Kabui Settlement at Heibokching : A historical perspective
- Part 1 -

Dr Budha Kamei *

The eighteenth century was a landmark period in the history of the Kabui people. It was during this period that a large number of Kabui warriors engaged in the famous Burma campaign of King Garib Niwaz and also in the war of liberation of Manipur from the yoke of Burmese under the able leadership of Bhagyachandra. As a result, the Kabuis were permitted to settle in the valley at Langol Hills, Chingmeirong, Langthabal and Heibokching and started an epoch of friendship between the Meiteis and Kabuis.

Garib Niwaz (1709-1748), the 50th Raja, ascended the throne of Manipur after his father's death, (Charairongba) on the day of Wednesday, 23rd day of Thawan (July-August), 1709 at the age of twenty. All Nagas chiefs were invited at the coronation ceremony.

The official and Ministers of his administration received the Nagas chiefs, made friendship and intimacy with them. The king entertained the Nagas chiefs with good feast and wine. Garib Niwaz was often designated as Maharaja because he was the head of seven Pibas of Angom, Khuman, Moirang, Luwang, Khaba-Nganba, Chenglei and Ningthoujas.

Following the footsteps of his father Charairongba, Garib Niwaz or Pamheiba also did maintain friendly relations with the hills chiefs. He advised his nobles to have friendly relation with hill-chiefs. Some colonial writers mention that Garib Niwaz was a hillman by birth because of his intimacy with the hill people.

In 1735 AD, Garib Niwaz or Pamheiba, the king of Manipur issued a royal decree according to which village functionaries such as Khullakpa, Khunbu, Luplakpa and Lambu were introduced and he replaced the traditional village chief (Ningthou) by Khullakpa. In fact, it is a policy to centralise his administration.

He tried his best possible means to put in force the new administrative system even in the remote villages of the hills and those who opposed it were punished and invaded. As a part of punishment, he made invasion at Kabui villages of Tokpa (Mukten), Nungnang Taobi (Lungrang), Rangkhong (Rangkhum), Thinglon (Thiulon village in the west bank of Barak) and Charoi Chagotlong (Poulinglong) in 1748 AD. In his Charoi invasion, a Tamna, (insect of green colour) was presented to the king by the village chief as a token of love and respect. By the middle of 18th century, the writ of Manipur kingdom over several villages like Noney, Rangkhong, Nungtek, Charoi Chagotlong and Haochong was established.

With a view to get better relationship with the Nagas particularly the Kabuis, he made a visit at Noney and Noney Khullakpa was privileged to ride an elephant of the king. And on the day of Saturday, 18th day of Langban (August-September), 1746 AD, he also gave permission to the three villages of Chingkhoupum and Luwanglon (Ganglon-khullen and khunou) to sell their commodities mainly agriculture-horticultural products in the market of the State Capital. Chingkhoupum was untouched by the king.

Now, it is clear from the above historical facts that the then king of Manipur, Garib Niwaz tried his best to keep his hegemony over the small villages inhabiting mainly in the area of Chingkhoupum and Tongjei Maril and at the same time, he also attempted to maintain friendly relations with the Kabuis wiih the objective of bringing unity to fight against the Burmese locally known as Awa or Ava.

In this regard, Gangmumei kamei has rightly stated that "he invited the hill tribes, Tangkhul and Kabui to join the Manipur army in his invasion of Burma. Many of them went up to the Irrawaddy and survived to return home. Garib Niwaz settled the Burma veterans among the Zeliangrong (Kabuis) to settle in the Manipur valley, Chingmeirong, Langol Hills and Langthaban and began an era of friendship between the Meiteis and Zeliangrongs".

According to Ningthourol Kumpaba, an unpublished text, it was in 1735 AD that the Kabuis who returned from Burma campaign (Expedition to Myedoo in upper Burma) of King Garib Niwaz were allowed to settle at Langol Hills and Chingmeirong. According to the Meitei Puyas, the Kabuis who had rendered help to the Meitei Kings in their war against the Burmese in 1734 AD were permitted to settle on the Chingmeirong and Langthabal Hills.

It was during the reign of Bhagyachandra or Chingthangkhomba or Jay Singh or Karta Maharaj or Nungmang Khomba from 1759-1762 and 1763­1798, a new chapter of friendship between the two communities was opened despite the religious orthodoxy of the Hindu Meiteis. It is noted that this was the key achievement of the noble king Chingthangkhomba. Chingthangkhomba, this name of the king was popular among the hill Kabui people. Politically, Manipur was divided into two kingdoms: Moirang and Manipur during the reign of Gourashyam and Bheigyachandra.

Like his grandfather Garib Niwaz, Bhagyachandra also strictly pursued the policy of appeasement towards the Kabuis; as a result, there was mutual understanding and co-operation with the hills people during his reign. It was during his reign, Alaungpaya of Konbaung dynasty, a powerful king of Burma (Awa or Ava) and his successors like Hsinbyushin invaded Manipur several times and defeated Manipur due to lack of unity among the ruling princes. From 1758 AD to 1826 AD within this period of 68 years Manipur was overrun and dominated by the Burmese times without numbers.

In the meantime, Wayenbamcha Khellemba alias Khenlei Nungnang Telheiba, maternal uncle of Chingthangkhomba, the chief of Moirang (Khellemba was appointed as chief of Moirang by Gourashyam in the year 1757 AD) rebelled and seized the throne of Manipur. So, the fugitive king Bhagyachandra took refuge in the land of Kabui and appealed to the Kabui people to help in fighting against the Burmese.

Then, he proceeded to Ahom (Tekhao) and exiled there from 1765 - 1768. Manipur was ruled by Khellemba as puppet king for three years under the protection of Burmese army. In 1768, Bhagyachandra returned home with the forces of Ahom king Rajeshwar Singh of the Tunkhungia dynasty (1765-1769).

On the way back, at the Merap river they halted for sometimes and he raised a Naga force consisting of mostly Kabuis and as he proceeded, almost all the people of the country welcomed him as their king that time the Burmese army left Manipur on hearing the arrival of the Ahom forces.

to be continued...