Tracing the origin of Tangkhul Nagas through oral tradition/folksongs
- Part 2 -

Dr Ningreishim Kashung Shimray *

Tangkhul Cultural Dance at the Manipur Sangai Tourism Festival 2011 :: Pix - Bullu Raj

From the folksongs, particularly of the Anal and Tangkhul, one comes to know that these tribes trace back their migration from Myanmar to Manipur. The following folksong of Anal is a pointer.

(in Anal)
"Nhaleral ki katu- o,
Arakan langna kachang-ae
Dah –hang-o khu pajowl-ni domo-ae,
(Free English translation)
I have migrated all the way from
a place called Nharelal*
And settled down in Arkan (Arakan) place.
After shifting often from place to place
how could my village ever develop and flourish".

From the folklore, it is clear that they once followed the waters of the Irrawaddy in their migration and made their settlement in Myanmar, while moving from one place to another. Their settlement at Arakan coast in the remote past cannot be doubted considering their penchant for conch, shells and beads, which are found only in the proximity of the sea. Col. L. W. Shakespeare suggests, "the Nagas fancy for marine shells may point to a bygone home on the sea".

Tradition is silent on their movement thereafter. The Tangkhul tradition traces their last take off in their migration from Samsok (Thaungdut) in Burma. Every Tangkhul elder says that they came from the east of Chindwin River.

This Samsok (Thaungdut) theory of the Tangkhul is supported by their popular folk song:
(in Tangkhul)
Oh milung kathi kalaida thui thoilo?
Oh Samsok marak leida thui thoi
Sokvao leida shongavao
Maichai lungli mei shok ngayar
Lungatak leida mi wungngayar.
(Free English translation)
Oh whence cometh thou originally?
Oh we originate from Samsok (Thaungdut) in Burma
We call and gather all our Kindred at Shakvao.
We make fire at Maichailung
We distributed at Rungatak.

(in Tangkhul dialect)
Oh, khili tunglo?
Oh, Ava Samsokli tung.
Oh, Makan ana......
oh, ili phungshok.
Oh, Makunga ......
oh, ili pangthang.
Oh, Ngakangana......
oh, safa, kazei, mala singsinglaga.......
oh, ili rai phamiya
Oh, Khamanlanli.......
oh, I shokngavao.
Oh, Ngachang chihuili.......
oh, rom ungngaphei.
Oh, Mavalungli......
oh, mei tungngayar.
Oh, Hunphun ava khararwo......
oh, Hunphun ava kharar ........
I yala yangamkhaya
Oh, Longpi kachuipavo, Ronravo!
Oh, nava iwui shimzunna.
Oh, iwui shimzuno........
oh, Marem, kanhang
Oh, inaomasen
Oh, ngason ngason.......
oh, Thisom- rala apeiya.
(Free English translation)
From, where thou comes?
We come from Ava (Burma) Samsok
Makan lead us through
Makunga carried me
Armed with bow and arrow, spears and dogs
Ngakang protected us
On top of the mountain I call out for our kindred groups
And on the vale we rest and ate our food
We light fire at Mavalung
Oh Hunphun! Father of our ancestor
Oh Hunphun!Abode of our forefather thy fame spread far and wide
Oh people of Longpi and Ronra, you are my kinsmen
Marem, Kanhang my descendant
My descendant spread out up to Thisom.

Elders belonging to the Kashung clan of Kabomi (Tangkhul Hundung village), narrates that their ancestors settled in Hakwang valley (the present habitat of Kachin) of Burma but had to migrate because of war and strife. Their statement is supported by folksongs current among the people of Kabomi, which goes......

(In Kabomi, Tangkhul dialect)
Ninkpyran oh ninkpyran; Hakwang vei ninkpyran
Hakwang vei ninkpyran ana apri Taing ae
Mala thuithuilo, laileng khuaolei thuifa ae,
Laileng khuaolei thuifa aea, ashobo khengsho mazyangsei
Ashong ashong ( tui zhing tuilei maphong ae) 2 times
Zchekho lei do keishaeng lei dong tuizhing tui
Oh zyhengrui zyhengrui kabawla vei zyhengrui
Zchimik kapoo thai
Oh zcheimu naashinkphunglei thoroi ae
Shaloi nei zjhong phong ae
Oh nati nati mashi pfhenglei bhyu ae
Mashi nei ri ri kaphaing
Oh aphfei aphfei (Raphei shong vei aphfei) 2 times
Kaczing kapfhui tha ae
(Free English Translation)
Farewell Hakwang,we bid farewell to Hakwang
In spring season when new bud sprout out
Called out our maiden from their hideout
for its time to leave
and as our hordes cross the river(possibly Irrawaddy),
the water soak the quiver hung above the waist.
sarong oh sarong of Kabaw (Kabaw valley in Burma)
that reflect like a bright shinning sun
oh zaimuk (quail) as we pass by your dwelling place
our Buffalo's trample your cozy nest
oh nati nati how you balance (perch on the branch of the tree)
yourself in the breezy noon
oh mother, mother of Raphei*, how can
one forget your unwelcome gloomy face

From the folksongs, we came to know that the ancestor of the Tangkhul who once settled in Samsok, migrated in hordes as their society is more or less organized, where hierarchy of some kind is established.

Because it clearly mentions that Makunga carried them and Ngakanna protected them armed with bows, arrow and spears. The folksong of Kabomi (Tangkhul Hundung) village traces their origin upto Hakwong valley and their gradual movement thereafter through Kabaw valley and Raphei or northern side of the Tangkhul habitat. But the folksongs do not mention anything about the period of their migration.

However such problems would be easily solved if we take into account the finding of scholars from various fields. Scholars from various fields such as ethnography, linguistics and archaeology have contributed in different capacity in tracing the origin of the Nagas.

To be continued....