Life History Of King Kuurkam - Part 2
Chingtam Tinna Wari 1981

R. Thoma *

Picture: Moyon on Facebook

The Songs Sung By The Sisters Of King Kurkam In His Memoir:

1. When king Kuurkam drinks wine sent to him in the battle field by his queen tears run down from his eyes in the sweet memory of his queen.

2. All the world talk about the wonder and beauty of your long hairs. But, Alas! How were these lost!

3.O Kuurkam, your soul blossoms as nice flower in the valley, O you please come to our Khongyon village.

4.O Kuurkam your statue stands as a stone in the valley, and at that place let no crowd gather every year.

5.You crow please don't perch on the big tree from which our Kuurkam cut off branches, but Uchek Langmeidong, who is as handsome and able as our Kuurkam, may perch on the tree.

6.The song of the younger brother, the general, of King Kuurkam:

When I stand on a hill leaning on my stick, and when I remember what is spoken in the battle field, I felt sad emotion. The song is born off this sad emotion when he was in deep thought leaning on the staff on his return journey from the battle.

The Moyons, in great debt and respect of the king and the soldiers, constructed a memorial tomb at great costs at the grave where the great king's dead body was given to funeral fire after the war. The monument was inaugurated on 7 February, 1974.

On the inauguration day Ngoruw Mono, the Chairman of the Tengnoupal District, opened themonument, and about 3000 people of Tengpoupal area gathered in the inaugural function. In the function the people of 3/4 villages performed the aged-old indigenous Yu-Hongba festival. Some dignitaries and important persons like Chinir Waha, Khullakpa of Monshang Pantha, Roel Angnong, Authority of Komlathabi, etc., gave speeches on king Kuurkam.

Mr Thungam, the state minister of Tengnoupal area, said in the function that the construction and dedication of a valuable monument in memory of the great king Kurkam who sacrificed his life for the Mon people at a huge costs is a symbol of the development of the Moyon people.

Mister M. Tuijar, the S.D.O. of Chandel Head Quarters, also apprised that in any given chance the Moyon Nagas are determined to do what they need to do. He further commented that perhaps that monument might be the first and the only one dedicated so far among the hill people for their kings/Chiefs.

The consultation of the Moirang King with the nobles of his royal council (moirang kangla) on the attack on king Kuurkam:

One day, the Moirang King 'Purit Lai' complained to his two nobles Eepu Thonglen and Eepu Nongyai Chakhangamba in the Royal Council that their land Moirang has long been under the threat and besiege of the hill chiefs. The king further said that their forefather kings also could not subdue these hill chiefs, and that their land was on the brink of devastation.

So the king made a proposal for an effective campaign over the enemies, and asked them if anyone was there to join the campaign. He even offered that nine'phamthons'(post of nobles) and even mister of the land be given to those who came victorious in the compaign in the hills. At this Eepu Thonglen remained silent, but Eepu Nongyai Chakhangamba rose and asked the king who the hill chiefs were.

Moirang Ningthou Puritlai mentioned the names of the hill villages on which he intended to make that campaign: nine shongbung villages, khente chairel, haokap chingsang, lamphou, Mahou Tonsel and Moyon.

Nongyai chakha Ngamba voluntered to run the campaign. Thus the campaign started. There were raids on various hill villages, and almost all the hill chiefs were defeated and captured alive. However, it was impossible to capture the Moyon King Kuurkam alive. Thus a fierce battle ensued. King Kuurkam fell in an entrapped ditch and the Moirang King himself struck the Moyon king with his spear.

Immediately, king kuurkam got hold of the spear pierced into his chest with his right hand and with his left hand got hold of his long hairs, wrapped round his head and said to the Moirang King that he (The Moirang King) committed a sin in killing the Moyon king. So king Kuurkam cursed the Moirang king that he also be killed by others after a painful reign in his hand.

Then king kuurkam himslef pulled out the spear from his chest and thus he died. When his body inside a coffin was given to funeral pyre there was a big explosion killing a large number of soldiers of the Moirang king. The king's body could not be found in the coffin. At this mysterious incident the Moirang king declared that Kongkam king was a divine incarnate.

In reverence of the Moyon king the Moirang king got a memorial stone erected on the grave. But the younger brother of king kuurkam was captured alive and taken to Moirang. His discendents came to be known as "Changam".

After the war, the Moirang king Puritlai offered nine noble posts, and these are

1. Lairoi Hanjaba,
2. Loumi lakpa
3. Khada Hanba
4. Pukhramba
5. Nongthomba
6. Keirungba
7. Sellungba
8. Puremba, and
9. Mantri

1. Lairoi Hanjaba = Supervisor of shrines
2. Loumee lakpa = Supervisor of farmers
3. Khada hanba = Unknown
4. Pukhramba = Supervisor of weapons
5. Nongthon = Supervisor of justice
6. Keirungba = Supervisor of foods
7. Sellungba = Supervisor of Treasury
8. Puremba = Overall Supervisor
9. Mentri = Minister of royal council