which means a place where kang (in Meitei, Kangkhin) was growing. In Koireng Kang means kangkhin, jam means rope, kangkhin uri in Meitei. In Koireng, the place where kang is growing is considered as fertile. Lastly, but not the least, in the present time there is Kolhen village in Churachandpur district.

Kolhen is the term used by Thadou/Kuki for Kolren, presently known as Koireng. Now at the Kolhen village, Vaiphei tribe has settled. This is how the Koirengs are in the chronicles of Manipur and in Koireng folk lore.