Hungpung Hungshi denies kinship with Zimik clan
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, June 18 2025:
Clarifying a long-simmering confusion over ancestral lineage in Hungpung village, the Hungpung Hungshi Shangva (HHS) and Hungpung Ahungshi Organisation (HAO) have publicly disavowed any blood relation between the Hungpung Ahungshi clan and the Zimik clan.
The organisations also maintained that historical records clearly established the bloodline between the Hungshi and Mangang clans, meaning 'red' colour.
Addressing a press conference in Ukhrul town on Wednesday, HHS chairman Felix Ningkhanpam Hungshi and HAO chairman AS Ringhuimi Ahungshi, flanked by Tangkhul Hungshi Shangva (THS) chairman Boniface Hungshi, AS Innocent Hungshi, and HHS secretary TS Elvis Hungshi, asserted that no historical evidence exists to support a blood relationship between the Hungpung Ahungshi and the Zimik clan in the village.
"There has never been any king's family or clan name as Zimik in Hungpung history," declared Felix Ningkhanpam, adding that if such a connection existed, it would have been recorded in the Vashimhung clan's history.
To validate this claim, Felix related that on 16 Hungpung headman March 2025, AS Wungayung Peter requested the Tangkhul Zimik Shang to remove his name from Tangkhul Zimik Headman membership list, stating that he was not a member of the Zimik clan and had no blood ties to it.
Subsequently, on March 20, 2025, Ningkhan Zimik, general secretary of the Tangkhul Zimik Shang, admitted that Wungayung Peter's name had been mistakenly included in their Platinum Jubilee Souvenir.
"He apologised for the error and urged clan members to correct the misrepresentation".
Reinforcing this point, AS Ringhuimi stated that a resolution passed by the HAO General Assembly on March 22, 2025 explicitly stated that "Within HAO, there is no Zimik Shang", proving that Hungpung Ahungshi or Vashimhung shares no blood relation with the Zimilk clan in the village.
The organisations also reiterated the historical relationship between three legendary brothers - Khongrei King, Hungpung King, and Meitei King (Maharaja).
AS Innocent explained that the Hungpung King's family was historically known as Ahungshi, meaning King's clan.
Research into their ancestral roots revealed that Mangang Ningthouja was the original Salai name of the three brothers, with Mangang being translated into the Tangkhul dialect as Hungshi.
Boniface Hungshi elaborated on the established blood relation between the three brothers, citing historical accounts and cultural traditions.
He mentioned the existence of a three-stone hearth in Khongrei (Khongdei), representing the three brothers, as tangible evidence.
Other validations include Mera thaomei, Mera Haochongba, Mafarung, Sharsa (Leisa), coronation rituals, Lai Haraoba, Umanglai, Thisam and Yangbung's blessings.
Drawing upon historical narratives, Boniface recounted the migration of the three kings' ancestors from Central Asia to Makhel, where a triune baby boy was born to the king's daughter.
The eldest son was named Riso (Khongreihung), the second Hiipam (Hungpunghung), and the youngest Mahza (Meiteihung).
After settling in Kojiifu village, they sought more fertile land, guided by a precious stone given by their mother.
The stone eventually fell in Khongrei (Khongdei), leading the eldest brother to settle there.
As their population grew, the second and third brothers chose to establish their own settlements, eventually leading the third brother to the plains of Yaingapokpi/Oknao pokpi, Imphal, where he became the Meitei King, he said.
He said that historical accounts also depict the close relationship between the Meitei King and the Hungpung King, with the Meitei King visiting Hungpung on numerous occasions, adding that in Vashimtang, Hungpung, a springwell known as Meitei Rakhong (Meitei springwell) and a Mafarung (elephant enclosure) still exist and are said to be remnants of these visits.
"Footprints on stone slabs in the courtyard of the Hungpung King also stand testimony to the Meitei King's visits," Boniface added.
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