The origin, migration and settlement of the Moyons
- Part 3 -

R Angnong *

Picture: Moyon on Facebook

From a traditional point of view the Moyons must have evolved out their own scripts for writing. Traditional Moyon scholars for many generations talked about the existence of an old Moyon script. "The story goes like this that the Moyons emerged from the East. The Meetei script is of two kinds. One is of oriental origin and the other is of western origin. It is generally said that the Western script still exists. The Moyons also had their scriptures and manuscripts or books. It is also said that during the long campaign of the Moirangs against the Moyons the Moirang king destroyed all Moyon inscriptions on barks of trees by burning like the Hindu priest Shantidas. Gosai did against the Meetei scriptures and books.

All other books written on animal skin which could not be burnt up were eaten up by dogs. That is why there is a traditional saying among the hill tribes that their scripts were lost because these were eaten up by the dogs. Over and above the wholesale destruction of ancient scriptures and books all the local scholars or pandits were also searched out and killed. A life attempt on Khuyol Haoba ofKege was also made. However, the descendents of Khuyol were the progenators of man and settlement sent to earth by God. That is why he survived the life attempt. The Moirang king made a devastating campaign not only in the Moyon lands but also in the Kabaw valley.

Encouraged arid helped by the Moirang king and at his instigation the Pong king of Shan area conducted a devastating campaign against the 22 Moyon villages. As a result the Angko king of the Moyons fled to the Angko Mountain and remained there in hiding for some time. However, the Angko king with his subjects could no longer live there. Thus they fled to the east across the Ningthi river. Some of his people fled through Maklang river course and they got themselves changed to Tangkhul ethmos. How was Angko ching named?

A Moyon chief called' Angwo' reign on that mountain and it was called. Angwo ching (Angwo mountain), and in course of time it changed to Angko ching. According to Dr M Kirti Singh, a prominent scholar of Manipur, in the formation stage of Manipuri society the descendents of Yek 7 and Sallai 9 settled in the valley, but certain autochthons like 'Haorok', 'Konthou', 'Thanga-Kambong', who were earlier people might have settled before the 7-Yek people in Manipur. These three autochthonous groups are said to be know as 'Soraren Ariba' (Life spreading old ones).

In spite of the long reign of the three Sorarens in the long ages before Christ, no history of their reign could be traced. But it is not that the Moyons (Konthoujam) could not build up a history of their own. It has been mentioned above that all traces of Moyon history were stamped out by the Moirang kings.

To-day it is a fond wish of the Moyons that their much revered Ibudhou Moyon Samshang lningthou Shakphaba and Ibudhou Angko Ningthou who fled to the East across the Ningthi river might reincarnate again as their saviours. The name Konthoujam is derived from the title of Moyon Samshangba. The titles are 'Lai Kar', 'Laijaren', 'Konchiba' and 'Konthouba'.

It is unfortunate that the Meetei pandits and scholars have never made any reference to the Moyon history in writing Moirang Kangleiron and Meetei Kangleiron. However, it is true that sources ofMoyon history are in the possession of Meetei pandits, Meetei Marup and Sanamahi Marup. It is believed that in course of time these source materials shall be published.

It is also believed that there are still some Meetei pandits who are in possession of the 6-feet long hairs of Moyon Samshangba. It will be of great value if some of these hairs are returned to his descendents. Another belief is that those Moyons who got merged into the Meetei fold in the valley might one day reveal their real identity. As per Moyon oral puyas (ancient scriptures) all the valley settlers would one day return to the hills and there shall be a new beginning of human era from the beginning.

In the course of Moyon history there were certain prominent kings who reigned in different eras.

Their names are given here:-

1. Khuyol Tompok Ningthou,
2. Iyoyang Ningthou,
3. Akongba Ningthou,
4. Mungyangba Ningthou,
5. Khoiri Heiba Ningthou,
6. Ponglenhanba Ningthou,
7. Thonglen Haying Khoyaba,
8. Yangkhongjamba.

These kings are the great and prominant kings of the Moyons when they were settling in the Kege land. In his "Moirang Lambuba Sheida", on page 5, Thingbaijam Tuteshwar writes thus: "Kege hareppa Ngangoi leishembada Kege Khungang 1330, Ningthou na 1330 shuna pallammi, Kegegidi Thangjing Lai, Moiranggidi Kasha Laini" [In the consruction of Kege country and in the evolution of Ngangoi Society there consisted of 1330 villages under the reign of 1330 chiefs. Thangjing is the Godhead of the Moirangs].

In the 'Meetei Ningthourol Lambuber' on page 381 it is mentioned that Kege is the most supreme land of their forefathers and at that time godly kings of the Khuyols who reigned in Kege were 'Khuyol Liktakpi-Liktakpa', 'Kongsipi-Kongsipa', 'Namtangpa-Namtangpi', 'Thingnangkhu-Thingnanghan', 'Naoring-shu-Naoringhan', 'Pathoukhu-pathouhan', etc. These divine kings and queens always remained guarding the Moyons in all direction in Kege country.

It is also generally said that "Khuyol Tebi Teshawa", a kind of bamboo, is the godly bamboo. It is also mentioned that Khuyol sallai is Khuyothem and the Khuyol persons-in-charge of God are 'Morihanba', 'Morilemba' and 'Khunthoulemba'.

Again on page 4 it also mentioned that when Meidingu Ningthoukhomba conquered Moirang there followed a long period of years in which no king reigned in Moirang. On page 3 of this book it is mentioned that the earliest kings who reigned in Manipur grom Nongda Lairen Pakhangba to Meidingu Naokhamba were divine Gods, and no none knows about their death. It remains a mystery.

However, the records of Meetei monarchs from Naophangba onward is clear. According to 'Moirang Kangleiron' obtained from Mayanglambam Tomba. Singh of Kakching Wairi the Moyon King Samshangba was a divine king and he was born out of the naval of the sun. This king possessed a bright aura and no king at that time of the Kon-nachak could even stand before him.

The Moirang and the Khuman Kings at a time had failed to pay their tributes to Moyon king Samshangba for about 4 years. Consequently, the Moyon king decided to attack them. Immediately he started beating his 'Laikhut' (a war drum) to call up his soldiers from both hills and the valley.

The army consisted of 25 swordsmen, 30 spearsmen, 45 archers, that is, 100 in all. He attacked the Moirangs at Khumanpung, and there he destroyed a marriage ceremony of a Khuma bride. A large number of men and women were killed and all their houses were completely destroyed. This episode is contained in the Meetei Puya "Khunthoklon".



This is an extract from a book written in Moyon language and titled " Ngorun Kuurkam Moyon (Legendary King of Moyon)" and presented during the one day seminar on Moyon tribe at Komlathabi village on May 29. The piece is translated by Bujuur Anchu Puh (Moyon Apex Body).

Concluded .....

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* R Angnong writes this article for The Sangai Express
This article was webcasted on June 22, 2011.

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