The Rulers of Kangla and Ethnic Tribes of Manipur
- Part 1 -

Naoroibam Indramani *

View of Kangla - The sacred place of Manipur in May 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

The erstwhile kingdom of Manipur is a small state where settled several ethnic groups of people different from one another in language, costume and dress, way of life, religious belief and custom, standard of living, culture and tradition, etc. Geographically, it is divided into two regions, i.e., hills and valley. In the hills, settle different ethnic tribes whereas in the valley, different groups of people inhabit. These different ethnic tribes and groups of people of the hills and the valley were brought under a single administrative set¬up by successive rulers of Kangla, generation after generation.

Kangla, as symbol of power, is still existing, surrounded by a stretch of moat, in the heart of Imphal city. Kangla which was the capital of successive generations of kings, has a unique place in the long history of Manipur. Moreover, as many esoteric sanctums were preserved here, Kangla has been regarded as holy of holies. Since it was the capital of Manipur for centuries on end, it occupied a special place in the history oi Manipur politically, economically, socially and religiously.

Foundation of Monarchy at Kangla:

The foundation of a monarchy with Kangla as the capital is a landmark in the history of Manipur. The history of Manipur is assumed to have begun from 33 A.D. when Nongda Lairel Pakhangba ascended the throne at Kangla as the king of the Meiteis. Before Nongda Lairel Pakhangba, his father Sentreng Pakhangba was ruling at Kangla. Khaba rose against him and defeated. Kangla, then occupied by the Khaba.

Sentreng Pakhangba took shelter in hiding to the Moirang and then to the Nongmaijing hill near Angom clan. While he was hiding he was called Lolang Pakhangba. While he was hiding he was also known as "Leinung Lonja Ariba". While in hiding, Lolang Pakhangba was contemplating to revenge against Khaba and overthrow the Khaba clan, once and for all. But, unable to put his plan into action, he clandestinely came up passing several hill villages of northward direction of Kangla one after another incognito, and at last he arrived at Fatlou Laimakon, the source of Iril river, and dwelt there in concealment with his young son, Nongda Lairel Pakhangba.

Around this time, Pureiromba of the Angom clan dwelling on the other side of the Imphal river killed Khaba in the battle in consequence of a quarrel over river. On hearing the news of quarrel between Khaba and Angom, Khamchingkon Haiheiba who was closely related with Khaba clan ethnically, came in the scene to support Khaba. So, Pureiromba also pursued to kill Khamchingkon Haiheiba. Due to unable to counteract the Angom king, Pureiromba, Nganba Khamchingkon Haiheiba fled to Khamnung and asked his son-in-law Thongaren, king of Khamnung, to wage war against Pureiromba.

Leinung Thongaren despatched his younger brother Poireiton to wage war on Pureiromba. On hearing Poireiton's invasion, Pureiromba, being no match for Poireiton, proceeded to Fatlou Laimakon to seek Nongda Lairel Pakhangba. He brought Pakhangba to engage in war against Poireiton. When Pakhangba vanquished Poireiton, Thongaren brought his younger sister Laisna and offered her to Nongda Lairel Pakhangba and thus saved his younger brother Poireiton.

Nongda Lairel Pakhangba again returned to Fatlou Laimakon whereupon hisfatherLolang Pakhangba appointed him king there and then he proceeded back to Kangla en-route Hanjing Chingmei, arrived at Nonghumshang of Kangla and ascended the throne of Kangla. Thus, from the time of Nongda Lairel Pakhangba through successive generations of kings up to the time of king Kulachandra during whose reign Manipur fought its last war of independence with the British in consequence of having killed five Britishers and the British occupied Kangla on 27th April, 1891, Kangla had been the capital of Independent Manipur.

Ethnic Tribes of Manipur:

From bygone days, different tribes have settled in the hills surrounding the valley of Manipur. In the east and the north-east are scattered villages of Tangkhul tribe. In the hills of the north are lying diverse villages of Mao, Maram, and Kolya @ Khoirao @ Mayangkhang tribes. In the west and north-west Kabui tribes inhabit in villages spread across the hills.

The Khongjai (Kuki) tribes dwell extensively in the hills of the south, but they also settle in scattered villages in all the hill areas except the Mao area of the north. And in the hills adjoining the valley of Manipur settle the Chiru, Koireng, Chothe, Anal, Maring, Khoibu, Kom, Namphou, Purum, Mantak tribes, etc.

Relation between the Kanglei King and the Hill Tribes:

Though, in the early days, there were numerous ethnic tribes and groups in the hills and the valley, independent of and separate from one another, they were brought step by step under a single administrative set-up by the military and political manoeuvre of the Kanglei kings in succession. During the reign of Nongda Lairel Pakhangba (33 A.D.-154 A.D.), Khaba rose against Nongda. Driven out of Kangla, Nongda Lairel Pakhangba lived in exile in Loirel Khunbirok of Moirang.

After a few years, Nongda Lairel Pakhangba with the help of Moirang, invaded against Khaba at Kangla and killed Khwai Nongjengba, the leader of the Khaba by an arrow of the Moirang Chaoba Melleiba Sangton Sanouba, a warrior of Moirang near Nongjeng Pat of Kangla. The Khaba clan consequently perished. A section of Khaba took refuge under Angom Pureiromba. A section of Khaba ran away towards east and became Tangkhul Machiba tribe. A section of Khaba ran away towards south and became Mahou Lontai tribe.

A section of Khaba ran away towards west direction and became Kabui Nungnang tribe. A section of Khaba ran away towards north and bacame Khaba Ullen at Koubru Laikha. One Khaba Nonganba took reguge to Pakhangba and Pakhangba forgave him. Thus, the Khaba clan was survived and continued the Nongjengbam and Khuraijam families.

Hence, Nongda Lairel Pakhangba started reigning again. After subduing the Khaba clan, the other kings who reigned after Nongda Lairel Pakhangba, other clans viz., the Chenglei, Angom, Mangang, Thangga- Kambong, Luwang, Heirem Khunjan, Khuman, Moirang, and Chakpas were subdued by the kings, viz., Naokhamba (411- 428), Sameirang (518-568), Naothingkhong (663-763), Chenglei Ipan Lanthaba (944-961), Thawanthaba (1195-1231), Kongyamba (1324- 1335), Ningthoukhomba (1432-1467), and Paikhomba (1666-1697) respectively. Thus the formation of a unified state was completed around the time of king Paikhomba in the valley of Manipur.

Along with the process of state formation in the valley, there had also been the gradual absorption and integration of tribal villages of the hills adjoining the valley into Kanglei monarchy. After that, by the time of king in war against Poireiton. When Pakhangba vanquished Poireiton, Thongaren brought his younger sister Laisna and offered her to Nongda Lairel Pakhangba and thus saved his younger brother Poireiton.

Nongda Lairel Pakhangba again returned to Fatlou Laimakon whereupon his father Lolang Pakhangba appointed him king there and then he proceeded back to Kangla en-route Hanjing Chingmei, arrived at Nonghumshang of Kangla and ascended the throne of Kangla. Thus, from the time of Nongda Lairel Pakhangba through successive generations of kings up to the time of king Kulachandra during whose reign Manipur fought its last war of independence with the British in consequence of having killed five Britishers and the British occupied Kangla on 27th April, 1891, Kangla had been the capital of Independent Manipur.

Ethnic Tribes of Manipur:

From bygone days, different tribes have settled in the hills surrounding the valley of Manipur. In the east and the north-east are scattered villages of Tangkhul tribe. In the hills of the north are lying diverse villages of Mao, Maram, and Kolya @ Khoirao @ Mayangkhang tribes. In the west and north-west Kabui tribes inhabit in villages spread across the hills. The Khongjai (Kuki) tribes dwell extensively in the hills of the south, but they also settle in scattered villages in all the hill areas except the Mao area of the north. And in the hills adjoining the valley of Manipur settle the Chiru, Koireng, Chothe, Anal, Maring, Khoibu, Kom, Namphou, Purum, Mantak tribes, etc.

To be continued....